A child protection conference is held when professionals have concerns about the way parents/carers look after their children. The purpose of the conference is to decide whether a child is at risk of significant harm through abuse or neglect, and if so, to agree what can be done to reduce the risk of harm and protect the child.
The conference brings together family members, supporters/advocates, professionals involved with the child, and where appropriate, the child. The purpose of the conference is to consider the child’s current situation, the family history, how the family is currently being managed and how the family has been managed in the past. The conference then reviews the chance of significant harm in future and makes an assessment as to whether or the child is at a continuing risk of harm.
A decision is then taken about action is needed to safeguard the child. This can include drawing up a protection plan. A protection plan is implemented when a child is considered to be at risk of harm - this could be from physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse or neglect. A protection plan helps co-ordinate and review the work being done with a family to protect the child, it also helps professionals evaluate what aspects of the protection plan are working well and what aspects are not.
The child is situation is regularly reviewed until sustained improvements are observed at which point the conference will meet again to assess whether or not the child is still at risk, and if not, when the child can come off the protection plan.
Children aged 12 and over are encouraged to take part in the conference. Families’ participation and feedback on the process is also actively encouraged.