Child Protection Conference
Information for Professionals
The Child Protection Conference brings together family members, the child (where appropriate) who is the subject of the conference and those professionals involved with the child and family. It is expected that children and families will attend the Conference unless it is inappropriate for them to do so.
All agency professionals should provide a written report which needs to be sent to IndependentReviewTeam@northlincs.gov.uk no later than 1pm 2 working days before the day of the initial conference or 5 working days before the day of a review conference.
The following standards set out minimum expectations for children, family members and professionals attending Initial and Review Child Protection Conferences to detail the issues that represent best practice and high quality performance. The impact will be that children and families are fully prepared for the meeting and are able to contribute and participate fully. The impact for professionals will be a clear understanding of their role, responsibilities and expectations.
Best Practice Guidelines for Preparation and Attendance at Child Protection Conferences for partner agencies
Prior to conference
- Update and complete your multi agency child protection conference report on the report template. Send this to IndependentReviewTeam@northlincs.gov.uk. This needs to be received 2 days prior to Initial Child Protection Conference (ICPC) and 5 days prior to Review Child Protection Conference (RCPC)
- Identify third party information
- Make sure your report is shared with family 2 days prior to ICPC and 5 days prior to RCPC
- Share your report with all agencies in the above timescales (details in invite) You should receive a copy of the Social Worker report prior to conference
- If you are supporting any children and young people to attend conference let the chair know
- Please always ensure you have recorded children’s wishes and feelings in your report (if relevant)
- Know the case, know the chronology, you may be asked to confirm dates of incidents
- Be specific about significant events / dates / any disclosures or information shared by the child? Or parent? Or third party person
- What is your provision offering the family?
- What are the risks? What is the impact upon the child? For Example: Kelly is at risk of harm because…There is a risk that Kelly will be physically hurt because she is exposed to domestic abuse. Kelly has told staff in school that she feels scared and frightened
- Child’s views – what would the child say about their lived experience? How have you obtained these views?
Day of and during conference
- You need to be available prior to the conference and be on time. All ICPCs will be held at West Street Children’s Centre and you are welcome to attend or please be available on MS Teams
- You may be required for third party which will take place up to 30 minutes prior to the start time of conference. Please be on time, cameras on and focussed on the meeting
- During the meeting you are asked to remain on task and focused
- Be confident to verbalise your views of threshold and whether child protection planning is required. Please provide view of category of harm and rationale for decision making. Not just ‘agree with social worker’
- Remember these meetings impact on a child’s life and the decision can have lifelong implication for the parents and the children/young people
After conference
- Please prioritise attendance at Core Group Meetings and provide social worker with updates of significant events
- For further information on Child Protection Conferences please contact the Independent Review Team at independentreviewteam@northlincs.gov.uk