Hi B457,
Yes, a 15-year-old can refuse to participate in a Child in Need assessment if it is under Section 17 (Child in Need). A Section 17 plan is voluntary. Neither you nor your child can be legally forced to engage, unless the Local Authority escalates the case to Section 47 (Child Protection) or seeks a court order.
Key Points to Understand here
A 15-year-old has the legal right to have their wishes and feelings taken into account, especially if they are able to understand what is being discussed.
Section 17 is support-based, not compulsory. It is meant to offer help, not impose restrictions..
Refusing to engage is not the same as neglecting your duties as a parent. You can still meet your child's needs without social services involvement.
So when could it become compulsory?
Only if:
Social services say there is evidence of significant harm and escalate it to Section 47.
Or if they apply to court for an order.
Without that escalation, your child’s decision not to participate should be respected and recorded by the social worker.
======================
For full transparency, I am not an official adviser for this forum. I am a parent who has been through a long and successful legal battle with a local authority, and I am here to offer supportive, strategic advice based on my own lived experience. The information I share is for guidance, and it is always up to each parent to decide what is right for their own situation
Edited by Suzie to show change of username for OP