What happens if after the s47 enquiries… …concerns are not substantiated? Social workers should… 37.1 Discuss with the parents and other professionals, drawing on an understanding from the assessment and/or police investigations, what further help or support the family may require, for example, with parenting difficulties. This may be related to the child’s health or development or to more general matters within the family. 37.2 Consider whether the child’s health and development require continued monitoring against the specific objectives and who has responsibility for this monitoring. 37.3 Consider whether further work is required to complete the core assessment in order to decide what further help or support the family may require, and if so, complete it. 37.4 Record all decisions and the reasons for them on the Outcome of the s47 Enquiries Record (Department of Health, 2002c).
Other practitioners should… 38.1 Participate in these discussions and considerations when requested. 38.2 Contribute to the completion of the core assessment as appropriate. 38.3 Provide services as specified in the plan for the child.
…concerns are substantiated, but the child is not judged to be at continuing risk of significant harm? 39 There may be substantiated concerns that a child has suffered significant harm, but it is agreed between the agencies involved with the child and family that a plan for ensuring the child’s future safety and welfare can be developed and implemented without the need for a child protection conference or a child protection plan. Such an approach will be of particular relevance where it is clear to the agencies involved that there is no continuing risk of significant harm. This is particularly relevant where, for example, the carer has taken
30
WHAT TO DO IF YOU’RE WORRIED A CHILD IS BEING ABUSED