Do families have to accept the help or services offered?

No. Parents or carers can decide not to accept child in need services.

Sometimes parents or carers may feel that they do not want to accept the help suggested. If a parent or carer feels like this it is a good idea for them to talk things through with the social worker. Or with another practitioner involved with their child. The parent or carer can:

• Say if they think that the help offered isn’t needed or isn’t the right help
• Explain what kind of help they feel the family do need
• Share any worries they may have about working with a certain service or person
• Ask about how the help offered will be reviewed
• Ask the social worker exactly what will happen if they don’t accept the help offered.

If a parent or carer does not accept the help or services offered, the social worker involved may worry about whether the child and family may struggle, and things may get worse. They may look at whether children’s services need to start child protection enquiries or recommend a child protection conference.

See our Child protection page for more information.

If children’s services are not worried about the child’s welfare, then they may close the child’s case.