When do social services get involved

There might be child protection issues for the child ren , including cases where violence between adults could result in harm to the children. The parent may request that a child be temporarily placed in foster care or residential care as an emergency or planned short term measure to help with their child's challenging behaviour , or to provide a planned break or a series of short breaks at a time of particular stress. Where children are taken into care following emergency intervention by the police or a court order.

Where a child is placed for adoption , occasionally at the request of the parent but more often following a court order when the child is already in care. Referral to social services Referrals to social services can happen in a number of ways. What is a social services Section 47 enquiry? About the child protection conference The child protection conference is a meeting to help everyone involved in this investigation to assess all the information and plan how to safeguard the child and promote his or her welfare.

Parents and children at the child protection conference As a parent, you should be consulted at all stages of the process and kept informed about the decision to hold a child protection conference.

There are some cases where the chair may say a parent cannot attend, this is in cases such as: If there is a suspicion that you have seriously injured or assaulted your child and criminal proceedings are being considered You have a history of violence or could be violent to someone at the meeting or after Parent has severe mental health issues If you arrive under the influence of alcohol or drugs If you have been told not to come to a meeting and you feel it is without merit, you can speak to your legal representative and hopefully address this in writing.

Social Services Child Protection Plan If a formal Child Protection Plan is made, regular meetings called Core Groups will be held, and this is often the case if there is a family support plan. This page was updated on February Donate now For support call our confidential helpline on or email us at askus familylives. Your opinion matters, please share your views on our website by filling in our survey.

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It is natural to feel anxious and frightened in this situation, but you should be informed by social services what the process involves and be given leaflets about what you can do.

Unless there are circumstances preventing them, they will write to you and let you know they are conducting an initial assessment. This assessment should be completed within a certain number of days and they will inform you of how long this will take.

In most cases, these assessments result in them providing support and other services, with your agreement, in the family home. Within the letter, you will be offered an appointment to meet with the Social Worker and legal team.

If you have been served with this letter, you will be entitled to legal help to enable a solicitor to provide you with advice and assistance and to accompany you to this meeting. If the Local Authority feel they need to issue an application to the court straight away and you have been notified of their intention to do so or have been served with court papers, you will also need to obtain legal advice immediately.

When responding to information that a child may have been subject to Child Protection Enquiries under another jurisdiction ever effort must be made to seek information on this matter. Where the decision is no further action: Feedback should be given to the referrer, who should be told of the decision and reasons for it. Where risk of Significant Harm has been identified: The child should be allocated a qualified and experienced social worker and a Section 46 Enquiry commenced in line with these procedures.

Where immediate action is needed to protect the child: The team manager in Social Services should ensure that a qualified and experienced social worker is made available and action is taken in line with Paragraph 4. If a professional referrer is of the view that their concerns have not been fully considered they must share this with Social Services to ensure their concerns have been properly expressed and understood. Emergency action might be needed: As soon as a referral is received; At any point in involvement with children and their family.

Children in need of protective action may include not only the referred child but also: Other children in the household; and Children in the household of an alleged perpetrator or elsewhere.

Cases normally conclude within 26 weeks. The main difference between the two orders is that if a Care Order is granted then the Local Authority will share parental responsibility of your children with you.

Whereas with a Supervision Order the Local Authority do not have parental responsibility for your children but they have a duty to advise, assist and befriend your children and will work very closely with you and your family. For more information regarding Care Orders and Supervision Orders, please click here.

In order for one of these public law orders to be granted there is a threshold criteria that must be met. Again, at this stage Legal Aid will be available to you on a non means non merits basis.

It is usually always recommended that you and the other parent are provided with separate representation in case a conflict arises. Click here to read our blog and see what the Threshold Criteria requires. If your children are removed from your care in the interim period whilst proceedings are ongoing, then you will be entitled to a reasonable level of contact with them. If the Court considers it necessary then this contact may be supervised.

Whilst proceedings are ongoing throughout the 26 weeks, there will be further hearings to decide what work needs to be carried out by the different agencies. Reports will be written by the Social Worker and assessments will be undertaken.

It is likely that you will be asked to put forward alternative carers. These are people that you would like to care for your children in the event that the Court finds that you are unable to do so. The carers can care for your children during the course of the proceedings or on a long term basis.

You will be asked to provide alternative carers at the beginning of proceedings to avoid delay further down the line. However, should you be unhappy with the outcome of Court you may be able to make an application to discharge the Order made and you will be required to prove what changes you have made since the Order was made.