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Dept of Health

Answer

Dr. Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the recommended thresholds for (a) providing child protection services, (b) instigating child protection inquiries and (c) convening initial child protection conferences are. [78041] Jacqui Smith: Where a child is suspected to be suffering, or likely to suffer significant harm, local authority social services departments are required by section 47 of the Children Act 1989 to make enquiries, to enable the local authority to decide whether it should take any action to safeguard or promote the child's welfare. Where, following the outcome of section 47 enquiries, the agencies most involved judge that a child may continue to suffer, or to be at risk of suffering significant harm, the social services department should convene an initial child protection conference. The aim of the conference is to enable those professionals most involved with the child and family to assess all relevant information; to make judgements about the likelihood of a child suffering significant harm in future; and to decide what future action is needed to safeguard the child and promote his or her welfare, how that action will be taken forward, and with what intended outcomes. If a decision is taken that the child is at continuing risk of significant harm, his or her name will be placed on the child protection register, and it will therefore be the case that safeguarding the child requires inter-agency help and intervention delivered through a formal child protection plan. It is also the role of the conference to formulate the outline child protection plan, in as much detail as possible. A child's name may not be placed on the register, but he or she may nonetheless be in need of help to promote his or her health or development. In these circumstances, the conference should ensure that arrangements are in place to consider with the family, what further help and support might be offered.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

78041; 392 c421-2W;392 c433-4W

Session

2001-02

Subjects

Children Abuse Inquiries Protection Social services Conferences

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk