Do I need the consent of the parent/carer if I need to make a statutory child protection referral?

Whilst you do not need the consent of the parent/carer to make a child protection (section 47) referral, you should inform the parents/carers, when safe to do so, of the need to make a child protection referral. They may provide important information to support the referral.

You would normally inform the parents/carers of the need to make a referral unless it would put the child or others at risk of harm or jeopardise a police or children’s services investigation.

Your referral to children’s services must state whether parents or carers are aware of the need to make a referral.