This guide is informational. Always verify how the rules apply to your specific case.
You are here: 1/8 in the series Concern report to social services: your step-by-step guide
A concern report about a child means that someone has provided information to social services indicating that a child may be in harm's way or at risk of harm. Social services must receive the report and assess whether an investigation is necessary. This does not automatically mean that the report is true, that you have done something wrong, or that the child will be taken into care.
The guide is aimed at parents searching for concern report to social services, concern report social services or what happens with a concern report. Continue the series: scenarios and questions, report to social services: how to respond factually, SoL investigation. If social services have started discussing compulsory care, go to the LVU guide on the basics, the court, and your rights. If the concern is about an adult, read concern report adult.
Report of concern for children and report of concern for adults
| Children | Adult | |
|---|---|---|
| Volume in search | report of concern for children (high) | report of concern for adults (high) |
| Compulsion | LVU may become relevant | Other regulations (e.g., LVM, LPT in case of serious danger) |
| Reporter | School, BVC, healthcare (often obligatory) | Relatives, neighbors, healthcare (often voluntary) |
What is a report of concern?
A report of concern is a disclosure to the social services according to Guidance from the National Board of Health and WelfareSchools, preschools, healthcare, police, and other entities may have obligation to report. Private individuals can also report concerns.
The report should include what the concern is about, why it exists, and what contact information is available. It does not need to be proven, but it should be sufficiently concrete for the social services to assess whether follow-up is necessary.
Report of Concern from School, Preschool, or Child Health Center
Personnel may have obligation to report when they suspect that a child is being harmed. It is not the same as believing that you are a bad parent. You can request the observations that led to the report and compare them with the school's documentation (action plans, student health meetings). See when the school contacts social services and the section on incorrect reports of concern in Responding to a Report of Concern.
What happens after a report of concern to social services?
- Registration: the report is received and recorded.
- Initial assessment: the caseworker determines whether the case should be investigated, closed, or referred.
- Contact with the family: you may be invited to a meeting, sometimes without knowing exactly who reported.
- Investigation if needed: interviews, home visits, information from school and healthcare.
- Assessment and decision: support measures, closure, or in serious cases, LVU proceedings.
Social services must work in the best interest of the child, but you have the right to clarity, documentation, and to respond to the information. Read our review on documentation deficiencies when children are waiting if the process is prolonged.
When a report of concern turns into an LVU issue
A report of concern and a SoL investigation are not in themselves LVU. However, if the social welfare board considers that there is a significant risk to the child and that necessary care cannot be provided voluntarily, the board may apply for LVU care. In cases of acute risk, an immediate custody according to Section 6 of the LVU can be decided before the regular court process is completed.
Then ask to know if the social services are considering Section 2 LVU (home environment) or Section 3 LVU (the young person's own behavior), what specific risk is cited, and what care is claimed not to be able to be carried out voluntarily.
Parents' rights from day one
- Right to information about what the investigation concerns to a sufficient degree to be able to respond.
- Right to a support person/representative: see bring a support person to a government meeting.
- Right to record meetings you participate in: see record a meeting with an authority.
- Right to request documents and records: see request government documents.
- Right to request correction if notes are incorrect: see corrections in the social services' investigation.
Common questions from school and neighbors
Can you find out who made the report of concern? Often no. Confidentiality can protect the reporter. You should still be informed about what the concern is about.
How serious is a report of concern? It is serious as a signal, but not a judgment. The assessment comes after the investigation.
How long is a report of concern retained? Information may remain in records according to retention rules. Request and check what has been documented.
Can one decline an investigation? You can decline a conversation, but the social services may determine that an investigation is still necessary if the child's situation requires it.
If the report of concern comes from the school
The school and social services are separate systems. When the school reports, you should distinguish between the school's support measures and the social services' investigation. Read when the school contacts social services.
Statistics in perspective
In 2024, approximately 514,000 reports of concern were made, affecting 233,000 children. About half lead to an investigation; full-time care is significantly less common. Read statistics on reports of concern and see graphs on the statistics page.
