(A) Child in Need Referral
The referral form must include a declaration that consent of the person with parental responsibility for the child/ren has been given, for the sharing of information with other agencies.
(B) Child Protection Referral
All child protection referrals must be discussed with the Duty Officer, at the time the concerns come to light. The online referral form must be submitted subsequently and sent to the Duty Officer within 48 hours of the verbal referral having been made. It is good practice to seek the consent of parents / carers before making a referral unless to do so would increase the risk of immediate harm to the child. If consent is refused the referrer should discuss this with the Duty Officer at the point of referral. The exceptions to seeking consent will be any referral where Sexual Abuse or Fabricated and Induced Illness is suspected, in this instance there should be no discussion with family prior to referral to the Duty Officer.
What is a child protection referral?
Section 47(1) of the Children act 1989 states that: Where a local authority have reasonable cause to suspect that a child who lives, or is found, in their area is suffering, or is likely to suffer, significant harm, the authority shall make, or cause to be made, such enquiries as they consider necessary to enable them to decide whether they should take any action to safeguard or promote the child’s welfare.
If you are working with a child or young person for whom a CAF assessment (Common Assessment Framework) has already been fully completed, you can forward the completed CAF to the Children’s Duty Team.
It is your responsibility to ensure that all of the basic information required is included as part of your referral, either on this form or in the completed CAF. Failure to do so will cause delay for the family.
