A Child Protection Conference may decide that a child should have Child Protection Plan..
Child Protection Plans are written for children who are known or believed to have been abused or injured in some way, or who are thought to be at risk of injury, abuse or neglect. The plan is strictly confidential and information from it is available only to professional people such as Health Visitors, Teachers, Doctors, Police Officers and Social Workers.
The Child Protection Plan is being reviewed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can children be taken away?
Social Workers cannot take a child away against the wishes of the parent(s) simply because the child has a child protection plan. In serious cases, a Conference may recommend that the matter is brought before a court.
Children can only be removed from their home by Order of the Court. In an emergency, the Police or Social Services can seek a Court Order to remove a child from home on a short term basis. However it is rare for children to be removed.
Do families have to have a social worker?
The Social Services Department will arrange for a Social Worker, known as the "key worker", to visit you regularly. He/she will be responsible also for keeping in touch with other professional workers involved with you.
The Social Worker will collect information to help everyone involved understand your situation, so it is in your interest to work closely with them. You do not have to see the Social Worker unless a Court Order says you must. However, if there are serious concerns about a child and the parents refuse to allow a Social Worker to see their child/ren, the Social Services Department would have to consider whether to involve a Court or the Police.
