Section 47 Enquiry After Withdrawal from Section 17

[LawAbiding]

Dear Experts

I have been requesting assistance for my son-3 &daughter-7 years old, had several Section 17 C&F Assessments, with little or no support in the past 3 years. Health Visitor referred once again, in August, met Social Worker on 06/08/25, shortly left on maternity. Case passed onto Family Support Service -initially met online 18/09/25, then home visits on 22/09/25& 01/10/25. Communication was atrocious, no follow up or updates. Multi agency (professionals involved with children) online meeting arranged for October, but before then, received an unexpected call from her manager on 07/10/25, I requested all details via email.

Manager sent email, stating Support Worker on leave,&that "they decided to review safeguarding concerns to be assessed by a social worker." Social worker contacted 09/10/25, dishonest, unprofessional from outset, as well as being aggressive & intimidating. Never revealed purpose, supposed to be Section 17 C&F Assessment. She only text, no email, until requested her email address.

First Social Worker visit 23/10/25, I was outraged Support Worker not updated as promised, rang Specialist on spot, whom known a few years -helped relocate us for safety. Social Worker requested to speak to Specialist, passed phone &began shouting at Specialist aggressively! Although Specialist remained calm said not to shout. From that point, had bad feeling about Social Worker's intent. Emailed head of service 23/10/25, to relay details of visit, how uncomfortable I was in her presence &way in which she handled matters -no response.

Professionals meeting held on 29/10/25 -health visitor, educational professionals, etc. During this, Social Worker was disrespectful, asked suspiciously- my son did not look right, to which Health Visitor said,"her children are well looked after." In fact my son has medical issues since birth, all professionals always remarked on how pale he is.

Subsequently, sent another email to head of service on 30/10/25 again detailing concerns -no response.

Social Worker was unwilling to engage with the Specialist- despite her having world of knowledge regarding my case. I was now adamant not to allow Social Worker to visit again, always bullying to enforce her way. However, Specialist advised to keep engaging, email to request clarification & allow a final visit. In her email reply on 10/11/25, Social Worker said safeguarding concerns raised by colleagues in Family Support Service - basically the Support Worker. I stated, no concerns ever raised by any professionals to date. I allowed the Social Worker to visit on 13/11/25.

Expressed my views of her bad intent, to prove myself as an unfit parent when ironically I requested help& she was evasive, patronising. I added, Health Visitor witnessed &can verify in past 3 years, how fought for needs of my children. A few minutes later, my non-verbal son, began crying continuously for 40 mins, whilst Social Worker still probing with same questions as before, almost checking if answers were same? without regard for my distressed child. He kept gesturing to move out of room away from that woman. In fact she was useless, as resolved educational matters myself.

On 14/11/25 emailed managers of both, Social Worker &Support Worker formally withdrawing from Section 17, so no longer engaging in process due to inconsistencies, no transparency etc. I requested acknowledgement of emails -no response.

On 25/11/25 without notice, same Social worker was banging on front door, had a piece of paper in hand. Shocked I asked,"why are you here?," she said "I need to come in," I said "no you are not, you did not inform me before I do not understand this," then closed door.

On 27/11/25 Social Worker texted,"I need to come and see you and the children tomorrow to discuss next steps please. We have held a meeting in regard to your children and it's really important we meet so I can discuss with you and gather your views." My response-have withdrawn from Section 17 or any engagement with her, cannot visit or contact further, but send email with next steps.

Health Visitor texted 24/11/25 to check in, I then messaged her on 27/11/25, explained situation, highly anxious &asked if received contact from Social Services. She confirmed strategy meeting undertaken on 20/11/25 involving, Social Worker/Support Worker/Social Care manager/police rep/maybe housing& it was now a Section 47. I began researching, found this forum, so emailed on 28/11/25 for a Formal Written Request for Justification of Section 47.

On 28/11/25 Social Worker replied, "I have spoken with a manager this morning and they have requested I ask you whether you would be comfortable with a duty social worker coming to visit the children today? Please let me know. We will also then aim to arrange a manager coming to see you next week to discuss things further."
I replied again on 28/11/25 to advise no visits/meetings until formal request furnished, children have been seen by education staff, no safeguarding risks raised, no need for Social Worker visit.

Emails followed from managers; first on 01/12/25, disregarding formal request- merely enforcing a Social Worker would visit &minutes of strategy meeting only sent to professionals. Again I reiterated, a response was required to information request, no visits until then.

I repeated the same request at least 4 times, copied in CEO, first manager then advised, Health Visitor was the instigator?! I was stunned, so messaged Health Visitor, sent her screenshot of email reply, placing blame on her. Health Visitor said had referred for support, but escalation to Section 47 was by Family Support Service not her!

Second manager proceeded to email 01/12/25, (the first ignored email), simply conveying, Assistant Manager &Social Worker will visit 02/12/25, 11am to do a Child and Family Assessment..? I replied firstly to clarify which manager was dealing with my complaints, &if was now a Section 47 or Section 17 Assessment? if the latter then why was it being pursued, as I withdrew from Section 17 on 14/11/25. In addition, quoted first manager's email, placing blame on Health Visitor, &then added exact reply from Health Visitor, stating otherwise! With contradictory accounts, do not trust either, therefore, formal written information request needed, as per advice from legal representative (do not have yet-trying to find one).

Over weekend requested access to details under FOI plus SAR for my case, as all evasive, no immediate danger, else police would have accompanied Social Worker at door.

Second Manager replied 02/12/25-first one dealing with complaint,&"writing to inform you about the visit in her absence". My email states-avoiding my repeated request, need response else legal representative will contact!-no response.
What should I do now?

[LawAbiding]

UPDATE - really distraught, large african male-social worker, & female white-assistant manager ambushed at 2.45pm today, 02/12/25. I was awaiting OT to arrive hence why opened the door.

I explained am awaiting information from manager, which requested repeatedly. Once received I will need a representative in the meeting with them, so cannot allow them to enter my home. She kept insisting, said that is why we are concerned, can we just see children, I said no, they are vulnerable children, being seen by educational professionals on a daily basis, never any safeguarding risks reported, this has come from Family Support Service- I named Support Worker. I am also intimidated by men, cannot allow strangers to see my children, as need notice to explain - my daughter is Autistic, very inquisitive.

Assistant manager said has it all in writing, handed envelope, which states, S47 Summary and conclusion? Following details added in report is confusing- was it a S47 to begin with?

Type of Assessment: Initial Child Protection Conference
Assessment start date: 20/11/25
Assessment due: 06/01/2026.
Purpose of Assessment/Overview: Health Visitor referred in July, 2025, In August 2025 C&F Assessment completed & outcome was to refer to Family Support.
In October, step referral received from Family Support requesting another assessment, due to mother's ASD contributing to her anxieties around the children which is in turn, impacting her capacity to meet the childrens emotional needs.

I am honestly astounded how they misused their power, as soon as I mentioned a legal representative. The same manager never responded but served me with the assessment report dated 02/12/25, via a social worker/assistant manager instead.

In essence it states the manager satisfied risk of significant harm, my mental capacity affecting children, adding YES to 16A - NEGLECT & 17A -EMOTIONAL ABUSE.

Is my next step to seek a legal representative, can anyone recommend a solicitor? I have been contacting several, no success yet, awaiting call backs. This is all underhanded, misconstrued.

Please help - would be very grateful.

[Winter25]

Hi LawAbiding,

I’ve read everything carefully, and I want to be direct with you because your situation is now extremely serious.

Nothing in your description suggests you are a risk to your children.
But the way the Local Authority is interpreting your actions has pushed this case into a dangerous position. This can be brought back under control, but only if you understand exactly what has happened and what you must do next.

Withdrawing from Section 17 and refusing further visits triggers a Section 47 every single time.

It does not mean you have done anything wrong.
It does not mean you are unsafe.
It means they believe they have “lost sight” of the children during an assessment.

Under the Children Act 1989, if a parent refuses assessment or blocks access, the Local Authority is required to escalate. That is why you were suddenly placed under Section 47, why they arrived unannounced, and why you were handed paperwork instead of receiving written responses.

This is not about your parenting.
It is about process, control and their legal duties.

But at this stage, refusing visits, demanding written replies before allowing access, or escalating complaints puts you at real risk of:

an Initial Child Protection Conference

a legal gateway meeting

Public Law Outline (PLO)

potential removal

even when no actual safeguarding concerns exist.

Your situation is not caused by harm to the children.
It is caused by conflict, breakdown in communication, and the Local Authority interpreting your withdrawal as “non-cooperation”.

I need to give you advice that protects you, not makes things worse.

What you must do immediately
1. Contact a Children Panel solicitor today

You need someone who specialises in child protection cases.

Go to the Law Society website and search for “Children Law” solicitors near you.
Explain that you are under Section 47 and that there is escalating risk.
They should treat this urgently.

2. Email the manager now confirming you will engage

You must stop the narrative of “refusal”.

Here is the wording you need:
-----------------
Subject: Confirmation of Cooperation and Request for a Planned Visit

Dear [Manager],

I am writing to confirm that I am willing to fully engage with the Section 47 assessment. I apologise for any misunderstanding. My intention was not to refuse assessment but to request clarity in writing due to my anxiety, communication needs and my child’s additional needs.

To ensure the visit is safe and calm for my children, please can we agree a planned time when:

the children are prepared,

I am supported, and

my legal representative can be informed.

I am not refusing access. I am asking for a structured, planned visit so my children are not distressed. Please provide two possible times for this week.

Kind regards,
[Name]
---------
This stops escalation immediately.

3. Do not argue with or challenge the assessment yet

Your solicitor will review every error, misrepresentation, and inconsistency.
Do not take this on alone.
This is exactly the type of case where solicitors protect you.

4. Continue documenting everything

You are doing this extremely well.
Your detailed record will be invaluable.

What not to do now

Do not refuse further visits

Do not insist on written responses before allowing access

Do not escalate complaints during a Section 47

Do not tell them to stop contacting you

Do not challenge them at the door

Do not delay engagement

These actions , even when justified, will be interpreted as obstructing safeguarding, and that is what pushes cases into PLO.

You have not harmed your children.
You have not neglected them.
This situation is caused by misunderstanding, breakdown in communication, and the Local Authority reacting to withdrawal and challenge.

It can be stabilised, but you must shift strategy today.

-----
For full transparency, I am not an official adviser for this forum. I am a parent who has been through a long and successful legal battle with a local authority, and I am here to offer supportive, strategic advice based on my own lived experience. The information I share is for guidance, and it is always up to each parent to decide what is right for their own situation.

[LawAbiding]

Hello

Thank you for your response.

Please note, I received the following email from the first manager at 16.03 on 02/12/25;

"I understand that you did not let the workers in this afternoon. Would you be able to meet with me online, via teams this week to discuss?"

Should I be concerned with this request? I was going to email to agree with an online meeting. Can a solicitor accompany during this meeting? would they? Please provide suggestions how I should approach the meeting; questions, clarification, reasons to justify not allowing Social worker & assistant manager to enter? their email said 11am visit, but ambushed late afternoon, whilst I was awaiting OT arrival-late by 15mins- had to explain situation in brief, were surprised.

I have now sent the following email on 03/12/25 in response to manager;

"I am writing to reiterate, as confirmed in all emails since 27th November 2025, that I am willing to engage fully with the process. Neither did I decline an assessment, but merely requested clarity in writing due to my anxiety, communication needs and additional needs of my children. This needs to be acknowledged.

I did not refuse access but requested a structured, planned visit so as not to distress or alarm my vulnerable young children, by the sudden arrival of unfamiliar individuals.

I have consistently cooperated with all services over the years, always allowed visits and checks on my children. During the recent visit by G on 13th November 2025, my non-verbal son was extremely distressed and cried continuously for 40 minutes in her presence, despite this, she continued her questions.

Please confirm two possible times this week for the online meeting, to ensure appropriate support can attend."

Does this sound reasonable?

I have always been cooperative, allowed all previous workers & current Social Worker to visit twice, despite her unprofessional conduct, discrimination, lack of empathy or understanding of medical conditions/disabilities of children. I had already relayed concerns about her since 23/10/25 several times. I still continued engaging though.

I then stipulated in emails from 27/11/25 -after becoming aware of S47 by Health Visitor - that I will engage, requesting a scheduled meeting after information was furnished, since I have vulnerable children.

Initial email on 27/11/25 upon being informed of S47;

"It has been brought to my attention that the purpose of the upcoming meeting relates to a Section 47 enquiry.
Therefore, could you provide clarification in writing regarding the specific concerns that have led to this enquiry and the reasons for the meeting.
I am willing to meet with Social Services; however, I request that the following conditions to be met:
A different social worker attends the meeting, as I feel uncomfortable and intimidated by G.

Or that the meeting is held by a manager.

Please confirm that either of these conditions can be met and provide available dates for the meeting."

However, Social services were still enforcing their own agenda, on numerous occasions with sudden visits twice now, despite repeating the same request &stating I will engage, need meeting arranged so can prepare children. Clear abuse of power, by signing/concluding S47 Enquiry.

I have listed all discrepancies within report, which is absolutely ludicrous! how can they use a 7 year old Autistic child's comments, made in my absence away to a different room for some moments (due to my son) as a basis for confirming anything, also out of context? No contact made with any professionals involved with my children, focus is my capacity as a parent, without evidence apart from assumed views.

I searched for solicitors under Law Society, although no option to select "Children Law", just "Children", when I contacted a few today, they advised only deal with custody or separation orders etc. I am struggling, but will continue to search and call.

[Winter25]

Drop me a DM and ill go through it with you

[Suzie, FRG Adviser]

Dear LawAbiding,

Thank you for your posts. I will reply to each of them here.
I am Suzie, an online adviser for Family Rights Group.

In your update you explain that you have now emailed the social worker to make sure that it is understood that you are willing to engage with the S.47 enquiry and there is no need for escalation. There is detailed information on the Family Rights Group website about child protection procedures here.

You mention your communication needs and anxiety. I wondered if you would benefit from support from an independent advocate who could help you with your interactions with children’s services? If a parent has a vulnerability (which could include a communication issue) children’s services have a duty to assist them in finding independent advocacy. You can read more about working with an advocate here.

Family Rights Group have a template letter you could use to request assistance from children’s services on provision of advocacy. You can link to it here. Please look at letter 1.

You may also find the Family Rights Group guide to working with social workers useful at this stage as it covers issues of communication, establishing trust and clarity and having your voice heard. You can link to it here.

I also wondered if it would be useful for you to look at information about support available to children with disabilities here.

You have received a suggestion from another forum user about obtaining legal advice at this stage. Please be aware that you would not be eligible for legal aid to cover the cost of a solicitor. Legal aid only becomes available if pre-proceedings (also referred to as public law outline) is begun and you have not indicated that this is the situation.

To engage a solicitor at this stage would incur considerable personal expense and please be aware that there are limits to how they could assist here. For instance, if there were to be an initial child protection conference, although you could ask a solicitor to accompany you to the conference they would not be able to speak on your behalf in that forum.

But obviously the matter on whether to seek and pay for legal advice at this stage is for you to decide.

The law society database provides lists of solicitors and accreditations of the different firms are listed. You can link to it here.

We would advise any parent seeking legal representation at the pre-proceedings or care proceedings stage to look for a firm with children law accreditation.

I hope this information was useful to you. Please feel free to post here again if you have further questions.
There are also many alternative ways to contact Family Rights Group if you seek further advice in the future:

• A free telephone advice line open Monday to Friday between 9.30am and 3pm (excluding Bank Holidays) on 0808 801 0366
• Easy-to-follow online information. Features include an A-Z, FAQs, films, ‘top tips’ and legal advice sheets;
• A webchat service where you can message an adviser online, who will help you find information and advice to support you.
• Complete the advice enquiry form to request an email response within 5 working days

Best wishes,
Suzie