What To Do When Luton Borough Council Contacts You About Your Child

Legally reviewed by: Ravi Kaur Mahey Jun 2026 In: Child Care

For most parents, being contacted by children’s services is an extremely stressful experience. Whether it comes in the form of a phone call, a letter, or an unannounced visit, the first instinct is often to assume the worst. However in most cases, initial contact does not mean that anyone is about to remove your child or take you to court, and understanding what each stage of the process involves can make a significant difference to how you respond and what happens next.

What Kind of Contact Might You Receive?

Children’s services at Luton Borough Council can become involved with a family in a number of different ways. A referral might come from a school, a GP, a health visitor, or a neighbour or family member, and the local authority has a statutory duty under the Children Act 1989 to investigate any concerns raised about a child’s welfare.

The most common starting point is an initial referral, which may lead to a brief welfare check or a more formal assessment of the family’s circumstances. If the concerns raised are relatively low-level, this might result in an offer of support services and no further action.

Child in Need Assessment

If concerns are more significant, children’s services may carry out a Child in Need assessment under Section 17 of the Children Act 1989, to look at whether a child needs support that is not currently being provided. Many families go through this process without it leading anywhere more serious.

Section 47 Enquiry

A Section 47 enquiry is a different matter which is triggered when children’s services have reasonable cause to suspect that a child is suffering, or is likely to suffer, significant harm. A Section 47 enquiry involves a more detailed investigation and will often include an interview with your child, a visit to the family home, and liaison with other agencies which in some cases may include the police. It’s important to get legal advice at this point.

If the Section 47 enquiry can provide evidence about concerns about a child’s safety, Luton Borough Council may call a Child Protection Conference. This is a formal meeting attended by professionals involved with your family, including social workers, health professionals, and school representatives. You will be invited to attend and given the opportunity to contribute. The conference may decide to place your child’s name on the Child Protection Register, which means the local authority will put a Child Protection Plan in place and monitor the situation going forward.

If concerns continue despite a Child Protection Plan being in place, or if the local authority believes the risks to your child are serious enough that court proceedings may become necessary, you may receive a Pre-Proceedings letter, often referred to as a PLO letter. This is a formal notification that the local authority is considering applying to court and that they are giving you the opportunity to address their concerns before that happens. Receiving a PLO letter is a significant moment in the process, and legal representation at this stage is incredibly important.

If those concerns cannot be resolved through pre-proceedings work, Luton Borough Council may issue care proceedings in the Family Court, where a judge will decide what arrangements are in the best interests of your child.

What Are Your Rights?

Throughout this process, you have rights that are important to understand. In most circumstances, children’s services cannot enter your home without your consent or a court order, and they cannot remove your child without either your agreement or an emergency court order. You are entitled to know what concerns have been raised and to respond to them. You also have the right to legal representation at every stage, and where you qualify financially, public funding is available for care proceedings.

Cooperating with children’s services does not mean agreeing with everything they say or accepting every assessment at face value. It means engaging with the process, attending meetings, and demonstrating that your child’s welfare is your priority. Refusing to engage or becoming hostile is rarely in a parent’s interests and can make an already difficult situation significantly harder to resolve.

What Should You Do When You Are First Contacted?

The most important thing is not to ignore the contact. Whatever the circumstances, responding promptly and taking the situation seriously demonstrates to children’s services that you are willing to work with them.

Seeking legal advice early is strongly recommended, and this is true even at the initial referral stage. Some parents worry that instructing a solicitor will make them look as though they have something to hide, but the opposite is generally the case. A solicitor can help you understand what stage you are at, what the local authority is likely to do next, and how best to respond to any concerns that have been raised. Early advice gives you a clearer picture and puts you in a much stronger position if the situation escalates.

It is also worth keeping a record of any contact you have with children’s services, including dates, times, and the names of the social workers involved, and making a note of anything significant that is said.

How Cartwright King Can Help

Cartwright King’s child care team acts for parents, grandparents, and other family members at every stage of children’s services involvement, from initial assessments through to contested care proceedings. Our solicitors are familiar with how Luton Borough Council approaches child protection cases and can advise you on your position from the earliest point of contact.

If you have received contact from children’s services and are not sure what it means or what to do next, please get in touch with our Luton office as early advice can make a real difference to your case.