Summary1. The child must be seen and the accommodation where they live visited by the people undertaking the enquiry 2. All children in the household must be seen and their safety and welfare ensured 3. The enquiry must address all the domains and dimensions of a core assessment and may involve medicals, video interviews and specialist assessments 4. The enquiry must provide an assessment of the risk to the child/ren 5. The Section 47 Enquiry should be recorded on the Outcome of Section 47 Enquiries Record |
The aim of the Section 47 enquiry and the core assessment is to determine whether action is needed to safeguard and promote the welfare of the child or children who are the subject of the enquiries.
Following on from the planning in the strategy discussion, the enquiry should involve:
- Completing a core assessment which must address areas of concern in all relevant dimensions of the Assessment Framework as well as the areas of concern identified in the referral.
- Visiting and viewing the accommodation in which the child is living, or is to live, including inspecting the child’s bedroom
- Separate interviews with the child(ren) on their own, subject to their age and understanding
- Interviews with the parents and/or caregivers
- Interviewing any witnesses to suspected abuse or neglect
- Observation of the interactions between parents and the child(ren), unless there are risks to the child
- Specific examinations or assessments of the child by other professionals (e.g. medical, psychological, emotional assessments)
- Interviews with others who are personally and professionally connected with the child and the parents and/or caregivers
- Video interviews with the child if required
- Consideration of any unmet needs
- Gathering of information from records and other professionals and agencies;
- Analysis to identify the child’s needs and the parents’ ability to meet the child’s needs;
- Deciding whether action is required to safeguard and promote the child’s welfare.
Initial visits to children and families subject to Section 47 enquiries should not be undertaken alone. The social worker should:
- visit with either a police officer (if conducting a joint enquiry) or a second worker (if enquiries are being undertaken by Children’s Social Care alone).
- explain the reasons for the visit,
- answer any questions openly
- provide parents, carers and the child/ren with copies of the relevant information leaflets about the Child Protection process.
The child must be seen by the people undertaking the enquiry. If the child/ren is not present on the initial visit, his/her whereabouts should be ascertained, and a subsequent visit made to see the child/ren within 24 hours. If the child is of sufficient age and understanding the child must be seen on their own to ascertain their views.
All children in the household must be seen and their safety and welfare ensured.
The reaction of the parent(s) should be assessed and whether they will co-operate with the enquiry.
The social worker should record any explanations for injuries, or other concerns, and attempt to validate the explanation by examining the scene of the incident, or any objects that may have been involved. If it is apparent that a criminal offence may have been committed the social worker must inform the Police (if they are not already involved in the enquiry).
The social worker must inform the Duty/Team Manager of the outcome of the visit on the same working day, and provide an assessment of the risk to the child/ren. The social worker will inform the parent(s) or carer(s) of the child/ren of the outcome of the enquiries in writing as soon as practicable
When joint enquiries take place, Children’s Social Care retains the lead for the Section 47 enquiries and the child’s welfare, but the police have the lead for the criminal investigation.
The Sec 47 Enquiry should be recorded on the Outcome of Section 47 Enquiries Record
