Child protection investigation and assessment

An IRD may decide that a Child Protection Investigation is required. The decision of the initial IRD will determine if the investigation should be carried out by a single agency or by more than one agency. The investigating workers should carry out enquires and collate information to inform a multi-agency assessment of risk.

The Social Worker should:

• Refer to the child to independent advocacy More information about Barnardo’s Hear 4 U Advocacy support and how to refer can be found here
• Liaise with the multi-agency team around the child and gather all relevant information including the developmental history of the child
• Liaise with the relevant services that the parents are known to e g mental health, Alcohol and Drug Recovery Service (ADRS)
• Contact the family and share the allegations that have been made (unless doing so is considered to place the child in danger)
• Get a clear account of the events that have led to the referral
• Assess the family’s ability to meet the child’s needs and keep them safe
• Assess the risks and protective factors
• See the child on their own and ascertain their view
• Complete and analyse the chronology
• Make a recommendation as to whether the child is at risk of significant harm and outline a plan to reduce the risks

Good communication must be maintained by the Social Worker throughout the Child Protection Investigation, they should:

• Keep regular communication with the multi-agency team informing them of decisions made during the investigation and agreeing how the child and family will be supported
• Maintain at least weekly contact with the child and their family, informing them of decisions, agreeing the most appropriate supports
• Prepare the Child Protection Report

The report will be prepared by the Social Worker and include the details of Social Work, Health, Education and Police involvement, information from all other involved services and the assessment of significant harm and future risk to the child.

The report should consider the need for compulsory measures and referral to the Children’s Reporter.

Reports should be prepared sufficiently in advance to ensure that the child and family have had time to read and discuss the report before a Child Protection Planning Meeting (if that is the recommendation of the report).

The Initial Child Protection Planning Meeting should take place within 28 days of the IRD. Where the investigation is going to take longer and the meeting cannot take place within this time, the Social Work Team Manager must record the reason for this on ECLIPSE.