Emergency protection order (EPO) is an order under section 44 of the Children Act allowing a local authority social worker ( or a National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children officer) to remove a child from his or her parents or other adults, or to retain a child in a safe place, such as a hospital, if the worker has the reasonable cause to believe that the child is suffering or is likely to suffer Significant Harm.The order may also be applied for if the social worker is denied access to a child who is likely to suffer significant harm.It is usually obtained by the worker's application before a magistrate without other parties to the case, such as the child's parents, present (see Ex-parte).The order lasts for 8 days,with a possible seven day extention in exceptional circumstances.