2.1 An Initial Assessment may indicate that a child may be 'in need' as defined by Section 17 of The Children Act 1989, but that there are no substantiated concerns that the child may be suffering, or at risk of suffering significant harm. In these circumstances, The Framework for Assessing Children in Need and their Families provides a framework for a fuller assessment of a child's health and development and the parent's capacity to respond to their child's needs. A Core Assessment can provide a sound evidence base for professional judgements on whether services would be helpful to a child and family and if so, what kind of help is most likely to bring about good outcomes for the child.

2.2 The definition of a 'child in need' is wide and it will embrace children in a wide range of circumstances. Consequently, the services that may help such children and their families will vary greatly. Some of these children are especially vulnerable as a result of a disability or developmental impairment resulting from their family circumstances. They may have multiple needs. Effective multi-disciplinary working is just as important for such children as for those children who are at risk of or are suffering significant harm.

2.3 The Initial Assessment should be completed as soon as possible but at least within 7 working days.

Threshold of response

S.47	S.17
Any allegation of abuse or neglect or any suspicious injury in a pre or non mobile child.	Allegation of physical assault with no visible or only minor injury (other than to a pre or non mobile child).
Allegations or suspicions about a serious injury to a child.	Any incident / injury triggering concern eg a series of apparently accidental injuries or a minor non-accidental incident.
Inconsistent explanations or an admission about a clear non-accidental injury.
Repeated allegations or reasonable suspicions of non-accidental injury.	Repeatedly expressed minor concerns from one or more sources.
The child has been injured (even if inadvertently) during domestic violence.	Allegations of one serious or three minor domestic violence incidents.
Repeated allegations involving serious verbal threats and / or emotional abuse.	Allegation concerning serious verbal threats. Allegations of emotional abuse including that caused by minor domestic violence.
Allegations / reasonable suspicions of serious neglect.	Allegations of chronic or periodic neglect including insufficient supervision; poor hygiene, clothing or nutrition; failure to seek / attend treatment or appointments; age inappropriate domestic chores.
Medical referral of non-organic failure to thrive in under fives.
Direct allegation of sexual abuse made by child or abuser's confession to such abuse.	Suspicions of sexual abuse eg sexualised behaviour, medical concerns or referral by concerned relative, neighbour, carer.
Any allegation suggesting connections between sexually abused children in different families or more than one abuser.
Schedule I offender moving into a household with under eighteen year olds.
Any suspicious injury or allegation involving a child already on the child protection register or looked-after by a local authority.
No available parent / carer and child vulnerable to significant harm eg. an abandoned baby.	No available parent / carer, child in need of accommodation and no specific risk if this need met eg. unaccompanied asylum seeking child.
Suspicion that child has suffered or is at risk of significant harm due to fabricated / induced illness.
Children subject of parental delusions which imply risk.

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