Social Services Risk Assessment - Brendan Fleming (2024)

As part of the initial child protection enquiry, the risk assessment must focus on the following:

• • Identify the cause for concern;
  • Evaluate the strengths of the family;
  • Evaluate the vulnerability and resilience of all children in the family;
  • Consider the protective factors and the child’s needs for protection;
  • Detail and evaluate family history;
  • Evaluate information from all sources and previous case records;
  • Consider the ability of parents and wider family and social networks to safeguard and promote the child’s welfare;
  • Consider how these risks can be managed.

The assessment must take into consideration both immediate risk to the child and long-term risk factors. An aspect of this is where there is an imminent change in the child’s circ*mstances. For instance, should a child currently be in hospital but is due to be discharged, the assessment must have established the safety of the home environment.

Should it occur that the risk assessment finds that the child is at continuing risk of significant harm, a child protection conference must immediately be convened. An interim care order should be drafted and issued to safeguard the child on an immediate basis. Waiting for a child protection conference to take place would be inappropriate as this may leave the child open to receipt of significant harm in the meantime.