CP4. Child Protection Conferences

All conferences

Note: Some safeguarding partnerships use approaches or models as an integral part of their child protection framework, for example a Strengthening Families approach or the Signs of Safety model. These approaches support the assessment of risk using a strength and resilience model to engage children, young people and families. The models outline how child protection conferences will share and structure information as well as making a decision as to whether a plan needs to be in place to reduce the risk of harm to the child. However, the procedures in this chapter will continue to be applicable regardless of the model / approach adopted.

1.1

Introduction

A child protection conference brings together family members (and the child/ren where appropriate), supporters / advocates and those professionals most involved with the child and family to make decisions about the child's future safety, health and development. If concerns relate to an unborn child, consideration should be given as to whether to hold an initial child protection conference prior to the child's birth.

1.2

Purpose

To collate and analyse, in a multi-agency and multi-disciplinary meeting, all relevant information and plan how best to safeguard and promote the welfare of the child and protect them from harm. It is the responsibility of the conference to make recommendations on how organisations and agencies work together to safeguard the child in future. Practitioners and parents should be provided with clear and accurate information about the conference process to support effective planning. All practitioners should approach the work with parents and carers in line with the principles set out in chapter 1 of the guidance Working Together to Safeguard Children 2023.

Conference tasks include:

• Appoint a lead social worker, who should be experienced and an employee of the lead statutory body;
• Identifying membership of the core group of practitioners and family members who will develop and implement the child protection plan;
• Establishing timescales for meetings of the core group, production of a child protection plan and for child protection review meetings;
• Agreeing an outline child protection plan, with clear actions and timescales, including a clear sense of what improvement is needed, how much improvement is needed and by when, so that success can be judged clearly.

The conference chair:

• Is accountable to the Director of Children’s Services;
• Where possible the same person should chair subsequent child protection reviews as required;
• Should be a practitioner, independent of operational and/or line management responsibilities for the case;
• Should meet the child and parents in advance to ensure they understand the issues, the purpose, the process, and possible outcomes of the conference;
• Should be prepared to answer questions openly;
• Should approach the work with parents and carers in line with the principles set out in chapter 1 of the guidance Working Together to Safeguard Children;
• Should consider whether members of the family network should attend and participate in the conference;
• Should ensure all participants are encouraged to contribute views independently.

Lead Social Worker should:

• Convene, attend, and present information about the reason for the conference, their understanding of the child’s needs, parental capacity, family and environmental context (including extra-familial contexts), and evidence of how the child has been abused, neglected, or exploited and its impact on their health and development;
• Analyse the information to enable informed decisions about what action is necessary to safeguard and promote the welfare of the child who is the subject of the conference;
• Share the conference information with the child and family beforehand (where appropriate);
• Prepare a report for the conference on the child and family which sets out and analyses what is known about the child and family and the local authority’s recommendation;
• Record conference decisions and recommendations and ensure action follows.

All involved professionals should:

• Work together to safeguard the child from harm in the future, taking timely, effective action according to the agreed plan;
• Attend and present information about their understanding or the child’s needs, parental capacity, family, and environmental factors (including extra-familial contexts) and evidence of how the child has been abused, neglected, or exploited and its impact on their health and development;
• Bring their agency perspective, expertise and challenge and contribute to decisions about actual or likely significant harm and actions to address by contributing to the plan to safeguard and promote the welfare of the child who is the subject of the conference.

Safeguarding partners should:

• Monitor the effectiveness of child protection conference arrangement.

Types of conferences

1.5

Depending on the circumstances there are several different types of child protection conferences:

• Initial conferences;
• Pre-birth conferences;
• Transfer in conferences;
• Review conferences.

Note: All types of child protection conferences should include not only the child subject of the specific concerns but must also include consideration of the needs of all other children in the household.

1.6

Initial Child Protection Conferences

An initial child protection conference must be convened when the outcome of the s47 enquiry confirms that the child is suffering, or is likely to suffer, significant harm. The local authority children's social care manager is responsible for making the decision to convene an initial conference on the completion of the s47 enquiry.

1.7

The initial child protection conference should take place within 15 working days of:

• The first strategy meeting / discussion when the section 47 enquiries were initiated; or
• Notification by another local authority that a child subject of a child protection plan has moved into the borough.

1.8

If there is an emergency protection order (EPO) and it is decided to hold a child protection conference, the conference should, whenever possible, be held before the EPO expires.

1.9

Where a child assessment order has been made, the conference should be held immediately on conclusion of examinations and assessments.

1.10

Where there is delay, this must be reported to the local authority children's social care manager (including reasons for the delay) and local authority children's social care must ensure risks of harm to the child are monitored and action taken to safeguard the child.

1.11

Pre-Birth Conferences

A pre-birth conference is an initial child protection conference concerning an unborn child. Such a conference has the same status and must be conducted in a comparable manner to an initial child protection conference. The conference should be held as soon as the assessment has been completed and taking into consideration the requirement in the Statutory Guidance[1] that:

Where the local authority is considering proceedings shortly after birth, the timing of the sending of the pre-proceedings letter or letter of issue should take account of the risk of early birth and help to ensure that discussions and assessments are not rushed. Ideally the letter should be sent at or before 24 weeks.

[1] Court orders and pre-proceedings For local authorities April 2014

1.12

Pre-birth conferences should always be convened where there is a need to consider if a multi-agency child protection plan is required for an unborn child. This decision will usually follow from a pre-birth assessment.

1.13

A pre-birth conference should be held in the circumstances listed below unless the pre-birth assessment has concluded that the risk no longer applies:

• A pre-birth assessment gives rise to concerns that an unborn child may have suffered, or is likely to suffer, significant harm;
• A previous child has died or been removed from parent/s as a result of significant harm;
• A child is to be born into a family or household that already has children who are subject of a child protection plan;
• An adult or child who is a risk to children resides in the household or is known to be a regular visitor.

1.14

Other risk factors to be considered are:

• The impact of parental risk factors such as mental ill health, learning disabilities, substance misuse and domestic abuse. See Safeguarding Practice Guidance.
• A mother under 18 years of age about whom there are concerns regarding her ability to self-care and / or to care for the child.

1.15

All agencies involved with pregnant women, where there are concerns about the unborn, should consider whether there is the need for an early referral to local authority children's social care so that assessments are undertaken as early as possible in the pregnancy.

1.16

The pre-birth conference should take place as soon as practical and at least ten weeks before the due date of delivery, so as to allow as much time as possible for planning support for the baby and family. Where there is a known likelihood of a premature birth, the conference should be held earlier.

1.17

Transfer Conferences

Transfer in conferences should take place when a child, who is the subject of a child protection plan, moves from the original local authority area to another local authority area to live there permanently. Children's social care, designated health professionals and the police should be notified promptly.

1.18

The transfer in conference should receive reports from the original local authority and the original authority should be invited to attend the conference which should take place within 15 working days of the notification. Such a conference has the same status and purpose and must be conducted in a comparable manner to an initial child protection conference.

Child protection review conference

The purpose of a review conference is to:

• Consider whether the child is continuing to suffer or be likely to suffer significant harm;
• To review progress against the child protection plan;
• To consider whether the child protection plan should continue or should be changed.

Lead Social Worker should:

• Attend and lead the organisation of the conference;
• Ensure that a review conference is held within three months of the initial conference, and thereafter at maximum intervals of six months;
• Provide information to enable informed decisions about what action is necessary to continue to safeguard and promote the welfare of the child, and the effectiveness and impact of action taken so far;
• Share the conference information with the child and family beforehand (see 7.2 below), where appropriate, and ensure that they understand the information provided;
• Approach work with parents and carers in line with the principles set out in chapter 1 of Working Together to Safeguard Children;
• Engage the family network where this is appropriate to support the child. If there is family group decision-making, such as a family group conference, parents and family networks should have the opportunity to prepare for it in advance;
• Record conference outcomes;
• Decide whether to initiate family court proceedings (all the children in the household should be considered, even if concerns are only expressed about one child) if the child is considered to be suffering significant harm.

All involved professionals should:

• Attend, when invited, and provide details of their involvement with the child and family;
• Produce reports for the child protection review (see 7.10 below). This information will provide an overview of work undertaken by family members and practitioners and evaluate the impact on the child’s welfare against the planned outcomes set out in the child protection plan;
• Approach work with parents and carers in line with the principles set out in chapter 1 of Working Together to Safeguard Children;
• Be sufficiently skilled and experienced to prepare for and engage with the review, and able to critically assess and challenge their own and other’s input.

1.20

The first child protection review conference should be held within three months of the date of the initial child protection conference. Further reviews should be held at intervals of not more than six months for as long as the child remains the subject of a child protection plan.

1.21

If the initial conference was a pre-birth conference either a Review Conference or Core Group should be held within 10 days of the birth (20 days if the mother is not medically fit to attend a meeting within the first 10 days). If the decision is made to hold a core group meeting, then it is particularly important to ensure that all relevant health professionals attend, including midwifery services.

1.22

The frequency of review conferences should be determined according to the needs and safety of the child. An infant or child under the age of 5 where there are serious concerns about the levels of risk might require the timescales to be shorter than those set above. The decisions should reflect the circumstances of the child and the impact on the child of the concerns rather than any agency constraints.

Some safeguarding partnerships have systems in place to routinely review children, who have been subject of a Child Protection plan for over 2 years to reconsider the progress of the plan. Such systems should be specifically concerned about children under the age of 5 years.

1.23

Reviews Conferences should be brought forward where / when:

• Child protection concerns relating to a new incident or allegation of abuse have been sustained;
• There are significant difficulties in carrying out the child protection plan;
• A child is to be born into the household of a child or children already subject of child protection plans;
• An adult or child who poses a risk to children is to join, or commences regular contact with, the household;
• There is a significant change in the circumstances of the child or family not anticipated at the previous conference and with implications for the safety of the child;
• A child subject of a child protection plan is also looked after by the local authority and consideration is being given to returning them to the circumstances where care of the child previously aroused concerns (unless this step is anticipated in the existing child protection plan);
• The core group believe that an early cancellation of the need for a child protection plan should be considered.

See also: Flowchart 5 - Action Following a Strategy Meeting and Flowchart 6 - What Happens After the Child Protection Conference

Looked after children with child protection plans

2.1

Children, who are already looked after, will not usually be the subject of child protection conferences, though they may be the subject of a s47 enquiry. The circumstances in which a child, who is looked after, may be considered for a child protection conference or be subject to a child protection plan are likely to be a rare occurrence. The Care Plan and Placement Plan for a child who is looked after (whether there are proceedings pending an outcome, an interim Care order or a Care order in place) should provide the means to safeguard the child. The Care Plan and Placement Plan should be reviewed and updated regularly and in response to new information or concerns about the welfare of the child.

2.2

If it is proposed that a child subject to a Care order should be returned to their birth family / returned home, the members of the statutory looked after child case review (The Children Act 1989 Guidance and Regulations - Volume 2: Care Planning, Placement and Case Review) when considering the proposal for rehabilitation must decide and record whether an initial child protection conference should be convened prior to the change. If the decision of the Review is that an initial child protection conference should be convened, the child's social worker must request it to take place within 15 days of the case review decision.

2.3

A child looked after under s20 of the Children Act 1989, who has been or is about to be returned to a parent's care, about whom there are concerns about risk of significant harm may be subject of a s47 enquiry and a child protection conference.

See The Children Act 1989 Guidance and Regulations - Volume 2: Care Planning, Placement and Case Review.

If a parent removes or proposes to remove a child looked after under s20 from the care of the local authority and there are serious concerns about that parent's capacity to provide for the child's needs and protect them from significant harm, the local authority social worker must discuss the case with the local authority children's social care manager/ ceasing to care nominated manager, who will make a decision about whether a child protection enquiry should be initiated. If a s47 child protection enquiry is initiated, the reasons for this must be clearly recorded on the child's record and may lead to an initial child protection conference.

Any plan should be based on the child's welfare needs and avoid delay. In these circumstances, the local authority children's social care social worker and manager should consider whether legal proceedings are required to protect the child in line with the Public Law Outline.

Children with child protection plans who become looked after

2.4

If a child who is the subject of a child protection plan becomes looked after under s20, their parent(s) continue to have parental responsibility (see: Understanding and dealing with issues relating to parental responsibility) and can end S20 agreement at any point. The child's legal status has not been permanently secured. The senior manager responsible for safeguarding should consider the child's safety in the light of the possibility that the parent(s) may remove the child from the local authority's care at any point. The senior manager responsible for safeguarding should ensure that the child's Looked After Care Plan and Placement Plan provides adequate security for the child and sufficiently reduces or eliminates the risk of significant harm identified by the child protection conference.

2.5

If a child ceases to be subject of a child protection plan, and the parent then requests the return of the child from the local authority's care, the local authority children's social care social manager should consider the need for an initial child protection conference. The manager must record the reasons for the decision whether or not to hold a child protection conference.

2.6

If a court grants a Care Order in respect of a child who is subject of a child protection plan, the senior manager responsible for safeguarding can end the child protection plan without convening a further child protection conference. The subsequent Looked After Child Review must make an assessment about the security of the child, considering issues such as contact and the looked after Care plan for the child. If the Care plan for the child involves remaining in or returning to the family of origin, the Looked After Child Review should give careful consideration to whether the child can be adequately protected through the framework of the child Care reviews.

Review conferences and children who are looked after

2.7

Where a looked after child remains the subject of a child protection plan there must be a single plan and a single planning and reviewing process, led by the Independent Reviewing Officer (IRO). This means that the timing of the review of the child protection aspects of the care plan under the requirements of these London Child Protection Procedures should be the same as the review under The Children Act 1989 Guidance and Regulations - Volume 2: Care Planning, Placement and Case Review (also see the IRO Handbook). This will ensure that up to date information in relation to the child's welfare and safety is considered within the review meeting and informs the overall care planning process.

2.8

Consideration should be given to whether the criteria continue to be met for the child to remain the subject of a child protection plan and whether to bring forward a Review conference. Significant changes to the care plan should only be made following the looked after child's review.

2.9

Consideration should be given to the IRO chairing the child protection conference where a looked after child remains the subject of a child protection plan despite there being:

• Different requirements for independence of the IRO function compared to the chair of the child protection conference; and
• A requirement for the child protection conference to be a multi-agency forum while children for the most part want as few external people as possible at a review meeting where they are present.

2.10

This should be decided on an individual case basis and managed to ensure that the independence of the independent reviewing officer is not compromised. Similarly the child might benefit from another independent chair and where it is possible should be consulted about the use of the IRO as chair. Where it is not possible for the IRO to chair the child protection conference the IRO will attend the child protection review conference.

3.1

A conference should consist of only those people who have a significant contribution to make due to their knowledge of the child and family or their expertise relevant to the case. This is likely to include:

• The child or their representative;
• Parents/those with parental responsibility;
• The local authority children social worker and, as appropriate, the local authority social care manager;
• Family members (including the wider family);
• Foster carers (current or former);
• Residential care staff;
• Suitably qualified, Social Work England registered local authority children's social work professionals who have led and been involved in an assessment of the child and family (and their first line manager);
• Professionals involved with the child (e.g. health visitor, school nurse, paediatrician, GP, school staff, CAMHS, early years staff, education welfare officers);
• Professionals with expertise in the particular type of harm suffered by the child or in the child's particular condition (e.g. a disability or long term illness);
• Those involved in investigations (e.g. the police);
• Involved third sector organisations;
• A professional who is independent of operational or line management responsibilities for the case as Chair. The status of the Chair should be sufficient to ensure multi-agency commitment to the conference and the child protection plan;

3.2

Invitations to conference should be provided to all professionals with a need to know or who have a contribution to the task involved. These may include:

• Local authority legal services (child protection), if it is anticipated that legal advice will be required;
• The child/ren's guardian where there are current court proceedings;
• Professionals involved with the parents or other family members (e.g. family support services, adult mental health services, probation, the GP;
• Midwifery services where the conference concerns an unborn or new-born child
• Probation or the Youth Offending Team;
• Local authority housing services;
• Domestic abuse adviser;
• Alcohol and substance abuse services;
• A representative of the armed services, in cases where there is a service connection;
• Any other relevant professional or service provider;
• A supporter / advocate for the child and/or parents (e.g. a friend or solicitor); solicitors must comply with the Law Society guidance: Attendance of solicitors at local authority Children Act meetings.

3.3

A professional observer can only attend with the prior consent of the Chair and the family, and must not take part in discussions or decision-making.

3.4

Professionals who are invited but unable to attend for unavoidable reasons should:

• Inform the conference administrator;
• Submit a written report; and
• Arrange for a well-briefed agency representative to attend and speak to the report.
• Agencies are expected to share a report about the child and family in written form with the family and other agencies as appropriate, prior to the conference, whether or not they are able to attend the conference. See Information for conference.

3.5

Babies and young children should not normally be present during the conference as they will cause distraction from the focus of the meeting. Parents should be assisted to make arrangements for their care where necessary.

Location, timing and safety for conferences

3.6

The location and timing of the conference should be planned to ensure maximum attendance from the most critical attendees. In exceptional circumstances it may be considered for key professionals to contribute via conference calls. Conferences should not be scheduled for times when parents will be busy looking after children at home (e.g. after the end of the school day). Wherever possible, local authority children's social care should provide parents with the opportunity to utilise appropriate day care for their children to enable their attendance at the conference.

3.7

Local authority children's social care is responsible for taking into account health and safety issues and security arrangements when planning each conference. See also Exclusion of family members from a conference.

Electronic and Digital Recording

3.8

Advances in technology make the recording of meetings and other conversations e.g. via smart phones much more easily available to individual service-users. This may be simply because they wish to have a verbatim record of the conversation to refer back to, or because they have difficulties in following or recalling conversations. They may, however, seek to use the recording for other purposes such as admission into evidence in family court proceedings, or even for wider broadcast.

• This may arise in the context of child protection / safeguarding meetings, private law or public law proceedings, and may involve recording of conversations between parents, between parents and professionals, conversations between parents and children or discussions in meetings The recording may take place overtly or covertly;
• There are no specific legal restrictions on the recording of face-to-face conversations, whether this is overt or covert. Thus, whilst good practice would suggest that advance consent should be sought for any planned recording, a blanket ban on recording is unlikely to be lawful;
• Legal advice must be sought as appropriate. Practitioners should be mindful that covert recording may be taking place and should endeavour to ensure that they do not make statements during 'private' conversations which they would not be prepared to hear produced as evidence in court;
• If the scale or style of recording is excessive, oppressive or disproportionate, then this may cross a threshold. For example, a parent recording their questioning of the child in a manner which is oppressive may in fact be evidence of possible emotional abuse of the child by that parent;
• Where the making of an audio or video record of a child protection/safeguarding meeting is proposed then this request should be considered by a local authority senior manager who will consult participating agency managers and others as required, in the light of up-to-date local policy and legal advice;
• In the case of Child Protection Conferences the Conference Chair should determine the response in consultation with Conference members and/or by taking legal advice. For Core Group meetings the chair, often an local authority Manager, or Lead social worker will determine the response;
• In considering the request by any party, consideration should be given to whether agreeing to such a request will impact on the quality of the information-sharing and discussion, or compromise the decision-making with regard to the safeguarding of the child. The interests of the child must be the primary concern and confidentiality must be observed;
• Whilst the recording itself may well be legitimate, there may be restrictions on its use;
• If a party seeks to admit such material into court proceedings, then it is at the discretion of the court whether to allow this or not. Such evidence will only be admitted if it is relevant to the issues in the case and not, for example, in furtherance of a personal grievance by a parent against a social worker;
• The Data Protection Act 2018 does not cover processing of personal data by an individual in the course of a purely personal or household activity. The scope of this in the context of recording is not clear. However, Jackson J in M v F (Covert Recording of Children) [2016] EWFC 29 expressed the view that the exemption is intended to protect normal domestic use, and would not cover the covert recording of individuals, and particularly children, for the purpose of evidence-gathering in family proceedings and Ward of Court proceedings;
• Wider distribution, for example, making such material available via the internet, would be in contravention of the UK General Data Protection Regulations and the Data Protection Act 2018. It may also be the case that the recording may contain information (including possible 'sensitive personal information') relating to third parties, and the distribution of such information so as to enable those third parties to be identified is likely to be in breach of data protection provisions. If the issues in question are the subject of ongoing court proceedings, then there is also a possible contempt of court.

Good Practice

3.9

A clear process should be in place for dealing with requests to record meetings/conversations or for situations where it seems likely that covert recording is taking place or is likely to take place. It is preferable for this to be addressed with all service-users at an early stage, rather than waiting until the situation arises at the start of a meeting. The process should set out how the request should be made, who will consider the request and how far in advance of the meeting the request should be made. It should also make clear to the service-user the limitations upon the use of the recorded material, e.g. that it can only be used in relation to the ongoing family proceedings and cannot be broadcast more widely. The service-user will preferably be invited to sign to indicate their agreement to and understanding of these limitations.

It is important that each such request is considered on its own merits. If the decision-maker is minded to refuse the request, then legal advice should be sought.

Conference quorum

3.10

As a minimum quorum, at every conference there should be attendance by local authority children's social care and at least two other professional groups or agencies, which have had direct contact with each child who is the subject of the conference. In addition, attendees may also include those whose contribution relates to their professional expertise or responsibility for relevant services. In exceptional cases, where a child has not had relevant contact with three agencies (that is, local authority children's social care and two others), this minimum quorum may be breached.

3.11

In exceptional circumstances, the Chair may decide to proceed with the conference despite lack of agency representation. This would be relevant where:

• A child has not had relevant contact with three agencies (e.g. pre-birth conferences);
• Sufficient information is available; and
• A delay will be detrimental to the child.

3.12

Where an inquorate conference is held, an early review conference should be arranged.

4.1

It is important that the principles of partnership with children and parents are maintained in the child protection process. The following are minimum requirements for all attendees of the conference and the responsibility of the Chair of the conference to uphold:

• Parents must be invited and encouraged to participate in all child protection meetings unless it is likely to prejudice the welfare of the child.
• Parents should be supported to enable them to participate by timely preparation and information, such as leaflets, being provided about the process and their role.
• Advocates should be facilitated to support parents.
• A meeting with the Independent Chair prior to the meeting should take place.
• Those parents for whom English is not a first language must be offered and provided with an interpreter, if required. A family member should not be expected to act as an interpreter of spoken or signed language. See Interpreters / Communication Facilitators Procedure.

Exceptionally, it may be necessary to exclude one or more family members from a conference, in whole or in part. Where a parent attends only part of a conference as a result of exclusion, they must receive the record of the conference. The Chair should decide if the entire record is provided or only that part attended by the excluded parent (see Exclusion of family members from a conference).

4.2

Explicit consideration should be given to the potential for conflict between family members and possible need for children or adults to speak without other family members present.

4.3

The child, subject to their level of understanding, needs to be given the opportunity to contribute meaningfully to the conference.

4.4

In practice, the appropriateness of including an individual child must be assessed in advance and relevant arrangements made to facilitate attendance at all or part of the conference.

4.5

Where it is assessed, in accordance with the criteria below, that it would be inappropriate for the child to attend, alternative arrangements should be made to ensure their wishes and feelings are made clear to all relevant parties (e.g. use of an advocate, written or taped comments).

Criteria for presence of child at conference, including direct involvement

4.6

The primary questions to be addressed are:

• Does the child have sufficient understanding of the process?
• Have they expressed an explicit or implicit wish to be involved?
• What are the parents' views about the child's proposed presence?
• Is inclusion assessed to be of benefit to the child?

4.7

The test of 'sufficient understanding' is partly a function of age and partly the child's capacity to understand. The following approach is recommended:

• A (rebuttable) presumption that a child of less than twelve years of age is unlikely to be able to be a direct and/or full participant in a forum such as a child protection conference;
• A presumption (also rebuttable by evidence to the contrary) that from the age of twelve and over, a child should be offered such an opportunity.

4.8

A declared wish not to attend a conference must be respected.

4.9

Consideration should be given to the views of and impact on parent/s of their child's proposed attendance.

4.10

Consideration must be given to the impact of the conference on the child (e.g. if they have a significant learning difficulty or where it will be impossible to ensure they are kept apart from a parent who may be hostile and / or attribute responsibility onto them). Consideration must be given in particular to the extent to which it is appropriate for a child to hear details of a parent's personal difficulties and a parent's view about this must be respected.

4.11

In such cases, energy and resources should be directed toward ensuring that, by means of an advocate and / or preparatory work by a social worker, the child's wishes and feelings are effectively represented.

Direct involvement of a child in a conference

4.12

In advance of the conference, the Chair and social worker should agree whether:

• The child attends for all or part of the conference, taking into account confidentiality or parents and / or siblings;
• The child should be present with one or more of their parents;
• The Chair meets the child alone or with a parent prior to the meeting.

4.13

If a child attends all or part of the conference, it is essential that they are prepared by the social worker or independent advocate who can help them prepare a report or rehearse any particular points that the child wishes to make.

4.14

Provision should be made to ensure that a child who has any form of disability is enabled to participate.

4.15

Consideration should be given to enabling the child to be accompanied by a supporter or an advocate.

Indirect contributions when a child is not attending

4.16

Indirect contributions from a child should, whenever possible, include a pre-meeting with the conference Chair.

4.17

Other indirect methods include written statements, e-mails, text messages and taped comments prepared alone or with independent support, and representation via an advocate.

4.18

Childcare professionals should all be able to represent a child's views and a particular responsibility falls upon the social worker to do so. It is more important that the child feels involved in the whole process of child protection assessment rather than merely receiving an invitation to the conference.

5.1

The conference Chair, or other participants, must be notified as soon as possible by the social worker if it is considered necessary to exclude one or both parents for all or part of a conference. The Chair should make a decision according to the following criteria:

• Indications that the presence of the parent may seriously prejudice the welfare of the child;
• Sufficient evidence that a parent may behave in such a way as to interfere seriously with the work of the conference such as violence, threats of violence including situations of domestic abuse, racist or other forms of discriminatory or oppressive behaviour, or being in an unfit state (e.g. through drug, alcohol consumption or acute mental health difficulty). In their absence, a friend or advocate may represent them at the conference;
• A child requests that the parent / person with parental responsibility is not present while they are present;
• The presence of one or both parents would prevent a professional from making their proper contribution through concerns about violence or intimidation (which should be communicated in advance to the conference Chair).
• The need (agreed in advance with the conference Chair) for members to receive confidential information that would otherwise be unavailable, such as legal advice or information about a criminal investigation;
• Conflicts between different family members who may not be able to attend at the same time (e.g. in situations of domestic abuse).

5.2

Where a worker from any agency believes a parent should, on the basis of the above criteria, be excluded, representation must be made, if possible at least three working days in advance, to the Chair of the conference.

5.3

The agency concerned must indicate which of the grounds it believes is met and the information or evidence on which the request is based. The Chair must consider the representation carefully and may need legal advice.

5.4

If, in planning a conference, it becomes clear to the Chair that there may be a conflict of interest between the children and the parents, the conference should be planned so that the welfare and safety of the child remains paramount.

5.5

Any exclusion period should be for the minimum duration necessary and must be clearly recorded in the conference record.

5.6

It may also become clear in the course of a conference that its effectiveness will be seriously impaired by the presence of the parent/s. In these circumstances the Chair may ask them to leave.

5.7

Where a parent is on bail, or subject to an active police investigation, it is the responsibility of the Chair to ensure that the police representative can fully present their information and views and also that the parents participate as fully as circumstances allow. This might mean that if the police representative is a police officer they may be asked to leave a conference after providing information. It is not appropriate for a police officer to administer a caution to parents prior to the conference; the purpose of the conference is to enable analysis and not to progress a criminal investigation.

5.8

The decision of the Chair over matters of exclusion is final regarding both parents and the child/ren.

5.9

If, prior to the conference, the Chair has decided to exclude a parent, this must be communicated in writing with information on how they may make their views known, how they will be told the outcome of the conference and about the complaints procedure. See Dissent from the conference decision and Complaints.

5.10

Those excluded should be provided with a copy of the social worker's report to the conference and be provided with the opportunity to have their views recorded and presented to the conference. The Chair will determine whether or not the excluded parent should receive the record of the conference.

5.11

If a decision to exclude a parent is made, this must be fully recorded in the record. Exclusion at one conference is not reason enough in itself for exclusion at further conferences.

6.1

If parents and / or children do not wish to attend the conference they must be provided with full opportunities to contribute their views. The social worker must facilitate this by:

• The use of an advocate or supporter to attend on behalf of the parent or child;
• Enabling the child or parent to write or tape or use drawings to represent their views;
• Agreeing that the social worker, or any other professional, expresses their views.

7.1

In order for the conference to reach well-informed decisions based on evidence, it needs adequate preparation and sharing of information on the child/ren's needs and circumstances by all agencies that have had significant involvement with the child and family, including those who were involved in the assessment and the s47 enquiry. All reports must be clear and distinguish between facts, allegations and opinions.

Local authority children's social care report

7.2

Local authority children's social care should provide all initial conferences with a written, signed report that summarises and analyses the information obtained in the course of the assessment undertaken in conjunction with the child protection enquiries under s47 of the Children Act 1989 and information in existing records relating to the child and family. Reports to review conferences should include a clear analysis of the implementation and progress of the child protection plan including any new information or obstacles to implementation. The format for the report(s) should be approved by the local authority.

7.3

Where decisions are being made about more than one child in a family the report should consider the safeguarding needs of each child.

7.4

The record of assessments made by the social worker should form a part of the report.

7.5

The initial conference report should include information on the dates the child was seen by the social worker during the course of the section 47 enquiries, if the child was seen alone and if not, who was present and for what reasons. Reports to review conferences should also include the details of when the child was seen, whether the child was seen alone and, if not, who was present and for what reasons.

7.6

All children in the household need to be considered and information must be provided about the needs and circumstances of each of them, even if they are not the subject of the conference.

7.7

The report should be provided to parents and older children (to the extent that it is believed to be in their interests) at least two working days in advance of the initial conferences and a minimum of five working days before review conferences to enable any factual errors to be corrected and the family to comment on the content.

7.8

The report should be available to the conference Chair at least two working days prior to the initial conference and five working days in advance of the review conference.

Reports from other agencies

All agencies working with the family should provide the conference with a written, signed report setting out the details of their involvement.  Agencies should have an agreed pro forma for their reports. The report should be shared with the child (if appropriate) and family prior to the conference. It should also be made available to the conference Chair and other attendees two working days in advance of an initial  conference and five working days of a review conference.

7.10

Police reports will not always be provided to review conferences unless there is ongoing police involvement with the family. Due to the nature of the information that may be contained within the police report (e.g. the disclosure of confidential information about a third party), the police report will only be shared with the conference chair who will summarise the relevant information in the meeting or ask the police representative to do so.

Information from children and families

7.11

Children and family members should be helped in advance to consider what they wish to convey to the conference, how they wish to do so and what help and support they will require (e.g. they may choose to communicate in writing, by tape or with the help of an advocate).

7.12

Families may need to be reminded that submissions need to be sufficiently succinct to allow proper consideration within the time constraints of the child protection conference.

See Involving child/ren and family members.

Conference Chair

8.1

The chair of a child protection conference will be a local authority children's social care manager or an independent chair, who is accountable to the Director of Children's Services. They must not have or have had operational or line management responsibility for the case. Wherever possible, the same person should also chair subsequent child protection reviews in respect of a specific child. Independent Reviewing Officers who have had the necessary training and experience can also chair child protection conferences.

8.2

If a decision is made that a child requires a protection plan to safeguard their welfare, the Chair should ensure that:

• The risks to the child are stated and what is needed to change is specified;
• A qualified local authority children's social worker is identified as a Lead social worker to develop, co-ordinate and implement the child protection plan.
• A core group is identified of family members and professionals;
• A date is set for the first core group meeting within ten working days of the initial conference and timescales set for subsequent meetings;
• A date for the child protection review conference is set;
• The outline child protection plan is formulated and clearly understood by all concerned including the parents and, where appropriate, the child.

8.3

If the conference determines that a child does not need the specific assistance of a protection plan but does need help to promote their welfare, the Chair must ensure that:

• The conference draws up a child in need plan or makes appropriate recommendations for a plan.
• The conference considers any local protocols in place referred to as 'step down procedures' or Family Group Conference processes.

Threshold for a child protection plan

9.1

The conference should consider the following question when determining whether a child requires a multi-agency child protection plan:

• Has the child suffered significant harm? and
• Is the child likely to suffer significant harm in the future?

9.2

The test for likelihood of suffering harm in the future should be that either:

• The child can be shown to have suffered maltreatment or impairment of health or development as a result of neglect or physical, emotional or sexual abuse, and professional judgement is that further ill-treatment or impairment is likely; or
• A professional judgement, substantiated by the findings of enquiries in this individual case or by research evidence, predicts that the child is likely to suffer maltreatment or the impairment of health and development as a result of neglect or physical, emotional or sexual abuse.

9.3

If a child is likely to suffer significant harm, then they will require multi-agency help and intervention delivered through a formal child protection plan.

9.4

The primary purposes of this plan are to:

• ensure the child is safe from harm and prevent him or her from suffering further harm;
• promote the child's health and development; and
• support the family and wider family members to safeguard and promote the welfare of their child, provided it is in the best interests of the child.

Decision that a child needs a child protection plan

9.5

If a decision is taken that the child has suffered, or is likely to suffer, significant harm and hence in need of a child protection plan, the Chair should determine which category of abuse or neglect the child has suffered or is likely to suffer. The category used (that is physical, emotional, sexual abuse or neglect, see Recognising Abuse and Neglect Procedure for definitions) will indicate to those consulting the child's social care record the primary presenting concerns at the time the child became the subject of a child protection plan.

9.6

The need for a protection plan should be considered separately in respect of each child in the family or household.

9.7

Where a child is to be the subject of a child protection plan, the conference is responsible for recommendations on how agencies, professionals and the family should work together to ensure that the child will be safeguarded from harm in the future. This should enable both professionals and the family to understand exactly what is expected of them and what they can expect of others.

9.8

The outline plan should:

• Describe specific, achievable, child-focused outcomes intended to safeguard each child;
• Describe the types of services required by each child (including family support) to promote their welfare;
• Set a timescale for the completion of the assessment, if appropriate;
• Identify any specialist assessments of each child and the family that may be required to ensure that sound judgements are being / can be made on how best to safeguard each child and promote their welfare;
• Confirm who will be the lead social worker for the child and that social worker's responsibility to see the child at a minimum of every two weeks (infants and babies to be seen awake) or, in exceptional circumstances, less often together with the reasons for that decision;
• Clearly identify the roles and responsibilities of professionals and family members;
• Set out the nature and frequency of contact by professionals with children and family members;
• Identify the resource implications for each agency as far as possible and determine the agency representation, who can commit agency resources, to the first core group meeting;
• Lay down points at which progress will be reviewed, the means by which progress will be judged and who will monitor this;
• Develop a robust contingency plan to respond if the family is unable to make the required changes and the child continues to be at risk of significant harm (e.g. recommend the consideration of legal action and the circumstances which would trigger this).

The details of the plan will be agreed by the core group – see paragraph 2, CP5. Implementation of Child Protection Plans.

Where the child who is to be made the subject of a protection plan is unborn or a baby, the plan should consider the risk of sudden unexpected death in infancy (SUDI) [1] and how professionals will address these risks with the parent(s).

[1] Out of routine: A review of sudden unexpected death in infancy (SUDI) in families where the children are considered at risk of significant harm - The Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel 2020 found that the risk factors known to increase the risk of SUDI were more likely to be present where children are considered to be at risk of significant harm.

10.1

If the conference decides that a child has not suffered, or is not likely to suffer, significant harm then the conference may not make the child the subject of a child protection plan. The child may nevertheless require services to promote his or her health or development. In these circumstances, the conference should consider the child's needs and make recommendations for further help to assist the family in responding to them.

10.2

The decision must be put in writing to the parent/s, and agencies as well as communicated to them verbally.

Discontinuing a current child protection plan

10.3

The conference should use the same decision-making process to reach a judgement for when a child protection plan is no longer needed. This includes situations where other multi-agency planning for services might need to replace a child protection plan.

10.4

A child may no longer need a protection plan if:

• A review conference concludes that the child is no longer likely to suffer significant harm and no longer requires safeguarding by means of a child protection plan;
• A child is made subject to legal proceedings and the court has made no order, an interim care order, a care order, interim supervision order or a supervision order and remains at home in the care of their parent(s) or carer(s), and a review conference concludes that the child is no longer likely to suffer significant harm and no longer requires safeguarding by means of a child protection plan;
• The child has moved permanently to another local authority area and the receiving authority has held a transfer child protection conference (see Children and Families Moving Across Local Authority Boundaries Procedure) and confirmed in writing responsibility for case management;
• The child has left the UK and a review conference is satisfied that this is a permanent arrangement and that the lead social worker has made appropriate enquiries (with the police and relevant agencies in the destination country) and any necessary referrals; and, is satisfied that no further action should be taken to return the child to the UK or safeguard the child in the destination country.

10.5

It is permissible for the senior manager responsible for safeguarding in children's social care to agree to discontinue a child protection plan without the need to convene a child protection review conference only when:

• The senior manager is satisfied that the child:
  • Is subject to legal proceedings; and
  • The court has awarded an interim care order; and
  • The child is placed outside of the family home pending the final outcome of the proceedings; and
  • The child has an allocated IRO to oversee the child's planning and safety.
• The senior manager is satisfied that the child:
  • Is looked after under 20; and
  • Is placed outside of the family home either in a stable arrangement or the matter is also within the PLO process or care proceedings but with no order.
• The child has reached eighteen years of age or has died. In the event of the death of a child who has been the subject of a child protection plan, the safeguarding partnership may decide to undertake a review of the circumstances surrounding that death, see Child Death Reviews.

10.6

The senior manager responsible for safeguarding in children's social care may only discontinue a child protection plan for the reasons set out on 10.5 after consultation with the agencies invited to the initial conference and current core group members. The decision to discontinue the child protection plan must be clearly recorded in the Local Authorities children's social care child's record.

10.7

Where the child is subject to care proceedings and remains at home whilst subject to:

• No order;
• An interim supervision order;
• A supervision order;
• An interim care order;
• A care order.

A review child protection conference should consider if the child continues to be at risk of significant harm and whether this risk can be safely managed without a child protection plan. It may therefore be necessary for the child to remain subject of a child protection plan for the duration of proceedings.

10.8

If, at the conclusion of care proceedings where the child protection plan has continued, a child is made subject to a supervision order, then the review child protection conference should consider whether or not the child needs to continue to be the subject of a protection plan and, if not, ensure that the local authority arrangements for monitoring children subject to supervision orders are sufficient and enacted. This should include a formal review of the supervision order plan when the order has been in place for 9 months at the latest. Working Together to Safeguard Children 2018 requires Local authorities to have clear plans for monitoring a supervision order, including where appropriate, starting with a child protection plan.

10.9

When a child is no longer the subject of a child protection plan, notification should be sent, as a minimum, to the agencies' representatives who were invited to attend the initial conference that led to the plan and to the current core group members.

10.10

When a child protection plan is discontinued, the social worker must discuss with the parents and child/ren what services might be needed and required, based on the re-assessment of the needs of the child and family. A Child in need plan should be developed for any continuing support. The plan should be reviewed at regular intervals of no more than every 12 weeks.

11.1

If an agency does not agree with a decision or recommendation made at a child protection conference, their professional dissent will be recorded in the record of the conference. The procedures to apply the escalation process for professional disagreements should be implemented as soon as practicable after the conference has concluded. See Safeguarding Practice Guidance.

11.2

Each safeguarding partnership and other agencies should have a local protocol in place with a policy and procedure to address professional disagreements and dissent about the outcome of child protection conferences as well as core group meetings.

12.1

Parents and, on occasion, children, may have concerns about which they wish to make representations or complain, in respect of one or more of the following aspects of the functioning of child protection conferences:

• The process of the conference;
• The outcome, in terms of the fact of and/or the category of primary concern at the time the child became the subject of a child protection plan;
• A decision for the child to become, to continue or not to become, the subject of a child protection plan.

12.2

Complaints about aspects of the functioning of conferences described above should be addressed to the conference Chair. Such complaints should be passed on to the Chair's manager in local authority children's social care and the local authority complaints manager.

12.3

Whilst a complaint is being considered, the decision made by the conference stands.

12.4

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. Local Protocols may be in place and should be made accessible to parents and families.

12.5

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.

See Complaints in Relation to Child Protection Conference.

See Children and Families Moving Across Local Authority Boundaries Procedure.

14.1

Local authority children's social care is responsible for administering the child protection conference service.

14.2

Each safeguarding partnership must have clear arrangements for the organisation of child protection conferences including:

• Arrangements for sending out invitations to children, parents and professionals;
• Information leaflets for children and for parents translated into appropriate languages;

14.3

Social workers with their managers should record decisions and actions agreed at core group meetings as well as the written views of those who were not able to attend, and follow up those actions to ensure they take place. The child protection plan should be updated as necessary.

14.4

The conference record, signed by the conference Chair, should be sent to all those who attended or were invited to the conference within 20 working days of the conference. Any amendments should be received within one week of receipt of record.

14.5

A copy of the conference record should be given to and discussed with the parents by the local authority social worker within 20 working days. The conference Chair may decide that confidential material should be excluded from the parent's copy. The Decision letter should be sent to parents within 24 hours of the Conference taking place.

14.6

Where a friend, supporter or solicitor has been involved, the Chair should clarify with the parent whether a record should be provided for those individuals.

14.7

Relevant sections of the record should be explained to and discussed with the child by the local authority social care children's social worker.

14.8

The conference Chair should decide whether a child should be given a copy of the record. The record may be supplied to a child's legal representative on request.

14.9

Where parents and / or the child/ren have a sensory disability or where English is not their first language, the local authority children's social care social worker should ensure that they receive appropriate assistance to understand and make full use of the record. A family member should not be expected to act as an interpreter of spoken or signed language. See Interpreters / Communication Facilitators Procedure.

14.10

Conference records are confidential and should not be shared with third parties without the consent of either the conference Chair or an order of the court.

14.11

In criminal proceedings the police may reveal the existence of child protection records to the Crown Prosecution Service, and in care proceedings the records of the conference may be revealed in the court.

14.12

The record of the decisions of the child protection conference should be retained by the recipient agencies in accordance with their record retention policies.

Decision letter

14.13

The outline plan, signed by the conference Chair, should be sent together with the decision letter, to all those who attended or were invited to the conference, including the parents and where appropriate the child, within one working day of the conference. The letter should give details of conference decisions and recommendations, the name of the social worker and details about the right to complain.

Managing and providing information about a child

14.14

Each local authority should designate an experienced social care manager who has responsibility for:

• Ensuring that records on children who are subject of a child protection plan are kept up to date;
• Ensuring enquiries about children about whom there are concerns or who are subject of child protection plans are recorded and reviewed in the context of the child's known history.
• Managing notifications of movements of children who are subject of a child protection plan, looked after children and other relevant children moving into or out of the local authority area;
• Managing notifications of people who may pose a risk of significant harm to children who are either identified within the local authority area or have moved into the local authority area;
• Managing requests for local authority checks to be made to ensure unsuitable people are prevented from working with children. E.g. prospective child minders, foster carers etc.

14.15

Information on each child known to local authority children's social care should be kept up-to-date on the local authority's electronic record system. This information should be confidential but accessible at all times to legitimate enquirers. The details of enquirers should always be checked and recorded on the system before information is provided.