Information for Parents & Carers

Child Protection Register/Plans

A Child Protection Conference may decide that a child's name should be put onto the Child Protection Register.

The Register is a list of 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 Register is kept by the Social Services Department. It is strictly confidential and information from it is available only to professional people such as Health Visitors, Teachers, Doctors, Police Officers and Social Workers.

If your child's name is placed on the Register it does not mean that it will stay on forever. A Review Conference will be held in about three months to consider whether your child's name should stay on the Register. If the decision is yes, then the matter will be considered again in six months. Once it is felt your child is no longer at risk their name will be taken off the Register.

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's name is on the Register. 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.

Child Protection Register/Plans