Child Protection Conferences

1. Background

Swindon has adopted the Family Safeguarding Model and implemented the approach in relation to Child Protection Conferences. This a model of delivery which is child centred, which encourages and allows for parents and children to participate in conference and collaborate in the formulation of their plans, which will in turn facilitate and reinforce partnership working. 

Both Working Together to Safeguard Children December 2023 and the Family Safeguarding Model emphasise the need to engage families working with them rather than telling them what to do. Forming relationships with children and families underpins this way of working and should be the basis of any intervention whether it be child in need or child protection. Taking that approach means that these principles should be evident within the conference process.

This suggested model takes account of the above but some of its success will be predicated on robust preparation prior to the conference.

2. Initial Child Protection Conference

Preparation

Preparation for a conference relies upon the social work teams and the conference chairs working together to ensure that both the decision to hold an initial conference is the correct one for the child/family that it is proportionate to any risk of harm and that the impact of harm on the children can be evidenced; that pre-conference reports are done and sent out in accordance with practice standards/processes. Reports should be written free of jargon and without acronyms or abbreviation.

The following need to be completed before the day the conference takes place:

• Strategy discussion/section 47 enquiry;
• Consultation with a duty chair around the threshold of harm;
• Social worker to discuss the conference process with the family and the child (if appropriate) including the reason for the decision;
• Social worker to discuss and agree suggested plan with the child/family;
• Conference report sent to the Chair and partner agencies;
• Conference report shared and explained to the family (translated/braille/read if required);
• If a child/young person is over the age of 12 years to be invited to the conference and asked if they would like to give a written submission or letter to the conference;
• Parents/young person to be advised of the provision of an advocate;
• Decide in cases where there is domestic abuse whether the conference should be held in 2 parts;
• Chair to have a pre-conference discussion with the social worker.

On the day of Conference

• Chair should meet the child/family and talk them through the conference process they should establish that parents/child know why the conference is being held, what the concerns are, check the draft plan has been discussed with them, canvass their views. Check that parents are able and feel confident enough to give their own views or whether they would prefer the chair to do that on their behalf.
• Ensure that children/young people who are attending are supported and have an advocate if required.
• Check out with the child/family any information they want shared with the conference that they may find difficult to say themselves.
• Reinforce the need to work together.
• In all conferences whether initial or review the room should be arranged so that the environment is not overly formal; consideration should be given to removing tables and having chairs in a horseshoe.
• Conferences should be face to face unless partner agencies attend via Teams by exception only.
• Water should be available.

The Initial Conference Agenda. Conference duration 1hour 30 mins (unless there is the need for interpreters or other extenuating circumstances which means the family require more time.)

• Parents asked why do you think we are here?
• Parents/Child’s views;
• What is the evidence of significant/continuing harm and the impact of such harm on the child? Professionals views and parent’s response;
• Draft plan – this can go up on the screen.  Parents/child should be asked if they have seen the plan, that they understand it and whether there is anything they would like to be added.  Professionals should be asked if there is anything they would like added;
• Decision about whether the plan needs to be a child protection plan or a child in need plan.

If at any point during the conference the parents/child appear distressed then the Chair should ask if they need a break.

Following the conference parents/child should be supported to leave.

3. Review Child Protection Conference

Preparation

Following the initial child protection conference and prior to review conference the Chair should look at the case records and in particular core group minutes to gain an overview of how the plan is progressing.  If the Chair has any questions/concerns from reading the case records then they should email/phone the allocated social worker. Any significant incidents or changes should be notified to the chair as soon as they occur and may trigger a discussion about bringing a review conference forward if required.
The following needs to be completed before the conference.

• The plan should be updated at the core group and should include the views of the child/family including anything they may want to be added to the plan.
• The plan should be updated at core group to include the views of other professionals.
• The plan should be clear about what is needed for the plan to end.
• The draft updated plan should be sent to the Chair along with the conference report in line with practice standards.
• Conference report should be jargon free, shared with the family/child and any views added in particular in relation to how the family view the intervention and whether it is helpful or not.
• Children/young people should be invited to attend/give a written submission/letter in particular around how they think their plan is working.
• Chair should have a pre-conference discussion with the allocated social worker.

On the day of the Conference:

• On the day of the conference the chair should meet with the child/young person. They should ask how the family think the plan has been going both positive and negative.
• The chair should check out whether the family have felt included and consulted throughout professional intervention.
• The chair should check with the child/family whether they feel able to talk about the progress of the plan or whether the chair should do it on their behalf.
• Reinforce the need to work together.
• In all conferences whether initial or review the room should be arranged so that the environment is not overly formal; consideration should be given to removing tables and having chairs in a horseshoe.
• Conferences should be face to face unless partner agencies attend via Teams by exception only.
• Water should be available.

Review Conference Agenda Conference Duration 1hour 30mins. (Unless there are extenuating circumstances):

• The chair should ask the parents/young person how they think things are going including whether they are finding the intervention of professionals helpful.
• The chair should ask professionals how they think the plan is progressing.
• The children should be discussed as individuals. This must include involving parents in talking about their child and giving the child/young person if present the opportunity to say something about how they are doing.
• The draft plan (as agreed by the last core group) this can go up on the screen.  Where actions have been completed they should be removed at the core group. The plan should only include actions which are outstanding and necessary to ameliorate risk.  Parents/child should be asked if they have seen the plan and contributed to it and whether there is anything they would like added.
• Professionals to be asked if there is anything they would like added.
• Decision whether the plan needs to be child protection or child in need.

If at any point during the conference the parents/child appear distressed then the Chair should ask if they need a break.

Following the conference parents/child should be supported to leave.

The agendas as described above should be followed at all conferences. Whilst the style of individual chairs may be different the preparation and content of conference should follow the same principles and format.

4. Categories of Harm

The category definitions for a plan are currently written on a laminated form and given to conference members. This is written in professional jargon and needs to be redone in simple everyday language.  Rather than a laminated sheet it would be better to just put the definitions on the screen once the plan has been discussed.

It should be made explicit at every conference that it is the impact on the children of parental behaviour, both positive and negative which should be at the forefront of any discussion. Likewise, it is the impact on the children and the risk of harm to the children of any intervention with parents, which should inform the need for continued plans.