5.08 Enquiries and Assessment
5.8.1 The objective of local authority enquiries conducted under Section 47 is to determine whether action is needed to promote and safeguard the welfare of the child or children who are subject of the enquiries.
5.8.2 The “Framework for the Assessment of Children in Need and their Families” provides a structure for helping to collect and analyse information obtained in the course of Section 47 enquiries. The purpose is to gain insight into the needs of the children and their family’s ability to meet those needs; especially their capacity to ensure the children’s safety, health, and development.
5.8.3 The Children Act 1989 places a statutory duty on Health, Education and other services to help Social Care with their enquiries. It states
(9) Where a local authority is conducting enquiries under this section, it shall be the duty of any person mentioned in subsection (11) to assist them with those enquiries (in particular by providing relevant information and advice) if called upon to do so.
(10) Subsection (9) does not oblige any person to assist a local authority where doing so would be unreasonable in all circumstances of the case.
(11) The persons are:
Any local authority
Any local Education authority
Any local housing authority; and
Any Health authority.
