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What happens if a child protection referral is made?

The safeguarding process is what happens when someone contacts Lewisham Council with concerns about the safety or welfare of a child.

There are two main stages to the safeguarding process:

Stage 1: a social worker will gather information about the child and family concerned and make an assessment about his or her needs.

Stage 2: if there is a problem, social workers (and other professionals) will try to resolve it, usually in partnership with the parents and other family members. There will be a series of meetings to decide what support is needed (such as family counselling) and to ensure that the situation improves.

There is a full description of the steps that must be taken in national guidance:

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