Evaluation of the introduction of inter-agency referral documentation (Children in Need and in Need of Assessment Consent Form) in North East Lincolnshire

In November 2000, North East Lincolnshire Local Authority introduced ‘Children in Need and in Need of Protection Assessment and Consent’ (A&C) forms1, a tool to be used by agencies when referring children to social services. The aim of the study was to evaluate the impact of the introduction of the A&C form on the pattern and quality of child care referrals made to social services by health, education and ‘other’ agencies (e.g. police and other statutory and voluntary agencies).