04.0 Children in Need of Protection – Making a Referral
- 4.01 Introduction
- 4.02 Unclear Situations
- 4.03 Talking to Parents/Carers
- 4.04 Reporting Concerns
- 4.05 Enquiries to the Database
- 4.06 Assessment of Need
- 4.07 Applying Child Protection Procedures
- 4.08 Emergency Duty Team Responsibilities
4.01 Introduction
4.1.1. All individuals working with children have a duty and responsibility to report any allegations and concerns of a child protection nature, which come to their attention.
4.1.2. This section sets out the processes in making a referral if there are concerns and the initial actions of Social Care.
4.02 Unclear Situations
4.2.1 If it is unclear as to the level of concerns and to whether a child is suffering or likely to suffer significant harm, discussions should be held with your agency child protection advisor and with the local Social Care Manager. If a Manager is unavailable, contact the Duty Social Worker.
4.2.2 Seeking advice is an essential part of working together and should be encouraged at all times.
4.03 Talking to Parents/Carers
4.3.1 In the vast majority of cases, it is good practice to be open and honest at the outset with the parents/carers about concerns, the need for a referral, information sharing between agencies and the accompanying need for making an enquiry to the Central Children's Database.
4.3.2 All reasonable efforts should be made to inform parents/carers of the referral beforehand. However, an inability to inform parents/carers should not prevent a referral being made. Consideration should be given to not informing them when a child expresses a wish that their parents are not informed at this stage.
4.3.3 There are cases where it would not usually be good practice to discuss concerns with parents/carers before referral. In these cases, who discusses the concerns with the parents, when and with who should be agreed in advance with Social Care and/or the police. Concerns must not usually be discussed with parents/carers before referral in the following circumstances;
- Where discussion would put a child at risk of significant harm
- Where discussion would impede a Police investigation or social work enquiry
- Where sexual abuse is suspected
- Where organised or multiple abuse is suspected
- Where the fabrication of an illness is suspected
- Where to contact parents/carers would place you or others at risk
- Where it is not possible to contact parents/carers without causing undue delay in making the referral.
4.3.4. A reasoned judgement must be made in each case.
4.4.1 If there are concerns that the child is suffering or is likely to suffer significant harm then a referral should be made immediately. Urgent referrals should be made by telephone. A written referral is still required and should be completed and submitted within 48 hours.
4.4.2 The attention of the referrer is brought to the Section on Immediate Protection in paragraphs 5.2.1 to 5.2.4.
4.4.3 Professional staff should contact Social Care through the Customer Service Centre or the Emergency Duty Team. The referrer should:
- Clearly identify themselves, their agency and give details of where they can be contacted that day.
- Give as much basic family information as possible, clearly stating the name of the child, the parents/carers and any other children known to be in the household, the dates of birth and addresses and any previous addresses known
- Given details of any special needs or communication needs of either the child or any family member
- State why they feel the child is suffering, or is likely to suffer, significant harm.
- Share their knowledge and involvement of the child(ren) and family
- Share their knowledge of any other agency involved
- Indicate the child’s, parent’s/carer’s knowledge of the referral and their expectations
- Ensure they record within their own agency files their concerns and actions
- Follow the referral up in writing.
4.4.4 The referrer is entitled to:-
- Receive an understanding from the Social Care representative of what will happen next
- Be given the name of a contact person within Social Care who will be dealing with the referral
- Receive information on the outcome of the referral within seven days.
Customer Service Centre
Open Monday to Friday 8.30am to 6.00pm; Saturday 9.00am to 12.00pm.
| All areas | 0845 8727374 |
| customer.services@northyorks.gov.uk | |
| Emergency Duty Team (all other hours) | 0845 034 9417 |
4.05 Enquiries to the Central Children's Database
4.5.1 Any authorized user can make an enquiry to the Central Children's Database (01609 774298) in order to establish whether either the Database or the Information Index knows a child or family. Enquiries can be either made in person, by telephone or in writing. For security reasons, telephone enquiries will only be answered on a ‘phone back’ basis.
4.5.2 The Database Administrator will provide only basic information (e.g if the child is known to the Central Children's Databse) and will direct the inquirer to the relevant Social Care Children’s Services Team or individual worker involved.
4.5.3 If the child is currently subject to a Child Protection Plan, the Database Administrator will follow up the enquiry by contacting the key worker or relevant Service Manager to ensure they become aware of the enquiry.
4.5.4 Out of office hours enquiries can be made by telephone to the Emergency Duty Team (Telephone number 0845 034 9417 – 24 hour availability) which holds an index listing basic details of all children currently subject to a Child Protection Plan.
4.6.1 On receipt of a referral suggesting that a child may be suffering from, or is at risk of significant harm in the future, the relevant Social Care team will need to take the following steps:-
- Clarify with the referrer (including family or concerned members of the public) the nature of the concerns, i.e. do they amount to concerns about abuse or neglect; how and why they have arisen; and what appear to be the needs of the child and family
- Speak to the child concerned within 24 hours of the allegation being made. If this timescale is not met, the reason for the failure must be recorded in the case file
- Make a judgement about the immediate safety of the child or children at the earliest opportunity.
- Make a decision about the next course of action within 24 hours. This decision would be taken following a discussion with the referring agency, looking at existing records, and involving other professionals and agencies (including the police) This decision is taken by the Service Manager of that team, or if they are not available, the Duty Manager.
4.6.2 The outcomes at this stage can be:-
- No Further Action – Inform the referrer if the decision is to take no further action of the reason why it has been made and inform the family that an enquiry has taken place and of its outcome. This should be done in writing. In exceptional circumstances this may not be appropriate. If this is the case, reason for not informing the family should be clearly recorded.
- Initial Assessment – Initiate an initial assessment under Section 17 of the Children Act if the judgement is that there are no child protection issues, but that the family may be in need of services.
- Child Protection Procedures – Initiate Child Protection Procedures.
4.6.3 Whatever the decision taken, it should be agreed by the Service Manager and recorded in writing, with the reasons for them. The referrer, if a professional, should be informed of the decision.
4.07 Applying Child Protection Procedures
4.7.1 Child Protection Procedures are to be applied where there is reasonable cause to suspect that a child/young person, under the age of 18 years, is suffering, or is likely to suffer, significant harm.
4.7.2 The decision to initiate child protection procedures is irrespective of where the child/young person is living. They could be at home, or in foster care, or residential care, or any institutional setting.
4.7.3 Child protection procedures generally apply where the suspected or alleged abuser is a member of the immediate or extended family, a friend or acquaintance or carer, a person known to the child or family, a professional working with the child or family or a foster carer.
4.7.4 Where a suspected or alleged abuser is a stranger, i.e. unknown to the child or family, it may not be necessary to apply child protection procedures. The decision should be based on whether adequate care was a factor. In this situation, the Police should always be involved.
4.07.5 If there is Disagreement about the Decision
4.7.5.1 If the professional who makes the referral disagrees with the decision by Social Care about whether or not child protection procedures should be applied, then they should discuss this with the Child Protection advisor in their agency, who may wish in the first instance to contact relevant Service Manager about this. Agencies should consider whether a meeting is necessary to discuss the matter further.
4.07.6 Recording the Decision to Apply Child Protection Procedures
4.7.6.1 At the point the decision is made to apply child protection procedures, then it should be recorded within the case notes. The date and time of the decision and which Manager made it should be recorded.
4.08 Emergency Duty Team Responsibilities
4.8.1 If concerns regarding significant harm are raised out of hours, then the Emergency Duty Team member (EDT) taking the referral will consult with the EDT Manager or EDT Team Leader and will make enquiries of:
- any relevant agency that can be contacted
- any records or agency checking systems which are available
- if necessary, refer back to the source of the information to obtain as detailed a referral as possible.
4.8.2 The EDT member will consult with the EDT Manage/Team Leader on completion of the above enquiries, together they will agree a plan which takes the following actions:-
- Undertake any urgent investigation if necessary.
- Identify and action any immediate steps necessary to protect children.
4.8.3 The EDT Manager/Team Leader will:-
- authorize Section 47 enquiries, if necessary
- ensure the Police are consulted (using as guidance the issues outlined in Paragraph 5.9.2) and that joint action, if appropriate is arranged
- Authorize any immediate action necessary to protect children
- Ensure that any decision taken to handover the enquiries to Children’s Social Care is communicated to the other agencies involved.
4.8.4 The EDT Manager/Team Leader will ensure the appropriate paperwork is sent to the Children Services Team in order that they are able to continue with the enquiries. A copy will be sent to the Customer Service Centre.
4.8.5 The EDT worker will:
- Inform the relevant Service Unit of information received and action taken at the start of the next working day.
- Be available to attend an initial Child Protection Conference where their involvement was significant, or to provide a written report if unable to attend.
