Protection order
What is a child protection enquiry?
If Social Services are told that a child or young person (from new born babies to those aged seventeen) in Croydon is at risk or actually experiencing significant harm, the law states that we must make enquiries.
Some people find these enquiries upsetting, but they are the only way to find out whether a child does need protection or services. Sometimes an enquiry shows that there are no reasons to worry or that a family simply needs some advice or support from a professional agency. Occasionally our enquiries show that there are serious problems.
In every case the staff carrying out the enquiries try to be fair to everyone and as open as possible about what they do and why. Staff will always give top priority to the needs of the child.
Why does an enquiry start?
Everyone in the community has a responsibility to protect children, and we encourage any member of the public who thinks that a child is at risk to let us know.
Professionals who work with Croydon children e.g. teachers, health visitors and doctors, are expected to report suspected abuse or neglect to us.
How is an enquiry carried out?
Social work staff from our Duty Assessment, Child Care, Children with Disabilities or Leaving Care & Independence services carry out child protection enquiries.
In certain cases, they work together with specially trained police officers.
The main aim when an enquiry is begun is to decide whether a child is suffering or is likely to suffer 'significant harm'.
Generally what happens is that our social worker will:
- Talk to the person who has said they are worried.
- Contact any other professionals e.g. health visitor or head-teacher that may already know the child and ask him/her for any background information s/he may have.
- Visit parents at home, sometimes with the Police, to explain what the concerns are and to find out what you think.
- Ask to see the child and any other children living in the house.
- Especially for very young children, want to see where the child is sleeping in her/his home.
- If it seems necessary, ask you to take your child or children to a doctor for a medical examination.
We realise that enquiries like these make parents anxious, and staff will carry out their job in as sensitive a way as possible.
Professionals know that they must treat as strictly confidential anything they are told by Social Services, and in those cases where a medical opinion is needed we will suggest a specially trained doctor such as a pediatrician.
In a few of the most serious situations which involve a child who is old enough to co-operate, we may wish to record a video interview so that there is a very clear record of what s/he says. This can be used as evidence in court.
We try to be as open as possible about our enquiries, but our main concern is to do what is best for the child. In some instances, perhaps involving sexual abuse, we will work with one parent (usually the mother) without alerting any persons suspected of having sexually abused the child.
After our initial checks, we would normally take the other steps described above only when a parent or someone else with parental responsibility has given permission.
The Social Worker will give you a copy of any initial or core assessment.
What happens if I don't want to co-operate; will my children be taken away?
During child protection enquiries we do our best to make sure that it is safe for a child to stay at home and very few children do need to leave.
Obviously we prefer to have your co-operation and can be more confident about leaving a child at home when you are working with us to sort out any problems.
In a small number of cases where the risk to a child is very serious it may not be possible to keep the family together and:
- A member of the family who is thought to present a risk to the child may be asked to move out to temporary accommodation whilst we sort matters out.
- We may agree with you that friends, relatives or one of our approved foster carers should temporarily look after the child.
- Where neither of the above responses is possible or accepted, we may apply to the court for an order to allow us to insist that an adult member of your household leaves or that we can temporarily remove a child.
What happens next?
If the enquiry concludes that a child is not at 'risk' we will:
- Tell you and explain why we took the action we did.
- Suggest support services which might help your family.
If the enquiry concludes that a child is or may be suffering significant harm we will:
- Arrange what we call a 'Child Protection Conference.'
Complaints and suggestions
In carrying out an enquiry, staffs try to:
- Keep an open mind.
- Be fair to all family members.
- Explain fully concerns and any decisions made.
- Establish and record your views.
- Confirm important decisions in writing.
- Share confidential information only with other professionals who need to know it.
- Be sensitive to any religious or cultural beliefs within your family and provide an interpreter if this is needed.
If staff fails to meet these standards, you need to know that there is also a procedure for responding to any formal suggestions or complaints about services which have not been sorted out to your satisfaction.
This procedure would be the one to use if Social Services had failed to do something which had been promised you, or if you felt you had not been treated fairly.
The complaints procedure cannot deal e.g. with the fact that a child's/young person's name has been placed on the child protection register.
