Social Services will firstly collect information from others who have contact with your family e.g. schools, health visitors, doctors. This helps build up knowledge of your child and their background - the positive things as well as any problems.

A social worker will then visit you, possibly with a police officer.

The aims of this visit are to:

• tell you what is going on, what the concerns are and how the procedures work;
• collect more information and to find out the needs of, and any risks to, your child.
  This might involve speaking to other members of your family, including other children.
  All information will be kept confidential to those involved in the enquiry;
• let you give your views on the situation;
• get your permission to speak to your child.