What is a Section 47 in relation to social services?
Section 47 refers to a provision within the Children Act 1989. It empowers local authorities, specifically social services departments and the police, to investigate and take action when they have reasonable cause to suspect that a child is at risk of significant harm.
Under Section 47, if social services receive information or have concerns about a child’s welfare, they have the legal duty to conduct a thorough assessment of the child’s situation. This assessment usually involves gathering information from various sources such as the child, their family members, professionals involved in their care (e.g. teachers, doctors) and any other relevant parties.
The purpose of a Section 47 investigation is to determine whether the child is suffering, or likely to suffer, significant harm. Significant harm can manifest in various forms including physical, emotional, sexual abuse, neglect or exposure to domestic violence. It also includes impairment of development, for example if the child is not attending school, their educational development may be impaired. If social services conclude that the child is indeed at risk, they have a duty to take appropriate action to safeguard the child’s welfare and protect them from harm.
Depending on the severity and urgency of the situation social services may employ different interventions. These include the provision of support services to the child and their family, involving other agencies such as the police or healthcare professionals or, initiating legal proceedings to apply for a Court Order to secure the child’s safety. This could be an Interim Care Order or an Emergency Protection Order.
It is important to note that the specific details and procedures related to Section 47 investigations may vary slightly depending on local social services team involved.
Bretherton Law provide child law advice for people located in Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire and London. If you and your family are being investigated by children’s social services and you need Legal Advice then please do get in touch either by calling the number above (9am – 5pm Monday – Friday) or by requesting a callback using the form at the bottom of this page. The first call is always free of charge and we can advise you if you are likely to be eligible for Legal Aid. It’s important to take advice early so you can understand the process and try and achieve the best outcome.
