Child Protection Conference
Advice
What is a Child Protection Conference?
A Child Protection Conference is called by the local authority when they investigate if they have concerns about a child being abused and they still believe the child is still being abused or is at risk of significant harm.
If you are considering utilising our expertise then please contact us as soon as possible so we can work with your social worker, and potentially other medical specialists to give you the best chance of success regarding getting your desired outcome.
Child Protection Conferences can be called for the following reasons:
- The concerns raised with the parents regarding the care of the child has not been addressed;
- The parents appear to be in an abusive relationship and the child is witnessing or hearing domestic abuse;
- An emergency protection order has been granted;
- Anyone known to be an abuser is now regularly visiting the home where the child resides or has moved in. e.g., a sex offender; and were
- A child already has an existing child protection plan from another place but moves permanently into the local area.
Who carries out the Child Protection Conference?
The conference is called by the local authority. The person carrying out the Child Protection Conference will be a person separate from the team that is dealing with the case in question.
What is a Child Protection Conference used for?
A Child Protection Conference aims to achieve the following:
- Make sure all the information is shared between all the relevant authorities who are working with the child and the family;
- Make an action plan to ensure child safety in the future; and
- Decide if a child protection plan is necessary.
(In Wales, if a Child Protection Conference is needed, they usually also decide if the child in question should be placed on the child protection register).
Reports
Reports from social workers and other professionals must be prepared for the child protection conference at least two working days before the conference, copies of these reports must be given to the parents (and to the child, depending on their level of understanding). These reports set out the professional’s views and ideas about the child’s situation.
When will a Child Protection Conference be enforced?
Child Protection Conferences take place within 15 days from the date of when the investigation started or when another local authority has given notice that a child who has a child protection plan has permanently moved into the local area. If court proceedings have begun, the child protection conference will have to be organised with this in consideration. More than one conference may be needed (this is often referred to as a review conference). The first review conference is usually held within 3 months of the first conference. If further reviews are needed, they are usually held every 6 months.
What happens before a Child Protection Conference?
Before a child protection conference, social workers and any other professionals who are in contact with the family must prepare reports. The parents of the child should receive copies of these reports 2 days before the conference.
What happens during the conference?
Reports will be examined and professionals questioned to determine the most appropriate outcome. They will also decide whether a child protection plan should be made for the child. Notes will be taken during the conference so there's a record of what happens.
Complaints
As a parent, you should be informed of the complaints procedure that applies to child protection conferences, in case you want to complain about the way the conference has been dealt with.
How we can help
Attending such a conference can be hugely daunting and there is every likelihood that the parents / guardians etc will get extremely upset. Because of this we would strongly suggest instructing a professional family counsellor to represent you, they would stick to the salient determination points, leaving aside all emotional outburst and so on. Please note we make no commission from these referrals.
The combined efforts of your legal team and professional family counsellor, each putting forward a robust argument, coupled with citing relevant legal statutes / cases is a family’s best chance to get a true and fair judgment. We cannot guarantee a win, that is understood but we would ask you to consider how you would feel if you did not put up the best fight to keep your children.
Please note the driver in this will be the children themselves, they will be asked privately what solution they would like. It is then hoped that each adult will agree to their wishes. As in every negotiation there needs to be some give and take. Ultimately if there is an impasse then the court will decide.
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