Level 4 Child in Need

Part of: Levels of need

A Child in Need is unlikely to achieve or maintain a reasonable standard of health or development without services. Their health or development is likely to be significantly impaired, or further impaired, without additional services. A child who is disabled is also a Child in Need.

Children in Need may be assessed under section 17 of the Children Act 1989 by a social worker.

Working Together to Safeguard Children (July 2018)

What happens next

Interventions have escalated or are not working. There should be a sound record of support offered and why social intervention is required.

Assessment and referral

Referring agency to complete referral

Child development

Strengths	Needs
Child or young person does have good self-care skills Can have an understanding of why professionals display concerns Has some good socialisation with peers Knowledge of services available to support No known or repeat anti-social behaviour Observed to be confident	Unexplained periods of missing from home Medium risk indicators of Child Criminal Exploitation / Child Sexual Exploitation Teen pregnancy Parent at risk of homelessness Child with a disability Child in need of Education Health and Care Plan Child persistently neglected/socially isolated Insecure attachments Has faltering growth with no physical or organic explanation Extreme weight gain or loss impacting on the child’s health Significant deliberate self-harm with suicidal ideation but no plans or intent Presenting with severely disruptive and/or challenging behaviours Where there is no medical reason proven the child's health is adversely affected by obesity/underweight as a result of neglect or capacity to change, and will continue to be so without the intervention of services

Strengths

Needs

Child or young person does have good self-care skills
Can have an understanding of why professionals display concerns
Has some good socialisation with peers
Knowledge of services available to support
No known or repeat anti-social behaviour
Observed to be confident

Unexplained periods of missing from home
Medium risk indicators of Child Criminal Exploitation / Child Sexual Exploitation
Teen pregnancy
Parent at risk of homelessness
Child with a disability
Child in need of Education Health and Care Plan
Child persistently neglected/socially isolated
Insecure attachments
Has faltering growth with no physical or organic explanation
Extreme weight gain or loss impacting on the child’s health
Significant deliberate self-harm with suicidal ideation but no plans or intent
Presenting with severely disruptive and/or challenging behaviours
Where there is no medical reason proven the child's health is adversely affected by obesity/underweight as a result of neglect or capacity to change, and will continue to be so without the intervention of services

Parenting capacity

Strengths	Needs
Parents have a belief that there is a need for change but need guidance Parents have the capacity to meet some of the needs of the children Parents display a willingness to engage in meetings/planning Child has a stable school or day care placement	Basic care / safety needs left unmet Disguised compliance Parents displaying low warmth and high criticism Lack of positive stimulation Parents mental health / substance misuse / learning difficulties place child / young person at harm Regular conflict with children involving violence from either party Domestic abuse evident Elective home education refusing to engage in scrutiny or social integration Relationship breakdown between parent and child leading to potential placement breakdown with potential safeguarding issues for younger siblings