Child Protection Section 47 Enquiries By The Local Authority – What Do They Mean?

Section 47 enquiries by a Local Authority happen when a report has been made to a Local Authority that a child is being abused or is at risk of abuse. This can be:

• Physical abuse;
• Sexual abuse;
• Emotional abuse; or
• Neglect.

Criteria for a section 47 enquiry

Local Authorities have a duty to carry out an investigation or an assessment when they are informed that a child in their area meets one or more of the following criteria:

• The child is the subject of an Emergency Protection Order;
• The child is in Police protection; or
• The child is suffering or likely to suffer significant harm.

What happens if the Local Authority commence with a section 47 enquiry?

If the Local Authority commence a section 47 enquiry a social worker will speak to the parents, relevant other adults and a number of professionals involved with the child which can include doctors, health visitors, teachers, nursery and the Police. This will allow the social worker to complete an assessment of the child.

The assessment must be completed within 45 working days of the initial referral.

The assessment will allow the relevant Local Authority to consider whether they need to consider taking further action to safeguard the child. This could be making an application for a care order or a supervision order or other steps to ensure that the child will be safeguarded.