Pointers for Practice: Preparing a Social Work Report for Conference

The following provides guidance as to what should be included in the report. However, the way in which it is presented will depend on the template used by the local authority.

Pointers for Practice: Genograms and Eco-Maps

Rationale for S47 enquiry

Summarise the recent events that occurred and/or the information provided, for example, within the report/referral and through initial enquiries, which led to a decision to initiate the s47 process.

• Who provided what information?
• Who received this information?
• What checks were made to ensure the information was accurate and if additional information was available?
• Drawing on the above, what information was shared and/or events occurred that made children’s social care initiate s47 enquiries and hold a strategy meeting to establish what is happening to the child and whether they need immediate protection (remember the threshold is concern that a child is suffering or likely to suffer significant harm)

Information obtained at strategy meeting leading to a decision to progress with s47 enquiries and progress to conference

What information has been shared at the strategy meeting that means professionals believe there is reasonable cause to suspect that a child is suffering, or is likely to suffer, significant harm?

Consider:

• What information regarding the child and family’s past and current experience has led to the decision to progress with s47 enquiries?
• What have practitioners learnt so far from the family and other professionals that indicates this child should be subject to s47 enquiries?
• Is there a need for immediate protection whilst the assessment is carried out? What is this decision based on?
• What steps have been taken to secure the safety of the child during the assessment?

What are parent/s and child/ren’s thoughts and feelings about the content of the report?

Consider:

• What is the family member’s reaction to this assessment?
• Is the information provided accurate?
• What do parent/s child/ren think and feel about the practitioners’ assessment?
• Are there particular points they wish to raise with the chair prior to conference and/or at the conference?

What do we still need to find out?

Consider here additional information about the developmental needs of the child, parenting capacity and family environmental factors that has not been included in the assessment but would assist practitioners decide about the needs of the child, quality of parenting and socio-economic factors impacting on the family. For example, medical assessments of the child/ren and /or parent/s; in-depth assessments from professionals such as a psychiatrist, child psychologist; additional information about extended family’s capacity to support this family.