Where can I get help
Helpful numbers
We know this can be a stressful time for
children and parents. We will try to explain
24 Hour Child Protection Line:
what is happening, we will also listen to your
views and give you help and advice on what
supports are available.
If you feel you need legal advice or want
to know what your rights are in relation to
this inquiry you can contact a solicitor or an
advocacy service.
0800 022 3222
Dumfries & Galloway Advocacy Service:
01387 247237
Hear 4 U:
Child Protection
Inquiry
01387 264733 (Barnardos Advocacy)
Parent Line: 08000 28 22 33
Dumfries and Galloway Council:
030 33 33 3000
For translation of this leaflet or large print
versions please contact the Child Protection
Committee Support Team: 01387 260446260446
Your social worker’s name:
Contact details:
I N F O R M AT I O N F O R FA M I L I E S
1
I N F O R M AT I O N F O R FA M I L I E S - 1
Child Protection Inquiry
What is a Child Protection Inquiry?
Social work is involved with your family because
concerns have been raised about your child
that we need to investigate. Everyone has a
responsibility to keep children safe.
There are a number of reasons why social work
might need to undertake a child protection
inquiry. It may be that your child is or might
become at risk of harm.
Your child’s social worker will be identified and
will be in regular contact with you during the
inquiry and keep you up to date with what to
expect, the progress and the timescales.
What will happen during the inquiry?
When we receive information that your child
may be in need of protection social work and/ or
the police will visit you to discuss the concerns.
An assessment will be made of the concerns. The
assessment will include meeting and talking to
you and your children. We will also need to visit
your home and see where the children sleep.
Sometimes the police will talk to your child as well
as social work.
We will also talk to people that are involved with
your children such as teachers, health visitors or
other family members.
In some cases your child may need a medical
assessment. This would depend on the nature of
the concerns.
During all steps of the inquiry we would normally
talk to you before any action is taken, but in
rare cases it might not be possible to talk to you
before interviewing your child.
If it is necessary for us to talk to your child without
talking to you first we will explain the reasons for
this fully as soon as possible afterwards.
Social work will write a report. This is a Child
Protection Inquiry report. The report will look at
the concerns and what is good in a child’s life as
well as what may not be so good. You and your
child will be asked for your views which will be
added to the report.
What will happen after the inquiry is finished?
After the inquiry the report is sent to an
independent person who will help decide if
we need to continue to follow child protection
procedures. If so, we will arrange a meeting called
an Initial Child Protection Case Conference.
Stages of Inquiry
Stage 1 - Information received that your child is or
might be at risk of harm.
Stage 2 - Social work and/ or police will visit
and begin an assessment/ investigation of the
concerns. This will include information from
teachers, police, health and other agencies.
Stage 3 - Decision. On the basis of the information
gathered we will decide if we need to arrange an
Initial Child Protection Case Conference.
Stage 4 - Outcome
a) An Initial Child Protection Case Conference is arranged where a decision will be made whether your child’s name will be placed on the child protection register
and / or
b) We may refer your child to The Children’s
Reporter who will decide whether a Children’s
Hearing needs to be arranged
The case conference is a multi agency meeting.
This means there may be people there you see
regularly as well as other people you may never
have met, for example police or representatives
from health.
or
It is important that you talk to your child’s social
worker if you have any questions.
or
The Child Protection Case Conference is a
discussion of all the concerns and the positive
areas in your child’s life. The meeting will decide if
your child’s name is placed on the Child Protection
Register.
If the decision is made not to follow child
protection procedures we will not arrange an
Initial Child Protection Case Conference. Social
work will continue to work with your child to
ensure they are safe.
c) Not to arrange an Initial Child Protection Case
Conference, but social work will continue
to support your child and help you to make
positive changes.
d) the concern is recorded, but we will take no
further action.