Social Services Child Concerns

Why Are Social Services Involved With My Family?

If children’s services have contacted you about concerns regarding your child, it can be worrying, particularly if you do not understand why they have become involved or what will happen next.

Children’s services can become involved with a family for many different reasons. Their involvement does not automatically mean that you have done something wrong or that your child will be taken into care.

In many cases, the purpose of their involvement is to assess the family’s circumstances, understand whether a child needs additional support and identify any services that could help.

Why Might Social Services Become Involved With My Family?

Children’s services will usually become involved after receiving information suggesting that a child may need additional support or that there could be concerns about their welfare.

Information can come from a number of sources, including:

• A parent or family member asking for help
• A GP or other healthcare professional
• A school, nursery or teacher
• The police
• Another professional working with the family
• A member of the public
• The child themselves

The nature of the response will depend upon the information received and the level of concern.

Common Reasons for Children’s Services Involvement

There are many reasons why children’s services may become involved with a family, and not all involve allegations of abuse or neglect.

A Family Has Asked for Support

Parents can approach children’s services themselves when they are struggling or need additional help.

This could include support during a particularly difficult period or assistance with a specific problem affecting a child or the wider family.

Concerns Have Been Raised by a Professional

A GP, teacher, health visitor, police officer or another professional may contact children’s services if they have concerns about a child’s welfare.

A referral does not mean that the concerns have been proven. Children’s services may need to gather further information to determine whether any action is necessary.

Disability or Additional Needs

Children’s services can provide support where a child has a disability or additional needs, or where a parent’s own disability affects their ability to care for their child without additional assistance.

Support can include practical help and short-break services, either within or away from the family home.

Domestic Abuse

Children’s services may become involved where a child is living in a household affected by domestic abuse.

Even where violence or controlling behaviour is not directed towards the child, professionals may consider the impact that witnessing or experiencing domestic abuse has on their welfare and emotional wellbeing.

Concerns About Abuse or Neglect

Children’s services have a responsibility to investigate where there is reason to suspect that a child may be experiencing, or be at risk of experiencing, significant harm.

Concerns might relate to:

• Physical abuse
• Emotional abuse
• Sexual abuse
• Neglect
• Domestic abuse
• Substance or alcohol misuse
• Other circumstances affecting a parent’s ability to safely care for their child

The fact that an allegation has been made does not mean that it has been established as fact.

A Parent Needs Temporary Help Caring for Their Child

There are circumstances in which a parent may agree for their child to be temporarily cared for by someone else, including through arrangements with the Local Authority.

This might happen during a family emergency, because of particularly challenging circumstances or where a child has needs that the family is temporarily struggling to manage.

Parents should understand the legal basis of any proposed arrangement and obtain legal advice if they are unsure about their rights or what they are being asked to agree to.

Emergency Safeguarding Concerns

Where professionals believe a child is at immediate risk of serious harm, urgent action may be considered.

Depending on the circumstances, this could involve police protection or an application to the Family Court for an Emergency Protection Order.

These are very different circumstances from ordinary social services involvement and parents should seek specialist legal advice immediately.

What Happens After Social Services Receive a Concern?

What happens next depends upon the seriousness of the information received.

Children’s services may decide that:

• No further action is required
• The family would benefit from support
• An assessment should be completed
• A Child in Need plan may be appropriate
• Further enquiries are required because there are safeguarding concerns
• A Child Protection Conference should be considered
• In the most serious circumstances, legal action may be necessary

Where an assessment takes place, a social worker may speak to you and your child and gather information from other professionals involved with the family.

Will Social Services Take My Child Away?

Social services involvement does not automatically mean your child will be removed from your care.

In many cases, children’s services work with families while children continue to live at home.

Where the Local Authority believes a child cannot safely remain at home, there are legal safeguards surrounding removal. Except in particular circumstances, such as where a parent agrees to an arrangement or emergency legal powers are used, the Local Authority will generally need to seek the involvement of the Family Court.

Removing a child from their parents is a serious step and must be justified by the individual circumstances of the case.

What Should I Do If Social Services Contact Me?

Try to understand exactly what concerns have been raised and what children’s services intend to do next.

It can be helpful to:

• Ask why children’s services have become involved
• Ask what specific concerns have been raised
• Keep copies of letters, emails and assessments
• Keep a record of important conversations and meetings
• Attend meetings and assessments where appropriate
• Correct information that you believe is inaccurate
• Seek legal advice if you are concerned about the seriousness of the situation

You do not have to wait until care proceedings have started before seeking advice.

When Should I Speak to a Solicitor?

You should consider obtaining specialist legal advice if children’s services are discussing:

• A Child Protection Conference
• A pre-proceedings or PLO meeting
• A written agreement or safety plan you are unsure about
• Your child living somewhere else
• Police involvement
• An Emergency Protection Order
• Care proceedings
• Allegations of abuse or non-accidental injury

Getting advice early can help you understand the process, respond appropriately to the concerns being raised and protect both your rights and your child’s interests.

Speak to a Children Law Solicitor

If children’s services have contacted you and you are worried about what happens next, our experienced children law solicitors can help you understand why they are involved, what powers they have and what you should do next.

Contact us today for confidential advice and support.