Social Services involvement with the family may begin in a number of ways. It
may be because the family has had problems for a long period of time, with help
and support to date, but things have become out of control. It may be that there
has been an accident, a child has been injured, and no-one is quite sure what
has happened; or the police may have raided a home and removed the children in
an emergency. Then there are those dreadful problems of children whose parents
have long-standing problems that have defeated all agencies in providing
support.
The first stage will be an investigation by Social Services, sometimes
jointly with the police into the circumstances, and a decision whether there is
no problem; there is a problem that can be solved with advice and support; or
further more drastic action is needed.