An assessment needs to be made of all the information collected from the enquiry and a decision made on whether it is likely that abuse has taken place.

In all cases, parents/carers and, where appropriate, the child, will be told the results of the enquiry.

There are four possible outcomes to an enquiry.

Social Services may think that no further action is needed and that will be the end of the matter.

Social Services may offer advice or help if that seems appropriate.

Very occasionally a Social Worker may feel that immediate action is needed to protect the child, by removing them from home: e.g. placing them in a foster home or children's' home.

You might agree to your child being removed from home.

If not, you should ask Social Services to consider other options:

e.g.

• a friend or relative moving into the house for the time being to help look after your child;
• if the concerns are about just one of the adults in your household, that adult moving out whilst enquiries are completed (this would not be seen as an admission of guilt in any way);
• your child could go to stay with family or friends for a while.

If, for whatever reason, Social Services cannot agree to any of these options then they can ask a court for power to remove a child.

The court will only agree to this if they feel the concerns are justified. In an emergency the court can decide without hearing your views.

You then have a right, after three days, to apply to the court for the order to be discharged or varied.

If the enquiry shows that the child may need protection, a meeting called a Child Protection Conference will be arranged. You will be invited along with other relevant people such as a Social Worker, Health Visitor, Doctor, Police Officer or School Teacher.

Conferences normally take place within 15 working days of enquiries starting. The conference will decide either that the child is not at risk or that the child is at risk - in which case they will be placed on the Child Protection Register and a Child Protection Plan will be needed.