Social Services: Referrals, Assessments & Outcomes
This page explains the duties of Social Services once a child protection referral is made. It describes the assessment process and timescales and explains possible outcomes of a child protection investigation.
If you think a child is in immediate danger call the police on 999, your local Children’s Services or the NSPCC on 0808 800 5000
Children’s Services have a legal duty to investigate situations where a concern has been expressed about the safety and well-being of a child. The child protection investigation is predominantly the responsibility of social workers within Children’s Services, however they do work closely with the Police, health workers and other professionals who are connected to the child and/or family
What happens when Children’s Services receive a referral?
When information is received, by way of a referral, which indicates that there are concerns about the safety and well-being of a child, Children’s Services have 24 hours to decide what type of response is required. In making this decision, the social worker will have to determine whether:
- the child(ren) require immediate protection and thus urgent and immediate action is required;
- the child(ren) is/are in need;
- there are reasonable grounds to suspect that the child(ren) is/are suffering, or is/are likely to suffer, significant harm and whether further enquiries need to be made;
- any services which the child(ren) and/or family require and what they are;
- whether any further specialist assessments are needed to help Children’s Services determine what further action to take;
- whether any action needs to be taken; and
- if there is no further action they can take, whether to refer the matter to a more appropriate agency.
