Child protection

In England and Wales, if a council Local authority Your local council. In England, Wales and Scotland, this is the body you ask to assess what extra help your child needs. Read the full definition of Local authority has reason to suspect a child is suffering or likely to suffer significant harm, it has a legal duty to make enquiries. This is often called a section 47 enquiry Section 47 enquiry A section 47 enquiry is when social workers check whether a child may be at risk of serious harm. It is a formal step, not a decision that anything is wrong. Read the full definition of Section 47 enquiry , after the part of the Children Act 1989 that requires it.

Being asked questions as part of one is frightening, and it can feel like an accusation. An enquiry is not a finding: its job is to work out what is happening and whether anything needs to change to keep a child safe, and many enquiries end with an offer of support, or with nothing further at all. Some families of disabled children meet this process after asking services for help, which can feel like a punishment for asking. It should never stop you asking for the help your child needs: needing support is not the same as being unsafe.

You are allowed to ask questions at every step: what the concern is, what happens next, and when you will hear the outcome. You can also bring someone with you to meetings, and independent advice, for example from a family rights charity or a solicitor, can help you understand your position. Scotland and Northern Ireland have their own child protection laws and procedures, so the section numbers here do not apply there.