Child Protection Enquiry Record

A child protection enquiry record is used in many local authorities to record decisions made during a child protection enquiry.

Using a Child Protection Enquiry Record

The child protection enquiry record will be started on the completion of an Initial Assessment. In some cases, this initial assessment may have been very brief.

The child protection enquiry record is in three parts:

Part 1

Part 1 records the information provided by other agencies during the enquiries. A separate record of enquiries should be made for each child in the family. The date and time the information was provided should be recorded along with the name of the professional supplying the information. Factual information should be clearly distinguished from the opinions of other professionals.

Part 2

Part 2 provides a record of the decisions made at the strategy meeting. Where the child protection concerns relate to more than one child in the family, it is important that actions are co-ordinated. This section of the child protection enquiry record enables decisions to be recorded separately for each child in the household. This will facilitate access to the record by the child. On completion a copy of Part 2 should be placed on each child's file.

If a video interview is required a separate record should be kept of the plan for the interview in accordance with the guidance set out in the Memorandum of Good Practice (Home Office and Department of Health 1992).

Part 3

Part 3 records the outcome of the enquiries and identifies any further actions necessary to safeguard or promote the child's welfare. Where enquiries have been undertaken on more than one child in a family, there is a separate section for each child. A copy of the competed Part three should be placed on each child's file. Where it is decided that a child protection case conference is required, Part 3 should be used to identify the areas of the Core Assessment that should be completed as a priority before the conference.

Key records index