An Initial Child Protection Conference is a meeting to which a range of people will be invited. A senior social work manager will chair the Child Protection Conference. All those attending this meeting will have knowledge of your child and family.
This may include:
- nursery staff
- teacher
- health visitor
- social worker
- general practitioner
- police
- housing staff
- youth worker
- worker from a voluntary organisation
You (and in some circumstances your child) will be invited to attend.
You can bring someone to support you at this meeting, such as a family member, friend or a legal representative.
Those invited to attend usually provide a written report of their knowledge and involvement with you and your family.
Your contribution is very important to this meeting and your views will be listened to. Your views can also be written down and presented to the meeting. If you need help to prepare this report please speak to someone such as a social worker, family member, friend or your legal representative.
At the meeting there will also be a full discussion about why there is a need for a child protection investigation. Everyone will have the opportunity to contribute to the discussion and to ask any questions.
When everyone has had an opportunity to speak, decisions will be made about what should happen next. Your child’s welfare will always be at the centre of any decisions made.
The main priority is to make sure your child is safe and will be properly cared for. It is also important that if you need help to do this, then appropriate support is made available. At the Initial Child Protection Conference a decision will also be made about whether or not your child’s name should be placed on the Child Protection Register.
Please note you have the right to disagree or appeal against any decision made at the Initial Child Protection Conference regarding your child.