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Do you need parental consent to make a referral to children's services?

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Sarah Oconnell

Published Feb 25, 2026

Do you need parental consent to make a referral to children's services?

All professionals must seek parental consent when they wish to refer to another organisation for assessment or services, where the referral is not in relation to a child protection issue. This consent must be sought for each referral to any organisations that a professional makes for a child or their family.

Similarly, who should make a referral to children's social care?

Anyone who has concerns about a child's welfare can make a referral to Children's social care. Referrals can come from the child themselves, professionals such as teachers, the police, GPs and health visitors as well as family members and members of the public.

Also, what is the difference between a section 17 and a section 47 referral? It explains the definition of a child in need, the assessment process and child in need plans and the types of services available. Section 17 Children Act 1989 support for more complex needs. Action under section 47 if there is reasonable cause to suspect that a child is suffering or likely to suffer significant harm.

One may also ask, what information is needed when making a referral?

3.Making a Referral

  • All known details of the child, including name, date of birth, family members and address;
  • Any known aliases of adults in family/household;
  • Previous addresses;
  • Any relevant history relating to child or adult family/household members;
  • Factual information about the concern, observation;

What happens when a referral is made to social services?

When information is received, by way of a referral, which indicates that there are concerns about the safety and well-being of a child, Children's Services have 24 hours to decide what type of response is required.

What should you avoid if a child makes a disclosure?

Make sure the setting is confidential and comfortable. Avoid communicating with shock, horror, or fear about anything said, even though what you are hearing is likely shocking and horrifying. Your child may interpret your reaction as you being shocked and horrified by him or her and shut down.

Who is usually responsible for making a referral?

1. Making a Referral - Overview. 1.1 Professionals, employees, managers, helpers, carers and volunteers in all agencies must make a referral to Children's Social Care if it is believed or suspected that: A child is suffering or is likely to suffer Significant Harm, or.

What happens after a mash referral?

The MASH will progress the contact to a referral and complete the MASH information sharing process (Stage 2). In all cases, Children's Social Care will provide feedback to the referrer and the family when the outcome decision has been made. A decision on all cases in Stage 1 must be made within 24 hours.

Can a social worker tell you what to do?

Yes. The social worker will want to speak to your child alone, but they should ask you before they do so (unless there are exceptional circumstances, for example they are concerned that you might threaten your child or try to make your child stay silent, or your child doesn't want you involved).

When can a child become a safeguarding referral?

A referral should be made to MASH when:
  1. A child or young person makes a clear allegation of abuse;
  2. A child has been abandoned;
  3. Further concerns have arisen in relation to an open case to Children's Social Care;
  4. Concerns of significant harm have risen for a child receiving a service as a Child in Need;

What is a Section 47 in child protection?

A Section 47 enquiry means that CSC must carry out an investigation when they have 'reasonable cause to suspect that a child who lives, or is found, in their area is suffering, or is likely to suffer, significant harm'1. The aim is to decide whether any action should be taken to safeguard the child.

How do I get a referral to children's services?

Referrals must be made in one of the following ways:
  1. By contacting the relevant Children's Social Care office (See Local Contacts) (in Trafford, MARAT);
  2. In an emergency outside office hours, by contacting Children's Social Care Out of Hours Service / Emergency Duty Team (See Local Contacts) or the Police;

How do I make a referral to social services?

Referral to social services

You can request help yourself by calling your local social services - you can find your local social services here. Referrals can be made by other professionals who are working with your family or children, including schools, GPs, health visitors, and more.

How do you make a mash referral?

In order to make a referral you will need to complete a referral form . You will then receive an acknowledgement email from the MASH with a reference number. Before making a referral you must tell the family. You should not seek consent in cases where you consider to do so may increase the risk of harm to the child.

When should I refer my child to social services?

Child who persistently runs away from home or school; When further information comes to light that indicates that either the child is at risk of Significant Harm or the involvement of Social Services is essential to the delivery of services – see Referral to Social Services Procedure.

What happens at a MASH meeting?

The purpose of the MASH enquiry is to gather information from agencies within the MASH (police, health, social care and early help) and external agencies, such as probation or schools. The child, family and referrer will be informed in writing of the outcome of the MASH enquiry.

What to do if you have a safeguarding concern about a child?

How to report your concerns
  1. If you think it is an emergency (the child is at immediate risk of serious harm) then refer the child immediately to the police (call 999/112/911) and social services for immediate action.
  2. Police may enter any premises and remove a child to a place of safety for 72 hours.

What is a safeguarding referral?

If there is the potential for the involvement of children, or an unborn baby, make a safeguarding children referral. If others are at risk (for example, other nursing home residents), public interest disclosure permits a safeguarding adults referral without the individual's consent.

What is a child safeguarding concern?

Child safeguarding is the responsibility that organisations have to make sure their staff, operations, and programmes do no harm to children, that is that they do not expose children to the risk of harm and abuse, and that any concerns the organisation has about children's safety within the communities in which they

When should I contact MASH?

The Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH) is the front door to Children's Social Care for all child protection and immediate safeguarding concerns. If there is an immediate safeguarding concern where a child is deemed at risk or has potentially suffered significant harm, the MASH team should be contacted immediately.

Who can contact MASH?

The Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH) is the single point of contact for all professionals to report safeguarding concerns. if you wish to report a concern anonymously, please contact us on 0300 500 80 90.

Can I refuse a child in need plan?

What if we don't want the services that are being offered in the child in need plan? A. You can refuse services. But if they are worried about your child and you are not co-operating with the plans they have made which they think you child needs, the social worker may recommend calling a child protection conference.

What is a Section 17 payment?

Financial assistance in terms of goods or services, or in exceptional circumstances cash, can be provided to a child, parent or carer under Section 17(6) Children Act 1989 to address identified needs to safeguard and promote a child's welfare where there is no other legitimate source of financial assistance.

Can you refuse a section 47?

A child who is of sufficient age and understanding may refuse some or all of the medical assessment, though refusal can potentially be overridden by a court. Wherever possible the permission of a parent should be sought for children under sixteen prior to any medical assessment and/or other medical treatment.

What is a Section 17 child in need?

Under section 17 of the Children Act 1989, social services have a general duty to safeguard and promote the welfare of children in need in their area. Section 17 can be used to assist homeless children together with their families. Social services can provide accommodation for a whole family under section 17.

What is the difference between a child protection plan and a child in need plan?

A child in need plan operates under section 17 of The Children Act 1989 and doesn't have statutory framework for the timescales of the intervention. A child protection plan operates under section 47 of The Children Act 1989, and happens when a child is regarded to be suffering, or likely to suffer, significant harm.

Do you need to be absolutely sure that a child is at risk of significant harm before you take action?

Although there is no absolute criteria for determining whether or not harm is “significant”, local authorities such as social services, police, education and health agencies work with family members to assess the child, and a decision is made based on their professional judgement using the gathered evidence.

Is a section 47 serious?

A section 47 enquiry can of course prove to be very damaging for a child, for her parents and for their mutual relationships. In particular, the lives of parents can be badly affected if and when adverse conclusions are made about the harm that they have inflicted on their child.

How long does a Social Services Risk Assessment take?

Social work assessments should be normally completed within 35 working days. However, it can be longer if they are waiting for reports from other experts. At the end of the assessment there will be a recommendation of what support or action is needed.

What makes a good child and family assessment?

The assessment should be holistic, draw together a family history with reference to prior information and chronologies and recognise the existing strengths and skills of the child and family. Its purpose is to identify the child's and other family members' needs and agree on the desired outcome of any involvement.

Can you tell social services to go away?

Some have asked ” can I tell social services to go away ” – If you tell them to go away, they won't and you will end up in Court and there is then the risk that your children really will be removed. Be Honest.

Can a social worker speak to a child alone?

The Social Worker should consider whether speaking to a child alone may cause distress and may ask another adult, such as a teacher or a friend to be present. When you give permission you may wish to request that another appropriate adult is there.

Can social services take my child away without evidence?

The police do have the power to take your children away without a Court order (I'll come back to that later) so you will know that if the police aren't there and there isn't a court order, your children will not be going anywhere unless you agree or until you have your say in Court.

What reasons can social services take your child away?

Can your child be removed from your home because of concerns about their safety or welfare?
  • Social workers do not have the power to remove your child from your care, unless this is ordered by the court or you agree that your child should be removed.
  • Most children who have a child protection plan live at home.

Do police always inform social services?

If the children were present during the incident which led to you calling the police, then the police are obliged to send a report to social services. They do this to make sure the children are protected. If they investigate, they will arrange to speak to you, your husband and the children.

Can you get your child taken away for having depression?

Mental illness doesn't automatically disqualify a parent from getting custody. It will, however, likely influence the decision. If it negatively impacts parenting ability or the relationship with the child, the court takes that into account when determining parenting time.

What does a social services assessment involve?

During the assessment a social worker will usually come to your home to talk to you. They should ask you for information about your child, for example sleeping patterns, eating habits and how your child communicates, and whether you have any other children to look after.

Can I record a social worker in my home?

Potentially, yes – but the court would have to give permission. A court is unlikely to give permission unless it is clear that the recording is both relevant and reliable.

What might be a symptom of fabricated illness?

infecting their child's wounds or injecting the child with dirt or poo. inducing unconsciousness by suffocating their child. not treating or mistreating genuine conditions so they get worse. withholding food, resulting in the child failing to develop physically and mentally at the expected rate.

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