What Is A Section 37 Report Social Services

The emphasis is on the negative as it is assumed if a la intend to issue they will simply get on with doing so.

What is a section 37 report social services. The person who prepares the report may speak to the child depending on their age and understanding about their wishes and feelings and what they would like to happen. This report can sometimes take 14 weeks to prepare but if a judge is concerned about a child he can ask a report to be carried out sooner. In most cases involving social services a guardian ad litem will be appointed to represent the child.

The name of the social worker responsible for the report. The timescale and should report its findings to the court within 8 weeks. The local authority has a duty to make these enquiries under section 37 2.

Section 37 reports when during any private law proceedings under the children act 1989 a question arises about the welfare of the child and it seems to the court that it might be appropriate for a care order or supervision order to be made then it will direct a local authority to undertake an investigation of the child s circumstances and report to the court its findings. The purpose of a s37 report is to advise the court as to why the la are not issuing public law proceedings in relation to a child who the court has significant concerns about. The name of the child or children and their dates of birth.

The report must cover. The report will set out the child s wishes and feelings and what the cafcass officer social worker considers to be in the best interest of the child. As soon as a request arrives for a section 37 report the allocated social worker should inform the legal department in writing about.

By when the report has to be completed. If the court has cause to feel concern for the welfare of a child during the course of proceedings in a private law application then it can ask an independent social worker to conduct a section 37 investigation. Under section 37 of the children act 1989 a court may direct a local authority to investigate a child s circumstances if it appears that a care order or supervision order would be appropriate.

Essentially when ordering section 37 report the court is asking the local authority to consider whether it should be taking further steps to protect the child. A section 37 investigation is an enquiry in to a child s circumstances by a social worker.