Information for Parents
What is child protection?
Dorset Children’s Services has a duty to make sure all children and young people in Dorset are safe from harm. If we believe a child or young person is at risk, then we must take steps to understand these risks. We work with families and other professionals to keep children safe. This is child protection.
Why is there a child protection enquiry for my child?
We start a child protection enquiry (sometimes called a Section 47 enquiry) when:
- one of our social workers
- another professional
- a member of the public
tells us they are worried a child or young person is not safe or is at risk of harm.
We have a legal duty to investigate all safeguarding concerns or allegations to make sure the child is safe. We always aim to be open and honest, but sometimes it may not be possible to tell you where the concerns have come from. For example if this could put your child at risk of further harm or if a member of the public raised the concern.
The Child Protection enquiry will help us to understand your child and your family’s circumstances. When the enquiry is finished, we will decide if we think your child is at risk of harm. This means a Child Protection Plan is needed to keep your child safe and support your family.
What happens in a Child Protection enquiry and who is involved?
The social worker will speak to you as the parent or carer of your child. They will also speak to your child directly on their own. We always aim to gain your (the parent’s) permission to speak with your child. Sometimes we will need to speak to your child without your agreement. We will do this if we are worried about their welfare and safety.
The social worker will also gather information. They will talk with the professionals who know your child and your family.
This could be:
- your child’s school
- your GP
- your child's GP
- your health visitor
We must complete the Child Protection enquiry within 15 working days.
What support is there for me?
We understand that being part of a child protection enquiry might be worrying. It might make you feel uncertain about what may happen. A Quality Assurance Reviewing Officer (QARO), who is not part of the enquiry, will:
- with your consent, feedback your views to the allocated social worker
- help you to raise any concerns and explain how you can complain if you are not happy
- make sure that the Child Protection enquiry is done properly and is fair to everyone
- answer any questions you may have about the process
- explain your rights and what could happen next
- ensure you and your child(ren) are fully involved
- call you, introduce themselves and answer your questions
- offer you support and explain what will happen
You can contact a duty QARO any time from Monday to Friday between 9am and 5pm on 01305 225940.
What happens after the Child Protection enquiry
When the enquiry is completed, the social worker will share their findings with their manager. Together they will decide what should happen next. They will decide one of the following:
If the enquiry finds that your child is not at continued risk of harm
Dorset Children’s Services will take no further action.
If the enquiry finds that your children and family need help and extra support
Dorset Children’s Services will offer this to you.
If the enquiry finds that your child is not safe or is at risk of harm
Dorset Children’s Services will arrange a formal meeting. We call this an initial child protection conference.
What happens at a Child Protection Conference
We want families to play a leading role in the conference and in the development of their plan. Your QARO will give you support to be able to do this. A child protection conference is a meeting to talk about:
- what is going well for your child and family
- what worries we might have within your family and the care of your child (or children)
- what needs to happen to make sure your children are safe
The meeting will focus on developing your plan to support you and your family to keep your child(ren) safe. This will include what the professionals who work with your child and family can do to help and support you. There may be reasons that might stop you and your child’s other parent from coming to the conference at the same time. If this is the case, we can arrange for the conference to be held in two parts. (For example, concerns around domestic abuse).
What support you get with the Child Protection Conference
Before the Child Protection Conference takes place, the QARO will contact you. They may arrange a home visit to help you prepare. The QARO will:
- provide you with information needed for the conference. This will include offers of help and support from the professionals that are going to attend the conference
- help you to think about the help that is on offer. You should think about which of these things you think are the most helpful to you and your family
- ask you if there is anyone you would like to come with you to the Child Protection Conference. This might be a family member or a close friend you trust who can offer you support
- explain who will be attending the conference
Advocacy
As a parent, you can have an independent advocate to help you speak at the Child Protection Conference. You can find out more about advocacy from your QARO. Your child can also have an advocate at the Child Protection Conference. Your child’s social worker will arrange this. The advocate will help your child to plan what they want to say at the conference. They will speak up for them if they want this. The advocate will need to see your child alone to hear their views and wishes.
Find out more about advocacy for children.
Making sure the plan is working
The Child Protection Conference agrees the plan. It will also agree who will be responsible for making sure that the things in the plan happen. We call the professionals with the most responsibility for making the plan happen the Core Group. You will meet with them regularly to review your plan. We call these core group meetings. There will be a Review Child Protection Conference, usually after 3 months.
At this review:
- you
- your child
- some of the professionals who came to the first conference
will meet again to decide whether the plan is working. Again, your QARO will help you to prepare for this meeting and will answer any questions you have about it. Your advocate can support you at this meeting if you wish.
What happens next?
Usually, child protection plans are successful. They help families to become more confident about keeping their child or children safe. When this happens, the child protection process comes to an end with a final child protection conference.
What if I am not happy with Dorset’s Child Protection work?
If you are not happy with something that Dorset Children’s Services have done, you may wish to speak to your social worker or QARO. If this does not help, or you wish to make a formal complaint straight away:
Call: 01305 225076, or
Write to: Complaints, Freepost RRYH-AGJZ-TRGG, Dorset Council County Hall, Colliton Park, Dorchester, DT1 1XJ
Email: complaints@dorsetcouncil.gov.uk
Or you can use our online form.