Is parental consent required for section 47 referral?

In emergency situations where the child needs urgent medical treatment and there is insufficient time to obtain parental consent: The medical practitioner may decide to proceed without consent; and/or.

Is a section 47 serious?

A section 47 enquiry can of course prove to be very damaging for a child, for her parents and for their mutual relationships. In particular, the lives of parents can be badly affected if and when adverse conclusions are made about the harm that they have inflicted on their child.

What is the difference between a section 17 and 47 in the Children’s Act?

It explains the definition of a child in need, the assessment process and child in need plans and the types of services available. Section 17 Children Act 1989 support for more complex needs. Action under section 47 if there is reasonable cause to suspect that a child is suffering or likely to suffer significant harm.

How long does a section 47 investigation take?

While the timescale within which the assessment must be completed is 45 working days the outcome of enquiries under Section 47 must be available in time for an Initial Child Protection Conference which (if required) must be held within 15 working days of the Strategy Discussion/Meeting where the enquiries were …

When to start a child protection enquiry under Section 47?

Where information gathered during a Referral or an Assessment (which may be very brief) results in the social worker suspecting that the child is suffering or likely to suffer Significant Harm, a Strategy Discussion Meeting should be held to decide whether to initiate enquiries under Section 47 of the Children Act 1989.

What should be included in a section 47 report?

The Record of Section 47 Enquiry and Reports to Child Protection Conferences should include 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.

When to take action under Section 47 Children Act?

In no circumstances should the child be left wondering what is happening and why. If the whereabouts of a child subject to Section 47 Enquiries are unknown and cannot be ascertained by the social worker, the following action must be taken within 24 hours:

What do social workers need to know about Section 47?

The social worker, when conducting a Section 47 Enquiry, must assess the potential needs and safety of any other child in the household of the child in question. In addition, Section 47 Enquiries may be required concerning any children in other households with whom the alleged abuser may have contact.