Child Protection Conferences

A Child Protection Conference is a meeting called when there are reasons to think that a child may have been abused or neglected, and may be at continued risk of harm.

 

It brings together family members, people who know the child and family, and others experienced in working in child protection. It is organised by the Sheffield Safeguarding Children Service, and usually held in one of their offices, but is run on behalf of the Sheffield Safeguarding Children Board, which represents all the different agencies in Sheffield responsible for child protection.

 

Can children attend?
In appropriate circumstances, yes. If not, before the Conference, every effort will be made to find out your child’s wishes and feelings and the Conference will be told about these by the social worker. Your child can also present his or her views in a letter, or by a tape recording, to the Conference.

 

If it is felt there is a risk of significant harm to the child in the future, then a child’s name can be placed on the List of Children who have a Child Protection Plan.

 

This means that all the agencies involved in working with the child and his or her family will agree plans for working with the family and protecting the child.

 

Even if the child’s name is not placed on the List, recommendations may be made about other help or support that could be offered, or further enquiries that need to be completed.

Parents, and anyone else who has played a major part in looking after the child recently are normally invited to attend. In exceptional circumstances the Chair of the Conference may decide this is not appropriate. If this is the case, you will be informed in writing the reason for this.

 

Occasionally, the Chair may ask a parent to leave for part of the meeting if there is confidential information which cannot be shared. If this is the case, you will be told the reason at the Conference.

 

You may bring someone with you as a supporter. This may be another member of your family, a friend, your solicitor, or some other person of your choice.

 

Each professional who attends the Conference is asked to prepare a written report for each child who is the subject of a Case Conference. You may like to bring some written notes too. Everyone will have a chance to read the written reports at the beginning of the meeting. If you do not attend, it is still important to hear your views, and you may wish to discuss this with the social worker, or someone else who is attending, or put something in writing to be read out.

 

Regardless of what decisions are made, you will be given a copy of the written notes of the meeting as soon as they are ready, unless there is an exceptional reason why this should not be the case.

 

If your child’s name is placed on the List of Children who have a Child Protection Plan, there will be another meeting called as soon as possible. However, this will only involve those people who will be working directly with your family. This meeting will be to work out the detailed plan of what needs to change, what work needs to be done, who will be visiting etc.

 

Review Conferences will then be held, firstly after three months, then usually every six months. On every occasion it will be discussed whether your child’s name should stay on the List of Children who have a Child Protection Plan, or whether the original concerns have reduced so that there is no longer the same level of risk, and their name can be removed. You will normally be invited to all those meetings.

You can contact your social worker or an advice centre. Alternatively, you can speak to the Conference Chair or write to the Service Manager of the Sheffield Safeguarding Children Service:

 

Floor 2, Redvers House

Union Street

Sheffield

S1 2JQ

 

Tel: 0114 273 4934