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Complex Safeguarding Wales

Seven steps to assessment

Practitioners have a duty to report concerns about the safety or wellbeing of a young person.

Children’s Services will adapt the referral depending on young person’s needs. The referral and assessment process will normally follow seven steps:

  1. Referral
  2. Section 21 of the Social Services Wellbeing (Wales) Act 2014
  3. Section 47 of the Children Act 1989
  4. Section 47 decisions
  5. Initial case conference
  6. Initial case conference outcomes
  7. Child Protection Register

Seven steps in detail

1. Referral

An initial discussion is conducted to determine immediate risk. Under the Police Powers of Protection they can remove a young person for 72 hours if they suspect that that young person is at significant risk or harm. The local authority can apply to remove the young person for 7 days under an Emergency Protection Order (EPO).

2. Section 21 of the Social Services Wellbeing (Wales) Act 2014

The local authority has a duty to assess the needs of the young person if they appear to require additional support, and these needs are more than the family can support alone.

3. Section 47 of the Children Act 1989

If the young person appears to be suffering significant harm, the local authority has a duty to investigate. Section 47 (S47) enquiries involve a multi-agency meeting or strategy discussion, guided by the principles of the All-Wales Protocols for Safeguarding Children.

4. Section 47 decisions

There are three possible decisions:

  1. No further action (NFA).
  2. A care and support plan to meet the young person’s needs.
  3. An Initial Case Conference if the young person is at risk of serious harm.

5. Initial Case Conference

The aim of the Initial Case Conference is to assess the likelihood that the young person will continue to suffer significant harm. It should be attended by family members, advocates, and practitioners.

6. Initial Case Conference outcomes

There are three possible outcomes:

  1. No further action (NFA).
  2. The young person is not at risk, but they may have care and support needs.
  3. The young person is at risk, and is make subject to a care and support plan.

7. Child Protection Register

If the young person is judged to be at significant risk, their name is added to the child protection register, and a child protection plan is written for them.