Child Protection Meetings
Child Protection Meetings
Information for Parents and Carers
Who is this Information for?- What is a Child Protection Meeting?
- As a Parent or Carer can I Attend a Child Protection Meeting?
- Can My Child Attend the Meetings?
- Who Else Attends a Child Protection Meeting?
- What Happens at Child Protection Meetings?
- What if I am Unhappy with what Happens at a Child Protection Meeting?
- Information in Other Languages and Formats
Who is this Information for?
The information on this page is for parents and carers who may be involved in Child Protection Meetings. It is published by Tameside Safeguarding Children Board (TSCB) which is the local organisation that co-ordinates the work of all agencies to protect or safeguard children from harm.
Everyone involved in Child Protection Meetings is there to do what is best for your child, to help you in looking after and protecting them. Our aim is to involve you as much as possible in all the decision-making about your child.
The information on this page is part of that commitment. Do not hesitate to contact your Social Worker If you have any questions about the information and what it means for you and your child.
You can also contact TSCB if you have any general questions about safeguarding and protecting children.
What is a Child Protection Meeting?
There are 3 main types of Child Protection Meetings:
- Initial Child Protection Conference
- Core Group meeting
- Child Protection Review
Each meeting is arranged to make sure that everyone is doing what is best to make sure your child is protected from harm.
Child protection meetings are about working together to make sure that your child can continue to be safe in living with you.
As a Parent or Carer can I Attend a Child Protection Meeting?
It is important that you attend the meetings because you know most about your child and we need to work with you to keep your child safe. You may bring a relative, friend or solicitor to give you support at the meeting. It is also possible for you to have an Independent Advocate to speak on your behalf with you at the meeting. If you would like more information about this or if there is a reason why you can't attend a meeting please tell the Social Worker.
Can My Child Attend the Meetings?
The adults in the child's life have the responsibility for safeguarding the child. In specific circumstances, where a child has expressed a wish to attend, this will be considered after discussion with the chair person of the meeting.
Your child can also be encouraged to share their views and wishes in a variety of ways other than attending conference, for example by writing a letter or speaking to a trusted adult prior to the conference. Talk to the Social Worker about how this can be done.
Who Else Attends a Child Protection Meeting?
Initial Child Protection Conferences are usually attended by the Social Worker, Health Visitor, School Nurse, Police and Teacher. Others who are working with your family will also be invited. The chair person of the meeting is an Independent Conference Chair. A record of the meeting is made by a Conference clerk and you will receive a copy of this record.
Core Group meetings take place if the Initial Conference decides that there should be a Child Protection Plan for your child. They are usually attended by a smaller group of people working with you and your family.
Child Protection Reviews are usually attended by the same people who attended the Initial Conference and the Core Group meetings. These meetings review what has happened since the Initial Conference and decide if there is still a need for a Child Protection Plan.
What Happens at Child Protection Meetings?
At Initial Child Protection Conferences and Child Protection Reviews:
- Everyone attending the meeting can read the reports before the meeting starts.
- The chair person will see you when you arrive to explain what will happen
- When the meeting starts, everyone will introduce themselves
- Then there is a discussion about what has happened in your child's life and how the risk of harm can be reduced
- We hope you will take part in this discussion. It may help you do this if you write down your views and ask these to be shared at the meeting
- Based on the reports and discussion at the meeting the conference will decide whether there should be a Child Protection Plan, who should attend the Core Groups and if there are other things that should be done to best protect your child
- A Child Protection Plan describes what needs to be done by you and practitioners to protect your child from harm. It is drawn up if the Child Protection Conference decides that your child is at risk of significant harm
- If it does decide that your child is at risk of significant harm then your child will be the subject of a Child Protection Plan. This allows all agencies that work with you or your child to know what the concerns are
- If your child is the subject of a Child Protection Plan they will be placed under one of the following categories: Physical Abuse; Neglect; Emotional Abuse; Sexual Abuse
At Core Group Meetings:
The Core Group is usually a smaller group of people that meets with you to make sure that everything is being done to protect your child and to support you in looking after your child. Core Groups are usually chaired by the Social Worker and you will receive notes of the discussion.
Core Group meetings take place for as long as there is a need for a Protection Plan for your child. They should meet every 4 to 6 weeks. Parents and carers usually find that these meetings are very helpful in supporting them to look after their child. We want this to be the same for you so it is very important that you attend the core groups.
If everything goes well and the Child Protection Review decides that there is no longer any need for a Child Protection Plan then Core Groups will end.
This does not mean that support for you and your family will then end, support may continue to be offered as part of a child and family plan. If you are have any questions about this then please speak to the key social worker or any member of the Core Group.
What if I am Unhappy with what Happens at a Child Protection Meeting?
If possible you should first speak to the chair person of the meeting about why you are unhappy. But if you don't think you can do this then you can either:
- appeal against a decision made at the meeting; or
- complain about what happened at the meeting
To appeal or complain please contact TSCB.
Information in Other Languages and Formats
If you would like a copy of the information in this leaflet in another language or in large print, Braille, audio tape, CD, DVD then please contact Tameside Safeguarding Children Board.
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