SKELETON FORMAT FOR SECTION 7 REPORT

September 2017SKELETON FORMAT FOR SECTION 7 REPORTPlease read and then delete these good practice pointsThe purpose of a s7 report is to provide the court with information and advise themas to what (if any) order should be made to promote the child’s welfare and identifyany opportunities for helping the parents to reach their own agreement. The courtwants an analytical rather than narrative report to assist them.It is not however your role to actually resolve the disputes.Please ensure that you have read the relevant guidance notes.The Section 7 template MUST be completed in LCS – there is an option toconvert it to a Word document when you need to send it to Court

[Type text]IN THE FAMILY COURT at INSERT COURTCase Number: INSERT FROM THE ORDERRe : Child(ren)’s names(dates of birth)BETWEEN:INSERT FULL NAMEApplicant- and –INSERT FULL NAMERespondentREPORT UNDER SECTION 7 OF THE CHILDREN ACT1989Author of report:INSERT YOUR NAMESignature of author: .Date:date completedThis report has been prepared for the court and should be treated as confidential. Itmust not be shown, or its contents revealed to any person other than a party or alegal adviser to such a party. Such legal advisor may make use of the report inconnection with an application for public funding.2

[Type text]1.Details of AuthorI am [name] of [office address]. I am employed by the BuckinghamshireCounty Council as a [give job title] and I have [insert qualifications]qualifications and [state no of years as a figure] years’ experience of workingwith children and their families.My HCPC registration number is [insertnumber]My own involvement with this case is as [insert role in the case] for thechild(ren) (delete as appropriate) since [insert date first allocated/length ofinvolvement.)2.Nature of the Application(s) before the Court giving rise to the section 7direction and the reasons given by the Court for making the directionGive a very brief, clear summary of the application before the court and whatthe court asked us to consider specifically egI write this report further to the direction by HHJ Hughes dated 1 st April 2017for a s7 report to address the parents cross applications for orders withregards to who their children should live with and what level of contact issuitable for the non-resident parent.3.Documentation ProvidedIdentify what statements and/or other documents/assessments you haveread. DO NOT set out what is contained within these documents4.Enquiries undertakenPersons spoken to by you in the course of investigation with dates: who,when, where, including missed appointments and reasons given.DO NOT include here details of what was said in each meetingWhat assessment tools did you use? DO NOT recount full details of theassessment however5.Family compositionInclude all extended family who are referred to within the report3

[Type text]Consider using a separate genogram if relationships are complexBe careful not to disclose an address in your report if there is a risk ofpotentially adverse consequences.eg if one party has a confidential addressdue to risk of violence from another partyIf someone is identified on this, you should try to speak to them to gain theirviews prior to completion of the report.6.Current arrangements for the childrenBriefly set out who the children currently live with and what are the currentarrangements for contact.Are there any orders in place at the moment?DO NOT comment here as to anyone’s views about how these arrangementsare working currently7.The parties’ proposalsBriefly set out what is each person seeking for themselves and proposing forthe other partyDO NOT explain their rationale or make any comment here about anyone’sview on whether the proposal will work8.Details of previous involvement with Social Services / Children’sServicesA BRIEF chronological summary of significant and relevant events includingkey dates for events such as C&F Assessment undertaken and outcome,when child(ren) was made subject to CP plansThe court is more concerned with a professional analysis of the evidencerather than a simple rendition of the bare facts in a caseIf there has been a long history consider exhibiting a separate chronology4

[Type text]9.Child impact analysisDealing with each child in turn, using their name as a sub-heading set out yourassessment of each child’s particular needs (identifying what assessmentprocesses have been used and how these have helped to identify these needs)including: age, gender, cultural background, any religious beliefs, and anycharacteristics such as particular strengths or vulnerabilities and thestrength of any sibling relationship Any physical needs such as housing, warmth and need for regular foodand bedtime routines; any health and physical disability needs; any emotional and therapeutic needs; any educational needs. The ascertainable wishes and feelings of the child/children concerned(consider in the light of his/her/their age and understanding). If they aretoo young describe their behaviour in response to their circumstancesand state what a child of that age should expect. The scale, nature and impact of the harm/risk of harm to the child(ren);How has the harm suffered impacted upon the child’s development andneed The likely effect on him/her/them of any change in circumstance eg. if thechild(ren) were to be removed into current carer or contact occurs, whatwould this mean for the child10.Analysis of parenting capabilityConsideration of welfare checklist section (f) how capable each of his parents,and any other person in relation to whom the court considers the question tobe relevant, is of meeting his needs:Address the concerns parents alleging against each other/ have beenidentified from other sources. Avoid simply recounting what each parent issays; are these concerns valid?5

[Type text]What strengths and weaknesses does each parent have in your professionalopinion?Can any measures be realistic out in to address any risks identified?Can either parent meet the identified needs of the child, and whyEnsure you also address for each person:11. Current living situation What plans they have in place if their application is successful any other members of the householdAnalysis of wider family capabilityEither to care for the child(ren) or support the parents (if applicable)12.Statement of procedural fairnessWhen were the contents of this statement communicated to the mother,father, significant others and the child? What was their response?How has the Local Authority been clear in its communications, transparencyand disclosure/s of its concerns to the mother, father, wider family membersand significant others?13.Welfare checklistI have had regard to the welfare checklist throughout this report and thewelfare of the child has been my paramount consideration.14.Options Available to the CourtInclude consideration of welfare checklist section (g) the range of powersavailable to the court under this Act in the proceedings in question for e.g. noorder, residence order, contact order, specific issue order, and prohibitedsteps order. Also consider the no order principle.6

[Type text]15.ConclusionBriefly summarise each party’s positive and negative attributesWhat is each child’s best interests, and why, in the short termHow can the situation be moved forward into the long termWould the situation be assisted by LA involvement? If not, who can supportthe parties?What in your professional opinion would be the best order for the court tomake and why.If further assessments/work is required, specify what, why and timescales .Be very careful about recommending contact be supervised by the LA. Doyou have funding approval? How long could this go on for?Signature Name Date .7

wants an analytical rather than narrative report to assist them. It is not however your role to actually resolve the disputes. Please ensure that you have read the relevant guidance notes. The Section 7 template MUST be completed in LCS – there is an option to conver