Child Protection Conferences

A child protection conference is a meeting that is arranged when there are worries that a child or young person may have been harmed, or that they are at risk of being harmed.  The purpose is to discuss information about them and decide how best to help.

 

If a Child Protection Conference has been arranged about you, this page may answer any questions you may have. If not please ask your social worker.

 

The meeting is arranged by a social worker, who works for the Sheffield City Council Children & Young People’s Directorate.  The social worker may have known you and your family for some time.  Whether they already know you or not, they will talk to you and make sure the report they write for the meeting includes what you feel about the situation. The social worker will also talk to other people who may know you better, such as your teacher before writing the report.

 

A number of people will be at the meeting. This may include a doctor, other staff from the Sheffield City Council Children & Young People’s Directorate, a health visitor, teacher or learning mentor and a police officer.  Some of them may already know you and your family, and others may have information or knowledge useful to the meeting.  There will also be someone there to take notes, and everyone who is there will receive a copy of these through the post.

 

 

Parents and carers are normally invited to attend all or part of the meeting, and the social worker will discuss with you whether you should go to the meeting as well.  If you don’t want to go, or if the social worker feels it would be too difficult for you, you will be able to tell the social worker what your views and feelings are, so they can tell the people at the meeting.

 

If you want to, you could make a tape, or write something down so that those at the meeting will know what you think about the situation.

 

 

You will meet the person in charge of the meeting before it starts. This person is call the Chairperson, and she or he will explain how the meeting will be arranged and listen to any concerns you may have.  When the meeting starts the Chairperson will make sure that everyone introduces themselves to you. They will also make sure that you get the chance to be involved in the discussion if you want to, and that if you have a supporter with you that they also get a chance to speak.

 

If the meeting decides there is a need for you to have a Child Protection Plan, your name will be added to the List of Children who have a Child Protection Plan. This is held by Sheffield Safeguarding Children Service.