释义 |
section 47 enquiry An enquiry carried out by a local authority in order to enable it to decide whether or not it should take any action to safeguard and promote the welfare of a particular child. The local authority is under a duty to carry out such an investigation if it has reasonable cause to suspect that a child is suffering or likely to suffer significant harm, or is the subject of an emergency protection order, or is in police protection. As a result of its enquiries a local authority might decide that no action is required; alternatively, it may decide that the family in question is in need of support and provide the appropriate services, or it may apply for an emergency protection order, a care order, a supervision order, or a child assessment order. If, in the course of its enquiries, a local authority is denied access to a child, it should immediately apply to court for an emergency protection order. |