(1)The family and children court shall require a written welfare report in respect of a child before making a supervision order or a care order.

(2)It shall be the duty of the probation and social welfare officer to prepare a welfare report, and he or she shall comply with the request of a family and children court whenever required to produce a welfare report.

(3)The probation and social welfare officer shall make a home visit and interview the parents of the child concerned before making a welfare report.

(4)Where the child in respect of whom the welfare report is made is of sufficient age and understanding, he or she shall be interviewed by the probation and social welfare officer.

(5)A welfare report shall contain matters relating to the welfare of the child and recommendations as to any action to be taken by the family and children court.

(6)The family and children court shall take the information contained in the welfare report into account in as far as it is relevant to the order being made.

(7)If the family and children court is not satisfied with any recommendation made by the probation and social welfare officer in the welfare report, it shall state and record its reasons for not complying with the recommendation.