What is a Child Protection Conference?
This is a meeting to share information about you and your family and to discuss your child’s safety. This can be difficult but you will have had a chance to discuss with your child’s social worker what is likely to be said at the conference. None of the information should be a surprise to you.
The meeting is arranged following a child protection investigation and because it is felt there are still concerns that your child either has suffered or is likely to suffer abuse or neglect and therefore maybe at risk of ‘significant harm’. All the children (under 18) in your house will be considered at this first conference.
Your views are very important and you will have plenty of opportunities to say what you think and to question the professionals at the conference.
Your child’s social worker will write a report, which they will share with you before the conference. Other professionals too will write reports and you will always get a copy except for the Police report. This is because of the Metropolitan Police Regulations, although their report will be read out.
What does the Conference do?
After all the information has been shared and discussed, people at the conference will consider the risks that there may be to your child and the things that are keeping your child safe. Every professional will say if they think your child is still at risk of harm and whether your child should have a child protection plan.
What is a Child Protection Plan?
This is a plan that you and all the agencies involved contribute to. This plan does not change the legal rights of a parent with ‘parental responsibility’ for a child.
The details of what goes into your child’s Child Protection Plan with outcomes and timescales will be discussed at the conference. A copy of the plan will be sent to you within 2 working days of the conference.
Can the Conference Remove my Child?
No. Only a court can make an order for Children’s Social Care to remove your child. A conference can make recommendations about what is thought to be best for your child. Sometimes this means applying to a court for an order to protect your child.
Children’s Social Care by law have to work ‘in partnership’ with you. Although you may not always agree with them, most child protection plans are managed in voluntary agreement with parents and without the need to go to court. Most children with a child protection plan live at home with their parents.
How Long Will my Child have a Child Protection Plan?
This decision is considered at every conference. The first review conference is always within 3 months of the initial conference. Other reviews are then always within 6 months.
In Kingston, we work hard to try and make sure that no child has a child protection plan for more than 2 years.
What if I Don’t Agree with the Conference Decision?
If you wish to complain about the way the conference was managed, in terms of the conference process, the outcome or the decision for your child to become, continue or not to become subject of a cp plan, then you should firstly write or speak to the chair. This will be passed on to the Chair’s manager in children’s social care and the local authority complaints manager. Whilst a complaint is being considered, the decision made by the conference stands.
The outcome of a complaint will either be that a conference is re-convened under a different Chair, that a review conference is brought forward or that the status quo is confirmed along with a suitable explanation. Complaints about individual agencies, their performance and provision (or non-provision) of services should be responded to in accordance with the relevant agency’s own complaints management process.
If your child becomes subject of a child protection plan, then this will be under one of the four categories: (actual or likely) physical, emotional, sexual abuse or neglect.
Every child with a child protection plan has this reviewed regularly and is always allocated a lead social worker.
If you move away, Kingston Children’s Social Care will inform the Children’s Social Care in your new area that your child has a child protection plan and they will need to arrange their own transfer in conference.
Who Will Know my Child has a Child Protection Plan?
Conferences are confidential. This is always stressed at the start of the conference. This means that information about your family will only be shared with other professionals and family members if this is in your child’s best interest.
Can I Attend the Conference?
It is essential that you attend the conference and your involvement is very important.
You may wish to bring a friend or relative with you for support. You can also bring your solicitor with you and they will observe and take notes. You should discuss who is coming to support you with your child’s social worker before the conference.
If English is not your first language or you have other communication issues, your child’s social worker can arrange for an interpreter to be there. If you have any disability issues then talk to your child’s social worker before the meeting.
If you don’t attend, then your child’s social worker will always let you know what happened as soon as possible. The chair will also write to you with the conference outcome.
Exceptionally, a parent will not be invited. An example of when this decision may be taken is if there is a risk of violence by that parent.
Can Children and Young People Attend?
Young children and babies should not come to conferences and your child’s social worker can help you to arrange childcare if needed.
Young people do sometimes attend the conference if it is felt that this is in their best interest and that the conference can achieve its purpose with the young person there. You and your child (young person) can discuss this with your child’s social worker before the conference. The conference chair will help make the decision that is felt to be best for the young person.
Who Else Will Attend?
Your child’s social worker will always attend. Other professionals working with you and your family will also be invited such as your child’s head teacher and health visitor.
There may also be some people who you do not know but who have important information for the conference such as a professional’s manager. A council solicitor sometimes attends to provide legal advice. An experienced Children’s Social Care manager will chair the meeting.
What Records of the Conference Are There?
A minute taker in the conference will make a written record of the conference. You will get a copy of these minutes about 3 weeks afterwards as well as a copy of any other written report that you do not already have.
Download
You can download the information on this page as a leaflet from the link below:
Information Leaflet for Parents on Child Protection Conferences
USEFUL NUMBERS
Safeguarding Service
020 8547 5004 (office hours)
Services for Disabled Children
020 8547 6523
ASKK
020 8547 5888 (office hours)
ASKK and Children’s Information Service (CIS) are information sharing and information giving services that provide advice and practical support to parents/carers, children and young people in Kingston.
Emergency Social Worker
020 8770 5000 (Out of Hours)
Kingston Hospital
020 8546 7711
Kingston Police Station
020 8546 1212
Emergency Services - 999
RBK Website: www.kingston.gov.uk
