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Integrated Children's System

Outcome of Section 47 Enquiries Record

There are three exemplars concerned with child protection:

Record of the Strategy Discussion;

Record of Outcome of s47 enquiries;

Initial Child Protection Conference Report.

They specifically relate to Working Together to Safeguard Children (Department of Health 1999) from the time of the strategy discussion to the holding of an initial child protection conference. They are intended to support the ongoing assessment process that takes place following the raising of concerns about a child’s safety until the initial child protection conference. This concern may be raised at any time during work with children and families.

Record of Outcome of s47 Enquiries

This records the outcome of s47 enquiries which have been instigated following a strategy discussion or meeting, and sets out the further actions to be taken after the s47 enquiries have been completed.

View Integrated Children's System Outcome of Section 47 Enquiries (PDF format)

Completing the Record of Outcome of s47 Enquiries

It is the responsibility of social services to decide how to proceed following s47 enquiries. This decision should be made following consultation with all those involved in or making a substantial contribution to these enquiries. Further guidance on the purpose, conduct and outcome of s47 enquiries can be found in paragraphs 5.33 –5.52 of Working Together to Safeguard Children.

The Record of Outcome of s47 Enquiries should be completed at the conclusion of the enquiries to record the decisions made and the evidence that informed these.

It is the responsibility of the team manager to ensure that the record is completed and copies provided to all those involved in the enquiries, including the parents and, where appropriate, the child or young person. If the decision is to convene an initial child protection conference, every attempt should be made to distribute copies of the record to the relevant people in advance of the conference.

Key Features

  • Findings

    This is presented in a tabular format developed from that used in the Record of Strategy Discussion to enable the information to be updated from this record.
Example 1: Samuel Webb, aged 6, was referred to social services by his school. He had come into school this morning with several linear bruises to the front of his legs. School had little contact with his parents.
A strategy meeting was held and the actions agreed included:

FURTHER ACTIONS (include any further actions required, by whom and within what timescale)

Action(s) to be taken Action(s) to be taken Person/Agency responsible Date for completion
Ms Webb to be interviewed regarding possible assault Gail Hunt, Police Child Protection Team 20.6.02 (am)
Sam’s teacher, Miss Otley, to be contacted Ben Spencer, SSD 20.6.02 (am)
Ms Webb to be interviewed re-parenting and need for support Ben Spencer, SSD 20.6.02 (pm)
At the conclusion of the s 47 investigation the outcomes of actions taken included:


FINDINGS: please detail actions carried out following the strategy discussion(s) and summarise findings in terms of child’s developmental needs, including child’s safety; parenting capacity; and wider family and environmental factors
Action Person/agency Date completed Findings
Ms Webb to be interviewed regarding possible assault Gail Hunt, Police Child Protection Team 20.6.02 (am) Ms Webb co-operative and concerned had not noticed any bruising to Samuel’s legs and could offer no explanation.
Sam’s teacher, Miss Otley, to be contacted Ben Spencer, SSD 20.6.02 (pm) Miss Otley reported that Samuel is bright happy child. No previous concerns of any kind. He told Miss Otley that he had taken his older brother’s bike without permission and kept slipping off the saddle and the pedals hit him on his shins.
Ms Webb to be interviewed re-parenting and need for support Ben Spencer, SSD 20.6.02 (pm) Ms Webb seen with Samuel and his older brother Luke as medical report confirmed Samuel’s explanation. Both boys quite relaxed in her company. Ms Webb said she coped well with the boys and did not want any further support.
  • Decision

    Only one box should be ticked.

  • Reason for Decision:

    This should record an explanation of the basis for the decision, including a summary of the evidence on which the decision is based.

  • Future actions

    More than one action may be ticked. For example a child protection case conference may be being held at the same time a core assessment is being completed and legal action taken to protect a child or young person.
  YES NO  
Child protection conference*

Proposed date of Initial Child Protection
Conference _ _ /_ _ / _ _ _ _
Monitor child’s welfare
(see paragraph 5.47 of Working Together)
   YES NO
Complete Core Assessment Provision of Services (s17)
Initiate Legal Action in Court No Further Action
*Please record details of actions that will be carried out in the plan (page 3 of this form)

In some cases the need for other actions may have been identified during the enquiries, for example, the provision of short break or day care to support a child. These actions should be recorded in the plan at the end of the Outcome of Section 47 Enquiries record. The plan follows the format used in the plan at the end of the Initial Assessment Record.

Links to other records in the Integrated Children’s System

  • Using the Record of Strategy Discussion with the Initial Plan, Child’s Plan and Care Plan

In some cases it will be decided that the concerns are not substantiated or that they are substantiated but it is judged that the child or young person is not at continuing risk and further services should be provided to support the child or young person.

Where an Initial Plan is already in place, existing actions should be incorporated into the plan at the end of the Outcome of the Section 47 Enquiries Record. This will then become the Initial plan for the child.

Where a Child’s Plan or Care Plan is in place, the actions identified in the Outcome of the Section 47 Enquiries Record should be used to update this plan.

Where a plan is not already in place and the Outcome of the Section 47 Enquiries Record identifies the need for further actions, details should be recorded in the plan at the end of the Record. The resulting Initial Plan should be used to inform any subsequent plans. Where no other plan is developed the Initial Plan should be reviewed regularly and at closure.
 
 
 
By Steve Walker, David Shemmings and Hedy Cleaver
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