Guidance for Completion of Section 47 Documents

This chapter details the practice around completing a Section 47 Enquiry.

AMENDMENT

The chapter was amended and localised in November 2019 and should be re-read.

1. The Process

The decision to undertake a Section 47 (s47) investigation is the responsibility of the POD Manager, and is made in a Strategy Meeting or Strategy Discussion. Once a decision has been made to undertake a s47, a Section 47 - Management Decision record will be opened by the POD Manager on Eclipse. The allocated social worker should open a Strengthening Families Assessment alongside this. Both the Section 47 - Management Decision and the Strengthening Families Assessment should be opened on the date that the strategy discussion or meeting took place.

2. Informing Families and Professionals that a s47 Investigation is being Undertaken and the Outcome

If a decision is made to undertake s47 investigation, families must be provided with the s47 information pack.

In all cases, (although contact may already have been made with children and their families), a letter must be sent confirming this. Please send with this letter, the leaflet 'Child Protection Enquiries & Investigations'.

PLEASE ENSURE YOU HAVE THE CORRECT ADDRESS.

In all cases a letter must be sent to relevant professionals advising that we are conducting a Child Protection investigation. (A letter must be sent even if you have contacted the relevant agency to undertake checks).

In all cases, (unless you have management agreement not to), a letter must be sent to families advising them of the outcome of the investigation, and future planning. i.e. continuing assessment via Strengthening Families Assessment, ICPC, Early Help, Closure etc, as agreed with your manager.

In all cases, letters/emails must be sent to professionals/agencies advising them of the outcome of the s47.

(A copy of the letter/email must be saved in case notes).

3. Using the Document

The Section 47 – Management Decision document must be completed alongside a Strengthening Families Assessment.

Social Workers must use the Section 47 – Management Decision to record all the S47 checks with other agencies, and to record dates of visits to the children during the Section 47 assessment period. All the social workers' assessment and analysis should go onto the Strengthening Families Assessment.

Once the S47 agency checks, visit to the children and some initial social work analysis have been completed. The Pod Manager then makes the decision on the Section 47- Management Decision under 'Decisions made and reasons for this', and adds a SMART action plan.

4. Ending the S47

An Initial Child Protection Case Conference must be held within 15 working days from the start date of the s47. This is a Performance Indicator which we are measured on.

An analysis of reasons for ICPC should be completed by the Pod Manager who then authorises the Section 47-Management Decision document.

The full timescale for completion of the s47 assessment is 15 working days maximum.