Who Are Social Workers

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WHO ARE SOCIAL WORKERS?
Social workers are professionals who aim to form relationships with children families and communities
in order to assist and empower them to live more successfully within their local communities. A key
value of each social worker is to support the people they are working with to find solutions to the
problems that they might be experiencing. In order to achieve change for Gypsy, Roma and Traveller
families social workers will try to work hard to engage individuals, families and wider community
members as well as working closely with other organisations including the police, local authority
departments, schools and the probation service.
In order to practice legally in the UK, all social workers must be registered with a professional body. In
England that professional body is the Health and Care Professions Council. In Wales social workers
are regulated by the Care Council for Wales, In Northern Ireland there is the Northern Ireland Social
Care Council and In Scotland there is the Scottish Social Services Council. Each Council provides a
framework for the regulation of social workers and the approval of social work education across the
UK.
WHAT DO SOCIAL WORKERS DO?
Social workers can be employed in various settings and by a wide range of organisations. Some of
these organisations are Charities, but most will be operated by Local Authorities.
The work that social workers might be engaged in with Gypsy, Roma and Traveller children and
families may generally reflect their statutory obligation to safeguard and promote the welfare of
vulnerable children. In order to promote and protect the welfare of vulnerable children, social workers
would aim to provide a wide range of services to children their parents and the community usually
within the child’s own home.
Like many families, Gypsy, Roma and Traveller families can feel anxious at the prospect of a social
workers involvement. This is because of experiences they may have heard from other community
members, or because they are frightened that social workers will remove their children from the family
home. It is important to note that these fears are natural but it is important to understand that a child
should only be removed from the family home if there is very clear evidence that they are at risk of
significant harm, or if there is a court order in place justify this action. Under child care legislation, it is
the social workers primary function is to ensure, so long as it is safe to do so, that a child remains at
home and that they are safe to live with their family or wider kinship network.
It is also important to understand that social workers should not become involved with a Gypsy, Roma
or Traveller family on the grounds that they are from a particular ethnic and cultural group. They will
become involved if there are real and tangible concerns about a child’s welfare. Although initial social
work involvement might be difficult to accept, it is important to understand that where there is a
concern, this relates to the impact of their parenting on the child, and should never be a criticism of
culture or community lifestyle.
MY CHILD HAS LEFT HOME, CAN THEY STILL BE SUPPORTED BY A SOCIAL WORKER?
Within children and family services, social workers are responsible to all children and young people
who have not yet reached their 18th birthday. The fact that a child has reached 16 years of age, is
living independently or is in further education, is a member of the armed forces, is in hospital or in
custody in the secure estate, does not change their status or entitlements to services or protection
WHAT IS SAFEGUARDING?
It might be difficult to accept or believe, but every child can be hurt or put at risk of harm or abused,
regardless of their age, gender, religion or ethnicity. To protect these children and young people
safeguarding legislation and government guidance says that ‘safeguarding’ means:



Protecting children from maltreatment.
Preventing impairment of children’s health or development.





Ensuring that children are growing up in circumstances consistent with the provision of safe
and effective care.
Taking action to enable all children and young people to have the best outcomes.
In order to achieve the ambitions and protect children from harm or risk, the actions that
social workers might take to promote and protect the welfare of children is also reflected in
everyone’s responsibility. Everyone who comes into contact with children and families has a
role to play in protecting children, including families themselves.

WHAT DOES THE TERM ‘CHILD IN NEED’ MEAN?
Under the Children Act 1989, social workers and other professionals working on behalf of Local
Authorities are required to provide services for Children in Need for the purposes of safeguarding and
promoting their welfare. Local Authorities undertake assessments of the needs of individual children to
determine what services to provide and action to take.
A Child in Need is defined in Law as a child who is unlikely to achieve or maintain a satisfactory level
of health or development, or who’s health and development will be significantly impaired, without the
provision of services, or a child living with a disability. Where concerns are reported in relation to
these three definitions, an assessment will be carried out by a social worker under Section 17 of the
Children Act 1989.
Children in Need may also be assessed under section 17 of the Children Act 1989, in relation to their
special educational needs, disabilities, if they are a carer, or because they have committed a crime.
The process for assessment will also be used for children whose parents are in prison. When
conducting the assessment and providing services, the social worker should ensure that children and
family experience a coherent process and a single plan of action.
WHAT DOES THE TERM CHILD PROTECTION MEAN?
Concerns about the possible maltreatment of children may be the reason why social workers become
involved with families, or concerns may arise during the course of providing services. Here
maltreatment leads to the need for ‘Child Protection’ as a result of the concern that somebody may
abuse or neglect a child by inflicting harm, or by failing to act to prevent harm. Social workers
recognise that children may be abused in a family or in an institutional or community setting by those
known to them or, more rarely, by others (e.g. via the internet). They may be abused by an adult or
adults, or another child or children.
Where these concerns exist, social workers will initiate enquiries to find out what is happening to the
child and whether protective action is required. Social workers, with the help of other organisations as
appropriate, have a duty to make these enquiries under section 47 of the Children Act 1989 because
they have reasonable cause to suspect that a child is suffering, or is likely to suffer, significant harm.
The process of the Section 47 assessment is to enable a multi-disciplinary to work with the child and
the family decide whether they should take any action to safeguard and promote the child’s welfare. In
some cases where maltreatment is being evidenced, there may be a need for immediate protection of
the child whilst the assessment is carried out.
I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT A REFERRAL IS BEING MADE TO SOCIAL WORK. WHAT WILL
HAPPEN NOW?
Once the referral has been received a social worker will attempt to clarify with the referrer, when
known, the nature of the concerns and how and why they have arisen. Within one working day of a
referral being received a social worker should make a decision about the type of response that is
required. This will include determining whether:





the child requires immediate protection and urgent action is required;
the child is in need, and should be assessed under section 17 of the Children Act 1989;
there is reasonable cause to suspect that the child is suffering, or likely to suffer,
significant harm, and whether enquires must be made and the child assessed under
section 47 of the Children Act 1989;
any services are required by the child and family and what type of services; and,



further specialist assessments are required in order to help the local authority to decide
what further action to take.

In all cases, the child and family must be informed of the action to be taken and the social worker
must see the child as soon as possible if the decision is taken that the referral requires further
assessment.
IS THE SOCIAL WORKER ALLOWED TO INTERVIEW MY CHILD WITHOUT ME BEING THERE?
Yes. Because of the reasons why a social worker might become involved with you family, it is
important that they establish that your child(ren) is safe. For this reason, 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 or if your child doesn't want you involved).
Many parents and communities might find this situation difficult to accept, particularly if the social
worker is a man and the child is a girl or young woman. However, it is extremely important that you
agree to this, otherwise the social worker might think that you are trying to control what your child
says. The social worker will be trained in talking to children and must not try to trick them or
encourage them to say things that are not true. If the social worker can't speak to your child without
you there they may become more concerned about your child's welfare and consider taking further
steps including applying to court for a legal order to force you to co-operate. This could include
removing your child from your care.
If you have ideas about where you think your child would feel most comfortable talking with a social
worker do let them know. You may also want to suggest that a family member is at the meeting, to
give reassurance to your child.
WHAT IS A CHILD IN NEED PLAN?
Following acceptance of a referral, a social worker could lead a multi-agency assessment under
section 17 of the Children Act 1989. Here the social worker must ascertain the child’s wishes and
feelings and take account of them when planning the provision of services. Assessments should be
carried out in a timely manner reflecting the needs of the individual child. Where the social worker
decides to provide services, a multi-agency child in need plan will be developed. This plan sets out
which agencies will provide which services to the child and family. The plan should set clear
measurable outcomes for the child and expectations for the parents. The plan should reflect the
positive aspects of the family situation as well as the weaknesses.
WHAT DOES THE WORD ‘FAMILY SUPPORT’ MEAN?
Family support should be provided as part of the Child in Need Plan and incorporate a range of
services that should be implemented in partnership with the child and family and other voluntary and
statutory sections of the community. These details of family support will be specific to each child and
family, of community concern but might include:








parenting skills workshops or support within homes
counselling for domestic violence
help with children's behaviour
mediation around family issues
household budgeting
helping carers to improve their children's development and address their educational
needs
access to suitable accommodation, employment and education

WHAT IS A FAMILY GROUP CONFERENCE?
A family group conference is a process led by family or community members to plan and make
decisions for a child who is in need or at risk. Children and young people are normally involved in their

own family group conference, although often with support from an advocate. It is a voluntary process
and families cannot be forced to have a family group conference.
Families, including extended family members and wider community members are supported to
prepare for the meeting. At the first part of the meeting, social workers and other professionals set out
their concerns and what support could be made available. In the second part of the meeting family
members and wider community can then discuss the concerns and how they intend to work together
to make, implement and evaluate a suitable plan for the child.
WHAT IS A SECTION 47 ENQUIRY?
Where there are concerns that a child may be at risk of significant harm a strategy meeting will be
organised by the social worker. This meeting will be used to share available information; agree the
conduct and timing of any criminal investigation; and decide whether enquiries under section 47 of the
Children Act 1989 should be undertaken.
Where there are grounds to initiate a section 47 of the Children Act 1989 enquiry, decisions should be
made as to: what further information is needed if an assessment is already underway and how it will
be obtained and recorded; what immediate and short term action is required to support the child, and
who will do what by when; and whether legal action is required.
A section 47 enquiry is initiated when there is reasonable cause to suspect children suffering or likely
to suffer significant harm. Here significant harm is defined as:





Physical Abuse
Emotional Abuse
Sexual Abuse
Neglect

Social workers are responsible for deciding with the child, their family and other professionals involved
with the family what action to take and how to proceed following section 47 enquiries.
THE SECTION 47 ENQUIRY HAS BEEN CONDUCTED BUT THE CONCERNS HAVE NOT BEEN
UPHELD. WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?
Where concerns of significant harm are not substantiated the social worker must discuss the case
with the child, their family and other professionals. They should determine whether support from any
services may be helpful and help secure it; and consider whether the child’s health and development
should be re-assessed regularly against specific objectives including who has responsibility for doing
this.
THE SECTION 47 ENQUIRY HAS BEEN CONDUCTED AND THE CONCERNS HAVE BEEN
UPHELD. WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?
Where concerns of significant harm are substantiated and the child is judged to be suffering, or likely
to suffer, significant harm the social worker will convene an initial child protection conference (see
next section for details). The timing of this conference should depend on the urgency of the case and
respond to the needs of the child and the nature and severity of the harm they may be facing. The
initial child protection conference should take place within 15 working days of a strategy discussion. At
all times, the social worker must ensure that the child and their family understand the purpose of the
conference. The social worker should also provide information about advocacy agencies and explain
that the family may bring an advocate, friend or supporter.
WHAT IS AN INITIAL CHILD PROTECTION CONFERENCE?
Following section 47 enquiries, an initial child protection conference brings together family members
(and the child where appropriate), with the supporters, advocates and professionals most involved

with the child and family, to make decisions about the child’s future safety, health and development. If
concerns relate to an unborn child, consideration should be given as to whether to hold a child
protection conference prior to the child’s birth. The purpose of the meeting is to:








To bring together and analyse, in an inter-agency setting, all relevant information and plan
how best to safeguard and promote the welfare of the child. It is the responsibility of the
conference to make recommendations on how agencies work together to safeguard the
child in future.
Appoint a lead statutory body (either local authority children’s social care or NSPCC) and
a lead social worker, who should be a qualified, experienced social worker and an
employee of the lead statutory body
Identify membership of the core group of professionals and family members who will
develop and implement the child protection plan
Establish timescales for meetings of the core group, production of a child protection plan
and for child protection review meetings
Agree on and outline a child protection plan, with clear actions and timescales, including a
clear sense of how much improvement is needed, by when, so that success can be
judged clearly.

WHAT IS A CORE GROUP?
The ‘Core Group’ is made up of a group of professionals and family members or wider community
members who will develop and implement the child protection plan that has been agreed upon at the
Child Protection Conference. The groups group have a number of responsibilities which include:






meeting within 10 working days from the initial child protection conference if the child is
the subject of a child protection plan;
developing the outline child protection plan, based on assessment findings, and set out
what needs to change, by how much, and by when in order for the child to be safe and
have their needs met;
deciding what steps need to be taken, and by whom, to complete the in-depth
assessment to inform decisions about the child’s safety and welfare; and
implementing the child protection plan and take joint responsibility for carrying out the
agreed tasks, monitoring progress and outcomes, and refining the plan as needed.

WHAT DOES SECTION 20 MEAN?
The words ‘Section 20’ pertain to the Children Act 1989 and the responsibility of the social worker to
provide accommodation for any child in their area who needs somewhere to live because of the
following reasons:




there isn’t anyone who has parental responsibility for him (for e.g. an asylum seeking child
who has come to the UK on his own);
the child has been lost or abandoned;
the person who has been caring for the child can’t provide him with a suitable home,
whatever the reason for this and regardless of whether this is short term or long term
problem.

It is a very important section with regard to the position of removing children into care because it often
happens that a social worker will ask parents on behalf of the Local Authority to ‘agree’ to let their
children live in care.
When used, the Local Authority do not need to issue care proceedings or get a judge to order that a
child is removed from his or her parents. Because the court is not involved to oversee this, It’s very
important that section 20 agreements are used properly and only entered into with confidence.
WHAT IS A PLO?

A PLO is a Public Law Outline, and may be used when social workers are concerned about the
welfare of a child. Here the PLO may be considered if the social worker intends to go to court so that
they can request that the court make orders to protect the child.
In most cases, the Public Law Outline requires the social worker to arrange a meeting with the child,
the family or wider community, to see if it is possible to reach agreement about what needs to happen
to protect the child from harm so that court proceedings can be avoided. If a PLO is issued, it is
important that the child family attend the meeting with a solicitor. The solicitor will be able to help
negotiate an agreement with the social worker to try to avoid the need to go to court. This formal
meeting is often known as a “pre-proceedings meeting” or “PLO meeting”.
In some cases the social workers may feel that the risk of harm to a child is so great, or the case is so
urgent, that the case should go straight to court. In these cases no meeting takes place at all.
WHAT IS A CARE ORDER?
A care order gives the Local Authority shared parental responsibility. This means that the social
worker takes responsibility for the day to day care needs of the child. Although the social worker will
make decisions about where the child can live and who the child can see, they should still talk to and
work with the child’s family and wider community if it is appropriate to do so.
WILL THE PLACE THAT I LIVE IMPACT ON THE VIEWS AND RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE
SOCIAL WORKER?
Under construction...
CAN I TRAVEL FOR WORK OR MOVE AROUND THE COUNTRY IF MY FAMILY IS BEING
SUPPORTED BY A SOCIAL WORKER?
Under construction...

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