Section 47 Child in need of protection A Section 47 enquiry is required because it si judged there si suspected actual harm or likely significant harm to the child. Where a child moves during the course of a Section 47 enquiry, the investigation should be completed by the authority that commenced the enquiries. The police, health professionals, teachers and other relevant professionals should support the local authority in undertaking its enquiries. Enquiries may also need … Where there remain differences of view over the necessity for a conference in a specific case, every effort should be made to resolve them through discussion and explanation. Click here to view Appendix 1: Body Maps. For additional guidance to doctors, see the Protecting Children and Young People - the Responsibilities of all Doctors' (GMC 2012). When a child is Looked After and a parent/carer has given general consent authorising medical treatment for the child, legal advice must be taken about whether this provides consent for a paediatric assessment for child protection purposes (the parent/carer still has full parental responsibility for the child). Listen to the child rather than directly questioning her/him; Never stop the child freely recounting significant events; Fully record the discussion including timing, setting, presence of others as well as what was said. In assessing the capacity of the patient, I have observed the principles set out in section 1 of the 2000 Act. Maintenance works Contracts. Consideration should be given to the capacity of the parents to understand the information shared in a situation of anxiety and stress. For this reason, enquiries and investigations relating to children in receipt of such services must be dealt with under the Nottingham City Safeguarding Children Partnership Inter Agency Procedures. The rise of Child Protection Plans and Section 47 Investigations In November 2018 the BBC reported on the rise of Child Protection Plans and Section 47 Investigations into Children at risk from harm. The social worker must consult with other agencies involved with the child and family to obtain a fuller picture of the circumstances of all children in the household, identifying parenting strengths and any risk factors. A section 47 enquiry is carried out by undertaking or continuing with an assessment in accordance with the guidance set out in this chapter and following the principles and parameters of a good assessment. The date(s) when the child was seen alone by the Lead Social Worker and, if not seen alone, who was present and the reasons for their presence; Contacts made cross-referenced with any specific forms used; Assessment including identification of risks and how they may be managed; Record of Outcome/Further Action Planned. https://hipsprocedures.org.uk/.../child-protection-section-47-enquiries-procedure Any discussions with children should be conducted in a way that minimises distress; leading or suggestive communication must be avoided and interviews during the process of a criminal investigation must follow the Achieving Best Evidence guidance – see also Section 19, Seeing and Interviewing the Child as part of Section 47 Enquiries and Section 23, Parental Involvement and Consent. These single agency medical examinations also will be arranged by the Police. local authority must investigate if they have good reason to suspect that a child who lives Children Moving Across Local Authority Boundaries Procedure, Section 7, Single Agency or Joint Enquiry/Investigation, Section 2, Purpose of the Section 47 Enquiry, Working Together to Safeguard Children, Flowchart 2: Immediate Protection, Sections 8, Seeing and Interviewing the Child, Section 9, Parental Involvement and Consent, Section 10.3, Consent for Paediatric Assessment/Medical Treatment, Protecting Children and Young People - the Responsibilities of all Doctors' (GMC 2012), Achieving Best Evidence in Criminal Proceedings (March 2011), Initial Child Protection Conferences Procedure, Resolving Professional Disagreements Procedure, Where there is information to indicate that a child has suffered or is likely to suffer, Where a child is subject to Police Protection Powers. Neglect, as well as abuse, many cause a child to suffer, Significant Harm such that urgent protective action is needed. The social worker must consult with other agencies involved with the child and family to obtain a fuller picture of the circumstances of all children in the household, identifying parenting strengths and any risk factors. The timing of this conference should depend on the urgency of the case and respond to the needs of the child and the nature and severity of the harm they may be facing. Stories such as these appear in the headlines intermittently, raising awareness for a period of time, before the next big social issue comes to the fore, and it again slips under the radar. All agencies … The vulnerability of the child (through age, developmental stage, Disability or other predisposing factor e.g. Only 1 answer. In all cases where there is a known propensity to violence within the family household, consideration should be given to the strategy to be adopted, with Police advice/assistance if appropriate, in order to reduce the risks before any visits take place. The outcome of a Section 47 Enquiry must be endorsed by the team manager. Flowchart . All reports and diagrams should be signed and dated by the doctor undertaking the examination. In cases of severe neglect, physical injury or penetrative sexual abuse, the assessment should be undertaken on the day of referral, where compatible with the welfare of the child. In such circumstances consideration should be given to whether: Also see Working Together to Safeguard Children, Flowchart 2: Immediate Protection. Strategy Discussions/Meetings should be held as soon as possible, bearing in mind the needs of the child. The decision and plan to carry out the Section 47 Enquiry will be determined at a Strategy Discussion. Contribute to the Assessment as required, providing information about the child and family; and. Lead the criminal investigation (local authority children’s social care have the lead for the section 47 enquires and assessment of the child’s welfare) where joint enquiries take place. The procedure which should be followed to identify assess and intervene with the child or young person who has displayed the behaviour are also set out below. The Criminal Justice Joint Inspection “‘Examining Multi-Agency Responses to Children and Young People who Sexually Offend” highlighted that: 1. Section 47 certificate of incapacity. The medical should only be carried out by suitably qualified and experienced clinicians, and should not be confined solely to examination of the child’s genital and/or anal areas. Help other agencies understand the reasons for concerns about the child's safety and welfare; Decide whether or not police investigations reveal grounds for instigating criminal proceedings; Make available to other professionals any evidence gathered to inform discussions about the child's welfare; and. In cases of serious abuse, and in all cases of sexual abuse, the local authority will tell the police. Feedback on the outcome of a Section 47 Enquiry should be provided to non-professional referrers in a manner that respects the confidentiality and welfare of the child and family. In no circumstances should the child be left wondering what is happening and why. Any disagreement around the need for such an examination must be escalated in line with these procedures.