What will happen at a Child Protection Conference?

Child protection conferences are an important part of the child safeguarding process. When professionals suspect that a child is at risk of significant harm, a Child Protection Conference may be arranged to assess the situation, create a plan to safeguard the child, and ensure their welfare.

What is a Child Protection Conference?

A Child Protection Conference is a meeting where professionals from different agencies, such as social services, healthcare, and the police, come together to discuss concerns about a child’s safety and wellbeing. These conferences are held when there are concerns that a child may be at risk of significant harm, which can arise from:

• Physical abuse
• Sexual abuse
• Emotional abuse
• Neglect

The purpose of the conference is to determine if the child is at risk of harm and, if so, to decide on the need for a Child Protection Plan. Parents or carers are invited to attend the conference, along with other key professionals who are involved in the child’s life. In certain cases, children over the age of 12 may also be invited to attend, if it is considered appropriate for them to attend.

What to Expect from a Child Protection Conference

The conference focuses on the needs of the child and is not a Court or tribunal. It is a structured meeting where the professionals and parents/carers discuss the child's situation in detail, aiming to establish if there are sufficient grounds to create a Child Protection Plan.

The meeting will be chaired by an experienced social worker who is not directly involved with the child or the family, ensuring impartiality. Before the conference, the child's social worker must provide the parents with a copy of their report, which outlines the concerns, and the evidence gathered. Parents are also allowed to bring a friend or family member for support and can have a legal representative or solicitor attend also. The solicitor or legal representative will be unable to speak during the conference, but they can offer advise both before and after. 

At the conference, professionals will share their views and decide whether a Child Protection Plan is necessary. If it is determined that the child is at risk of significant harm, a Child Protection Plan will be developed.

What to Expect from a Child Protection Plan

A Child Protection Plan is a written document that outlines the specific actions needed to protect the child and support the family. It provides a clear framework for professionals and parents to work together to address the risks and meet the child’s needs. The plan will include:

• Who the social worker is and their role
• The child's needs and how professionals can help meet them
• Actions to reduce risks to the child
• Timelines for when actions need to take place
• Responsibilities for each part of the plan, which will involve both professionals and family members

A Child Protection Plan aims to ensure that everyone involved knows their role and understands what needs to happen to protect the child.

Who Puts the Plan into Action?

Once a Child Protection Plan is created, a core group of people will be identified to work with the parents, carers, and the child to implement the plan. The core group may include:

• The social worker
• Nursery or school staff
• Health visitors or school nurses
• Other professionals regularly involved with the family
• Key family members involved in the child’s care

The core group will meet with parents or carers within two weeks of the initial conference to agree on how to carry out the plan. These meetings will continue regularly to review the child’s progress and ensure that the protection plan is being followed. Parents are encouraged to attend these meetings, as their involvement is crucial in ensuring that changes are made to keep the child safe.

Reviewing the Child Protection Plan

A child protection plan is not static; it is reviewed regularly to ensure that it remains effective. The first review happens no later than three months after the plan is put in place. Subsequent reviews are carried out every six months until professionals agree that the child is no longer at risk of significant harm and the plan can be ended.

If the risks to the child decrease, the child may be removed from the child protection register. However, if the child still needs support, a Child in Need plan may be created to provide further assistance.

Social workers will regularly visit the child at home or school to assess their well-being. These visits may include unannounced checks to ensure that the child’s environment is safe and that the family is adhering to the Child Protection Plan.

If you have been asked to attend a Child Protection Conference for your child, please get in touch with Johnson Astills to see how we can assist. Please call us at our office in Leicester on 0116 255 4855 or our office in Loughborough on 01509 610 312 and ask to speak to a member of the Care Team. Alternatively, you may prefer to email us at legal@johnsonastills.com or fill in our enquiry form.