A social worker assesses the need to take a child into care when assessing the child’s need for child welfare services. It is important that the child and their family are involved in the work and aware of the different options and concerns related to the growth and development of the child. The primary means of safeguarding the child’s growth and development is to support the family through support measures in open care.
Social welfare authorities may also request statements from experts in children's growth and development, including the day care, school, family counselling clinic or healthcare services.  A social worker has the right to obtain expert assistance from other authorities and experts. The social worker must assess whether taking a child into care is the best option for safeguarding the child's development and ensure that all other possible measures have been taken to support the child and the parents. The assessment must be based on a child-centred approach and take the child's perspective into account. In a high-quality process for taking a child into care, the wishes, opinions and cultural background of the child and the parents are taken into consideration.