Responding to Child Protection Referrals

Where an allegation of child abuse is made by a member of the public, they are encouraged to contact the Local Authority social services department.  Please note that although the name of the person making the allegation must be provided to the Local Authority social services department, their name will not be disclosed to members of the family in question without their consent.

Whatever the source, where there is knowledge of, or an allegation or a suspicion of, significant harm to a child, this will always be taken seriously.  The nature and context of the concerns will dictate the Local Authority decision to offer a family either support under the Children in Need Procedures or initiate formal Child Protection enquiries under Child Protection Procedures. 

Within one working day of a referral being received (or new information becoming available to the social services department about an open case) there will be a decision as to what response is required.  The response is likely to be:

• to initiate enquiries under s47 of the Children Act 1989, or
• to offer an assessment for services under s17 of the Children Act 1989, or
• to undertake an initial assessment to determine what further action is appropriate

The response may be to take no further action, but that is itself a decision and would be made promptly, and recorded.

Where there is a risk to the life of the child or a likelihood of serious immediate harm, the social services department would act quickly to secure the immediate safety of the child.