3.2 Making a Referral

Safeguarding partner agenies and contracted service providers must make a referral to Children's Social Care if there are signs that a child under the age of 18 years or an unborn baby:

• Is or has suffered Significant Harm;
• Is likely to Significant Harm; or
• With the agreement of a person with Parental Responsibility  where a Early Help Plan has identified that the child and family would be likely to benefit from family support services from Children's Social Care.

The timing of such referrals must reflect the level of perceived risk, but should usually be within one working day of the recognition of risk.

Professionals in most agencies should have internal procedures, which identify child protection designated / named managers /staff, able to offer advice and decide upon the necessity for a referral. However, a formal referral or any urgent medical treatment must not be delayed by the need for such consultation.

Consultation may also be made directly with Children's Social Care. Where consultation with Children's Social Care is sought, and Children's Social Care then conclude that a referral is required, the information provided will be regarded and responded to as such.

An adopted child may divulge when (s)he is in placement, that they have been abused at some time in their previous history. An adopted child may also be vulnerable to physical, sexual or emotional abuse and / or neglect whilst they are placed for adoption.

If practitioners have concerns that a child may be a potential victim of modern slavery or human trafficking then a referral should be made to the National Referral Mechanism, as soon as possible.

The safety of children is paramount in all decisions relating to their welfare. Any action taken by members of staff from a safeguarding partner agency should ensure that no child is left in immediate danger.

The law (Section 3(5) of the Children Act 1989) empowers anyone who has actual care of a child to do all that is reasonable in the circumstances to safeguard her/his welfare.

The law (Section 3(5) of the Children Act 1989) empowers anyone who has actual care of a child to do all that is reasonable in the circumstances to safeguard her/his welfare.

Where abuse is alleged, suspected or confirmed in a child presented at A&E or admitted to hospital, (s)he must not be sent home / discharged until:

• Children's Social Care has been notified by phone that there are child protection concerns;
• A Strategy Discussion/Meeting has been held including relevant hospital staff.

See also the sub-section Immediate Protective Action in the Action on Receipt of Referrals Procedure 

If the child is suffering from a serious injury, medical attention must be sought immediately from Accident and Emergency (A&E). In these circumstances, Children's Social Care and the duty consultant paediatrician must be informed.

Except in cases where emergency treatment is needed, Children's Social Care and the Safeguarding Investigations Unit are responsible for ensuring that any paediatric assessment or medical treatment required as part of a Section 47 Enquiry are initiated (see Section 47 Enquiries Procedure, Paediatric Assessment).

Responsibility for making enquiries and investigating allegations rests with Children's Social Care and the Safeguarding Investigations Unit, along with other relevant agencies.

Where abuse is alleged, the initial response should be limited to listening carefully to what the child says in order to:

• Clarify the concerns;
• Offer reassurance about how (s)he will be kept safe; and
• Explain what action will be taken.

The child must not be pressed for information, led or cross-examined, or given false assurances of absolute confidentiality.  Such well-intentioned actions could prejudice police investigations, especially in cases of Sexual Abuse.

If the child is thought to be able to understand the significance and consequences of making a referral to Children's Social Care, (s)he should be asked her/his view.

Regardless of a child's expressed view, it remains the responsibility of the professional to take whatever action is required to ensure her/his safety and that of any other children

Where practicable, concerns should be discussed with the family and agreement sought for a referral to Children's Social Care unless this may:

• Place the child at risk of Significant Harm e.g. by the behavioural response it prompts (e.g. where fabricated or induced illness is suspected) or by leading to an unreasonable delay;
• Place others at risk (see Violence Towards Staff Procedure  and Uncooperative or Hostile Parents Procedure) ;
• Lead to the risk of losing evidential material.

For further guidance, see Information Sharing and Confidentiality 

A decision by any professional not to seek parental consent before making a referral to Children's Social Care must be recorded and the reasons given.

Where a parent has agreed to a referral, this must be recorded and confirmed in the referral to Children's Social Care.

Referrals from named professionals cannot be treated as anonymous, so the parent will ultimately become aware of the identity of the agency making the referral.

Where the parent refuses to give consent for the referral, further advice should, unless this would cause undue delay, be sought from a manager or the nominated child protection officer and the outcome fully recorded.

If, having taken full account of the parent's wishes, it is still considered that there is a need for a referral:

• The reason for proceeding without parental agreement must be recorded;
• Children's Social Care should be told that the parent has withheld her/his consent;
• The parent should be contacted to inform her/him that after considering her/his wishes a referral has been made (unless this action may increase the risk of harm to the child).

Referrals should be made to the Children's Social Care office where the child is living or is found (see Local Contact Details).

In urgent situations outside office hours, the referral should be made to the relevant Emergency Duty Service/Out of Hours Team (see Local Contact Details).

If the child is known to have an allocated social worker, referrals should be made to her/him or in her/his absence the manager or a duty officer in the relevant social work team. Where this is considered to be a child protection referral the referrer should follow this up in writing and Children's Social Care should respond as set out in Action on receipt of Referrals Procedure.

All referrers should have an opportunity to discuss their concerns with a qualified social worker.

Where available, the following information should be provided with the referral (but absence of information must not delay the referral):

• Cause for concern including details of any allegations, their sources, timing and location;
• What the child said;
• The child's current location and emotional and physical condition;
• Whether the child needs immediate protection;
• Full names, date of birth and gender of child(ren);
• Family address (current and previous);
• Identity of those with Parental Responsibility;
• Names and date of birth of all household members and any known regular visitors to the household;
• Details of the child's extended family or community who are significant for the child;
• Ethnicity, first language and religion of the child and parents / carers;
• Any need for an interpreter, signer or other communication aid;
• Any special needs of the child and other household members;
• Any significant / important recent or historical events / incidents in the child or family's life, including previous concerns;
• Details of any alleged perpetrators (if relevant);
• Known current or previous involvement of other agencies / professionals e.g. schools, GPs;
• Background information relevant to the referral e.g. positive aspects of parents care, previous concerns, pertinent parental issues, threats and violence towards professionals, any information about difficulties being experienced by the family/household due to domestic abuse, mental illness, substance misuse, and/or learning difficulties;
• The referrer's relationship and knowledge of child and parents / carers;
• Information regarding parental knowledge of, and agreement to, the referral.

All professional referrals made verbally must be confirmed in writing in all cases covering the areas above (in the bullet points above) by the referrer, within 24 hours. 

Professional referrals cannot be anonymous and should be made in the knowledge that during the course of enquiries it will be made clear which agency has originated the referral.

If there is no acknowledgement by Children's Social Care of the referral within a further 24 hours, the professional should contact Children's Social Care to establish the current status of the referral.

The referrer should keep a written record of:

• Discussions with child;
• Discussions with parent;
• Discussions with managers;
• Information provided to Children's Social Care;
• Decisions taken (clearly timed, dated and signed).

When members of the public are concerned about the welfare of a child or an unborn baby, they should contact the local Children's Social Care of the area in which the child lives / is found or, in the case of an unborn baby, where the mother lives (see Local Contact Details).

In urgent situations outside office hours, the member of the public should contact the relevant Emergency Duty Service/Out of Hours Team (See Local Contact Details).

The NSPCC help line offers an alternative means of reporting concerns

Individuals may prefer not to give their name to Children's Social Care or the NSPCC. Anonymous referrals by members of the public will be investigated thoroughly by Children's Social Care.

Alternatively the member of the public making the referral may disclose their identity, but not wish for it to be revealed to the parents / carers of the child concerned.

Wherever possible, staff should respect the referrer's request for anonymity. There are however, certain limited circumstances in which the identity of a referrer may have to be given i.e. the court arena.

Local publicity material should make the above position clear to potential referrers.

All referrers will have an opportunity to discuss their concerns with a qualified social worker.