Tameside Safeguarding Framework

Section 7 - Child Protection Meetings

• The Initial Child Protection Conference
  - What is the Purpose of the Initial Child Protection Conference
  - Who participates in the Initial Child Protection Conference
  - The Key Worker
  - When should an Initial Conference happen?
  - Notification by another local authority that a child who is the subject of a Child Protection Plan has moved into Tameside
• Child Protection Review Conference
  - What is the Purpose of the Child Protection Review Conference?
  - Who participates in a Review Conference
  - When should a Review Conference happen?
• Chairing the Child Protection Conference
  - Chair's Responsibilities
• The Child Protection Conference and the decision whether a Child Protection Plan is required
  - Threshold for a Child Protection Plan
  - Decision that a child needs a Child Protection Plan
  - Discontinuation of a Child Protection Plan
• The 'Outline' Child Protection Plan
• If the child does not require a Child Protection Plan
• Core group meetings and the Implementation of the Child Protection Plan
  - Involving Parents, Carers, Children and Young People
  - The Absence of Parents and/or Children
  - Exclusion of Family Members from a Conference
• Information for the Conference
  - Children's Social Care Report
  - Information from other Agencies
  - Information from Children and Families
• Complaints by Service Users
• Administrative Arrangements for Child Protection Conferences
  - Decision letter
  - Managing and Providing Information About a Child
  - Recording
• Request for a Change of Key Worker

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7.1 There are 3 main types of Child Protection meeting: 

• Initial Child Protection Conference
• Core Group Meeting (see section 8)
• Child Protection Review Conference

7.2 Each meeting is arranged to make sure that everyone is doing what is best to ensure that the child is protected from harm. 

7.3 Section 7 describes the purpose and function of the Initial Child Protection Conference and of the Child Protection Review Conference, including who participates in them and when they take place. 

7.4 Information about Core Group meetings is contained in section 8 but it should be noted that in terms of the process they take place in the period between the conferences.

The Initial Child Protection Conference

What is the Purpose of the Initial Child Protection Conference?

7.5 The Initial Child Protection Conference brings together the family members, including the child (where appropriate) and those practitioners most involved with the child and family, following s47 enquiries. Its purpose is to: 

• bring together and analyse, in an inter-agency setting, the information that has been obtained about the child's developmental needs, and the parents' or carers' capacity to respond to these needs to ensure the child's safety and promote the child's health and development within the context of their wider family and environment.
• consider the evidence presented to the conference, make judgements about the likelihood of a child suffering significant harm in future, and decide whether the child is at continuing risk of significant harm; and
• decide what future action is required, e.g. whether a Child Protection Plan is needed, to safeguard and promote the welfare of the child, how that action will be taken forward, and with what intended outcomes.
• Allocate a key worker for each child who requires a Child Protection Plan. The key worker is responsible for ensuring that the Child Protection Plan is developed, co-ordinated and fully implemented to timescale
• Identify a multi-agency core group to develop and monitor implementation of the Child Protection Plan 

7.6 The aim of the conference is to enable those practitioners most involved with the child and family, and the family themselves, to assess all relevant information, and plan how best to safeguard and promote the welfare of the child who has suffered, or is at risk of, significant harm. 

7.7 There should be sufficient people at the conference in order for decisions to be made safely, i.e the conference should be 'quorate'. 

7.8 The minimum representation at each conference is Children's Social Care and at least two other professional groups or agencies, (e.g. school, health visiting etc) who have had direct contact with the child who is the subject of the conference. 

7.9 In addition, attendees may include those whose contribution relates to their professional expertise or responsibility for relevant services.

7.10 Where a conference is not quorate it should not ordinarily proceed and in such circumstances the chair must ensure that either: 

• An interim Protection Plan is produced or
• The existing plan is reviewed with the practitioners and the family members that do attend, so as to safeguard the welfare of the child 

7.11 The earliest possible date must be set for another conference.

7.12 In exceptional circumstances the chair may decide to proceed with the conference despite lack of agency representation. This would be relevant where:

• A child has not had relevant contact with 3 agencies – e.g. prebirth conferences
• Where sufficient information is available and
• A delay will be detrimental to the child

7.13 Where a non-quorate conference is held, an early review conference should be arranged.

Who participates in the Initial Child Protection Conference?

7.14 A conference should consist of only those people who have a significant contribution to make because of their knowledge of the child and family or their expertise is relevant to the case. This is likely to include: 

• Parents and those with parental responsibility
• Family members (including the wider family)
• Carers e.g. grandparents, foster carers
• The child, where appropriate, and/or his/her representative, e.g. advocate (see section 4 for information about involving the child)
• Children's Social Care staff who have led and been involved in an assessment of the child and family. This is the social worker and his/her first line manager
• Police
• Health practitioners involved with the child e.g. health visitor, school nurse, paediatrician, the GP
• Education practitioners involved with the child e.g. school staff, early years staff, education welfare officers
• Practitioners from Connexions
• Practitioners with expertise in the particular type of harm suffered by the child or in the child's particular condition e.g. a disability or long term illness
• Those involved in investigations e.g. the Police
• The Lead Professional, if there is one
• Involved voluntary organisations
• Conference & Reviewing Officer (also known as Independent Reviewing Officer) as chair 

7.15 Babies and young children should not normally be permitted to enter the conference room as they will cause distraction from the business of the meeting. Parents should be assisted to make arrangements for their care where necessary.

7.16 dditional invitations to conference should be provided to all practitioners who have a contribution to the task involved. These may include: 

• Local authority legal services (child care), if it is anticipated that legal advice is required
• The 'Children's Guardian' (an officer of CAFCASS) where there are current court proceedings
• Practitioners involved with the parents or other family members e.g. family support services, adult mental health services, probation, the GP
• Midwifery services where the conference concerns an unborn or new-born child (see in section 5 Pre-birth Assessment)
• Probation or Youth Offending services
• Housing services
• Domestic Abuse adviser
• Alcohol and substance abuse services
• A representative of the Armed Services, in cases where there is a Service connection
• Any other relevant practitioner or service provider
• A supporter/advocate for the child and/or parents e.g. a friend or solicitor 

7.17 A practitioner observer (for example, a social work student) can only attend a conference with the prior consent of the chair and the family and must not take part in discussions or decision-making. 

7.18 Practitioners who are invited but unable to attend for unavoidable reasons should: 

• Arrange wherever possible for another agency representative to attend
• Inform the conference chair/administrator
• Submit a written report 

7.19 All agencies must make it a priority that staff are competent to contribute to Child Protection Conferences by: 

• Sharing of information
• Assessing a child's needs
• Preparing adequately for conferences, including the provision of reports, sometimes at short notice
• Attending when invited to conferences
• Contributing to well-informed decisions based on evidence
• Following up fully on agreed action to safeguard the child

The Key Worker

7.20 Mention is made throughout this section of the 'key worker'. This person is identified at the end of an initial Child Protection Conference (and at each subsequent review conference) if the conference decides that the child requires a Child Protection Plan. The key worker is always a social worker from Children's Social Care and has specific duties in respect of implementing the Child Protection Plan. Further information about the role of the key worker is in section 8.

When should an Initial Conference happen?

7.21 An initial Child Protection Conference must be convened when it is believed that a child has suffered, or is at risk of, significant harm unless action is taken. (See section 5 for more information in respect of Prebirth child protection concerns).

7.22 The conference must consider all the children in the household, even if concerns are only being expressed about one child. 

7.23 In Tameside it is the responsibility of the Quality Assurance Manager (Children's Social Care) to make the decision to convene a Child Protection Conference. This decision, in most circumstances, is delegated to the Conference & Review Officer in liaison with the practitioner/manager who makes the request. The reasons for calling the conference must be recorded. 

7.24 A conference should be convened if requested by a practitioner, supported by a senior manager/named or designated child protection practitioner. If disagreement remains between agencies then the procedures in section 9, Quality Assurance, should be followed.

7.25 The Initial Child Protection Conference should take place within 15 working days of the strategy discussion/meeting or the last strategy discussion/meeting if more than one was held.

7.26 The Initial Child Protection Conference should, if possible, be held before expiry of an Emergency Protection Order, if further legal action is planned. 

7.27 Where a Child Assessment Order has been made the conference should be held immediately on conclusion of examinations and assessments. 

7.28 The time of day at which a conference is held and its venue should be arranged so that the people who most need to be at the conference are able to attend. Therefore, conferences should not be scheduled for times when parents or carers will be busy looking after children at home. If this cannot be avoided then Tameside Council's Children's Social Care will support parents to use appropriate childcare to enable attendance at the conference.

Notification by another local authority that a child who is the subject of a Child Protection Plan has moved into Tameside

7.29 A Child Protection Conference must be convened whenever a child, who is currently the subject of a Child Protection Plan in another local authority, moves into Tameside and where an assessment has been made by Children's Social Care that a Child Protection Plan is necessary for that child in Tameside.

7.30 However when a child is safely placed in Tameside, e.g. with foster carers or relatives and responsibility for the child remains with the local authority from which they have moved, it may be that a Child Protection Conference is not required in Tameside. If this decision is taken it must be recorded by the Tameside social worker (or their manager) on the child's file, with the reason for not convening the conference clearly stated.

Child Protection Review Conference

What is the Purpose of the Child Protection Review Conference?

7.31 The review conference requires as much preparation and commitment as the Initial Child Protection Conference.

7.32 The purpose of the Child Protection Review Conference is to: 

• review the safety, health and development of the child against planned outcomes set out in the Child Protection Plan
• ensure that the child continues to be safeguarded from harm; and,
• consider whether the Child Protection Plan should continue in place or should be discontinued. 

7.33 Thorough regular review is critical to achieving the best possible outcomes for the child and includes: 

• Sharing and analysing up-to-date information about the child's health, development and functioning and the parent/carer's capacity to ensure the child's welfare and promote their welfare
• Ensuring that the measures already in place to safeguard the child from harm are effective
• Making changes to the Child Protection Plan e.g. where a family is not co-operating
• Deciding what action is required to safeguard the child if there are changes to the child's circumstances
• Setting or re-setting desired outcomes and time scales
• Seeking and taking into account the child's (possibly changed) wishes and feelings
• Making judgements about the likelihood of the child suffering significant harm in the future
• Deciding whether there is a need for a new core assessment. 

7.34 The conference must consider all the children in the household, even if concerns are only being expressed about one child. This should be done on the basis that the prime focus of the conference is the child that has been the subject of the Initial Conference and of a Child Protection Plan. 

7.35 Therefore at the Child Protection Review Conference the chair will ask the attendees to confirm whether they have any concerns about other children in the household. 

7.36 The core group (see below and section 8) has a collective responsibility to produce reports for the Child Protection Review Conference which together provide an overview of work undertaken by family members and practitioners, and evaluate the impact on the child's welfare against the planned outcomes set out in the Child Protection Plan. The content of the report to the Child Protection Review Conference should be consistent with the information set out in the Child Protection Review (DoH, 2002). (See section 8 for further information about core groups). 

7.37 Every review should consider explicitly whether the child continues to be at risk of significant harm, and hence continues to require safeguarding from harm through adherence to a formal Child Protection Plan. 

7.38 If not, then the child should no longer be the subject of a Child Protection Plan, the conference should consider what continuing support may benefit the child and family (see below 'If the Child does not require a Protection Plan').

Who participates in a Review Conference?

7.39 (See above, Who participates in the Initial Child Protection Conference?)

When should a Review Conference happen?

7.40 The key worker (i.e. the child's social worker) is responsible, in liaison with the Child Protection Conference chairperson and administrator, for convening the Child Protection Review Conference, the dates for which should be set at the previous conference at the following intervals: 

• Within 3 months of the initial conference
• Further reviews should be held at intervals of not more than 6 months for as long as the child remains the subject of a Child Protection Plan 

7.41 Dates for conferences should usually only be changed in exceptional circumstances and with the agreement of the Child Protection Conference chairperson. When dates are changed, they should be brought forward where possible and should not be held at time scales that exceed the above intervals. The key worker must ensure that any significant changes in the situation of the child and members of their household are communicated to the Conference & Review team in Children's Social Care. 

7.42 The key worker must also ensure that the invitation list is updated for every conference so that the correct practitioners attend the conference. Updating the invitation list is an administrative task overseen by the key worker. 

7.43 Consideration should be given to bringing forward the date of a review conference in the following circumstances: 

• Following a new and significant incident relating to concerns about child protection, usually involving a s47 enquiry
• When there are significant difficulties in carrying out the Child Protection Plan
• When there is a significant change in the circumstances of the child or family
• A child is to be born into the household of a child already subject to Protection Plans
• An adult or child who is a Risk to Children is to join or commences regular contact with the household
• A child subject to a Protection Plan is also looked after by the local authority and consideration is being given to returning the child to the circumstances where care of the child previously aroused concerns (unless this step is anticipated in the existing Protection Plan)
• The core group believe that an early discontinuation of the Protection Plan should be considered 

7.44 The request to bring forward the date of a review conference should be made by a strategy discussion/meeting of a s47 enquiry or by the social worker, following consultation with the core group members and the conference chair. It must be authorised by the Children's Social Care manager.

Chairing the Child Protection Conference

7.45 The chair of a Child Protection Conference will be a Conference & Reviewing Officer from Children's Social Care. The chair must not have had operational or line management responsibility for the case. Wherever possible, the same person should also chair subsequent Child Protection Review Conferences in respect of a specific child. 

7.46 A conference chair should be trained in the role and should have: 

• A good understanding and practitioner knowledge of children's welfare and development, and best practice in working with children and families
• The ability to look objectively at, and assess the implications of the evidence on which judgements should be based
• Skills in chairing meetings in a way which encourages constructive participation, while maintaining a clear focus on the welfare of the child and the decisions which have to be taken
• Knowledge and understanding of anti-discriminatory practice
• Knowledge of relevant legislation, including that relating to children's services and human rights
• Clarity abut their accountability to the executive director of children's services and chair of TSCB for the conduct of conferences

Chair's Responsibilities

7.47 The chair will meet with the family, and the child, if attending, prior to the conference to ensure they understand the purpose of the conference and how it will be conducted. Where necessary interpreters etc. should be made available to facilitate family participation. 

7.48 Before the conference the chair should also consult with the social worker to ensure that all appropriate arrangements are in place for the conference. 

7.49 At the start of the conference the chair should: 

• Set out the purpose of the conference
• Confirm the agenda
• Emphasise the need for confidentiality
• Clarify the contributions of those present, including supporters/advocates of the family 

7.50 During the conference the chair should ensure that: 

• The conference maintains a focus on the welfare of the child
• Consideration is given to the needs and circumstances of all the children in the household
• All those attending, including the parents and child if present, are enabled to make a full contribution and that full consideration is given to the information they present
• Threatening behaviour is not tolerated. Threatening behaviour includes racist, sexist and homophobic comments or actions
• Information from the reports of those not present is made known to the conference (the reports should have been circulated before the conference)
• The wishes and feelings of the child are clearly outlined
• Issues of race, religion, language, class, gender, sexuality and disability are fully taken into account in the work of the conference
• Appropriate arrangements are made to receive confidential information about anyone that is not attending the conference
• Appropriate arrangements are made for those attending only part of the conference
• The conference reaches decisions in an informed, systematic and explicit way
• All concerned are advised/reminded of the Children's Social Care complaints procedure
• Ensure that arrangements are made with the children's social worker for the decisions of conferences to be given to children and/or parents and other family members who are unable to attend the conference

The Child Protection Conference and the decision whether a Child Protection Plan is required

Threshold for a Child Protection Plan

7.51 The conference should consider the following question when determining whether a child requires an inter-agency Protection Plan: 

• Is the child at continuing risk of significant harm? 

7.52 The test is that either: 

• The child can be shown to have suffered ill-treatment or impairment of health or development as a result of neglect or physical, emotional or sexual abuse, and practitioner judgement is that further ill-treatment or impairment is likely; or
• A practitioner judgement, substantiated by the findings of enquiries in this individual case or by research evidence, predicts that the child is likely to suffer ill-treatment of the impairment of health and development as a result of neglect or physical, emotional or sexual abuse 

7.53 If a child is at continuing risk of significant harm, then s/he will require inter-agency help and intervention delivered through a formal Child Protection Plan. 

7.54 Some children and young people will be at risk of future significant harm because of the actions of those outside their families or through their own actions. These children and young people will need to be considered as in need of a Child Protection Plan where inter-agency partnership with families is not able to bring about the changes needed. This will include young people who might be at risk of neglect of health needs through substance misuse or through engagement in dangerous activities or through being missing, for example.

Decision that a child needs a Child Protection Plan

7.55 In their decision-making the participants of the conference must take into account all the available evidence obtained through existing records, the initial assessment, the core assessment undertaken following the initiation of s47 enquiries and written and verbal contributions in the conference.

7.56 The chair must ensure that the conference systematically elicits and records the views of each agency present or invited and the views of the parents and the child, as appropriate. The decision should be reached through open discussion of these views. 

7.57 Parents disagree with the decision, the chair must discuss the issue with them and explain their right to and the process for challenge (see section 9 Quality Assurance). 

7.58 If a decision is taken that the child is at continuing risk of significant harm and hence in need of a Child Protection Plan, the chair should determine which category of abuse or neglect the child has suffered or is at risk of suffering. The category used (that is physical, emotional, sexual abuse or neglect) will indicate to those consulting the child's social care record the primary presenting concerns at the time the child became the subject of a Child Protection Plan.

7.59 The need for a Child Protection Plan should be considered separately in respect of each child in the family or household. 

7.60 Where a child is to be the subject of a Child Protection Plan, the conference is responsible for recommendations on how agencies, practitioners and the family should work together to ensure that the child will be safeguarded from harm in the future. This should enable both practitioners and the family to understand exactly what is expected of them and what they can expect of others. 

7.61 Specific tasks include the following: 

• Appointing the lead statutory body i.e. Children's Social Care and a key worker, who should be a qualified, experienced social worker and an employee of the lead statutory body
• Identifying the membership of a core group of practitioners and family members who will develop and implement the Child Protection Plan as a detailed working tool
• Establishing how the child, their parents (including all those with parental responsibility) and wider family members should be involved in the ongoing assessment, planning and implementation process, and the support, advice and advocacy available to them
• Set dates for meetings of the core group, production of a Child Protection Plan, and for Child Protection Review Conferences
• Identifying in outline what further action is required to complete the core assessment and what other specialist assessments of the child and family are required to make sound judgements on how best to safeguard and promote the welfare of the child
• Outlining the Child Protection Plan, especially, identifying what needs to change in order to achieve the planned outcomes to safeguard and promote the welfare of the child
• Ensuring a contingency plan is in place if agreed actions are not completed and/or circumstances change, for example if a caregiver fails to achieve what has been agreed, a court application is not successful or a parent removes the child from a place of safety
• Clarifying the different purpose and remit of the initial conference, the core group, and the Child Protection Review Conference
• Agreeing a date for the first Child Protection Review Conference, and under what circumstances it might be necessary to convene the conference before that date

Discontinuation of a Child Protection Plan

7.62 The conference should use the same decision-making process to reach a judgement for when a Protection Plan is not needed. This includes situations where other inter-agency planning might need to replace a Protection Plan

7.63 A child may no longer need a Protection Plan if:

• A review conference judges that the child is no longer at risk of significant harm and no longer requires safeguarding by means of a Child Protection Plan
• The child has moved permanently to another local authority area in which case a Child Protection Plan in Tameside can only cease after the receiving local authority has convened a transfer Child Protection Conference and confirmed in writing responsibility for case management
• The child has died, has permanently left the UK, or has reached 18 years of age

7.64 It is permissible for the Quality Assurance Manager in Children's Social Care to agree the discontinuation of a Child Protection Plan without the need to convene a Child Protection Review Conference, but only when s/he has consulted with relevant agencies present at the conference that first concluded that a Child Protection Plan was required. 

7.65 The decision to discontinue the Child Protection Plan must be clearly recorded in the Children's Social Care child's file.

7.66 When a child is no longer subject to a Child Protection Plan notification should be sent, as a minimum, to the agencies' representatives who were invited to attend the initial conference, that led to the plan.

7.67 When a Child Protection Plan is discontinued the keyworker must discuss with the parents and child what services might be wanted and required, based on the re-assessment of the needs of the child and family. A 'Child and Family' plan should be developed for any continuing support. The plan should be reviewed at regular intervals of no more than every six months.

The 'Outline' Child Protection Plan

7.68 The chair should ensure that the outline Child Protection Plan is drawn up by conference members. See section 8 for further information on drafting the Child Protection Plan.

If the child does not require a Child Protection Plan

7.69 If the conference decides that a child is not at continuing risk of significant harm then the conference should not make the child the subject of a Child Protection Plan. 

7.70 The child may nevertheless require services to promote his or her health or development. In these circumstances, the conference should consider the child's needs and make recommendations for further help to assist the family in responding to them. 

7.71 Subject to the family's views and consent, it may be appropriate to:

• Continue the core assessment of the child's needs to determine the support required
• Make recommendations about support and help, including whether to set up a 'Child and Family' Meeting

7.72 The decision must be put in writing to the parent/s, and where appropriate the child, as well as communicated to them verbally. The decision must also be put in writing to the agencies' representatives who were invited to attend the initial conference.

Core group meetings and the Implementation of the Child Protection Plan

7.73 The core group is responsible for the formulation and implementation of the detailed Child Protection Plan, previously outlined at the initial or review conference. Further information about the purpose and content of the Child Protection Plan, and the timing and participation in the core group is contained in section 8 of these procedures. 

7.74See section 8 for further information about the role of core groups and the function of core group meetings.

Involving Parents, Carers, Children and Young People

 7.75 Section 4 of these procedures sets out good practice in involving parents, carers, children and young people in child protection enquiries and meetings.

7.76 However there will be some circumstances where it is not possible for everyone directly involved to attend child protection meetings. This may be because they do not wish to attend or because they should be excluded from the meeting.

The Absence of Parents and/or Children

7.77 If parents and/or children do not wish to attend the conference they must be provided with full opportunities to contribute their views. The social worker must facilitate this by: 

• The use of an advocate or supporter to attend on behalf of the parent or child
• Enabling the child or parent to write or tape or use drawings to represent their views
• Agreeing that the social worker, or any other practitioner, expresses their views

Exclusion of Family Members from a Conference

7.78 Exceptionally it may be necessary to exclude one or more parent or other family member from part or all of a conference.

7.79 These situations will be rare, and the conference chair must be notified as soon as possible by the social worker if it is considered necessary to exclude one or both parent for all or part of a conference. The chair should make a decision according to the following criteria: 

• Indications that the presence of the parent or family member may seriously prejudice the welfare of the child
• Sufficient evidence that a parent or family member may behave in such a way as to interfere seriously with the work of the conference such as violence, threats of violence, racist or other forms of discriminatory or oppressive behaviour, or being in an unfit state, e.g. through drug, alcohol consumption or acute mental health difficulty. In their absence a friend or advocate may represent them at the conference
• A child requests that the parent/person with parental responsibility or carer are not present while s/he is present
• The presence of a parent or family member would prevent a practitioner from making her/his proper contribution through concerns about violence or intimidation (which should be communicated in advance to the conference chair)
• The need (agreed in advance with the conference chair) for members to receive confidential information that would otherwise be unavailable, such as legal advice or information about a criminal investigation
• Conflicts between different family members who may not be able to attend at the same time, e.g. in situations of domestic abuse

7.80 In most situations where exclusion of one or both parents is necessary it will be for only part of the conference. 

7.81 Where a practitioner from any agency believes a parent or family member should, on the basis of the above criteria, be excluded, representation should be made to the chair of the conference at least 3 working days in advance, where possible. 

7.82 The agency concerned must indicate which of the grounds it believes is met and the information or evidence on which the request is based.

7.83 If, in planning or running a conference, it becomes clear to the chair that there may be a conflict of interests between the children and the parents or other family members, the conference should be planned and run so that the welfare of the child can remain paramount. 

7.84 This may mean arranging for the child and parents to participate in separate parts of the conference and make separate waiting arrangements. 

7.85 Any exclusion period should be for the minimum duration necessary and must be clearly recorded in the conference minutes. 

7.86 It may also become clear in the course of a conference that its effectiveness will be seriously impaired by the presence of a parent or family member. In these circumstances the chair may ask them to leave. 

7.87 Where a parent is on bail, or subject to an active Police investigation, it is the responsibility of the chair both to ensure that the Police can fully present their information and views, and that the parents participate as fully as circumstances allow. The purpose of the conference is to enable analysis and not to progress a criminal investigation. Therefore the Police should not administer a caution to parents/carers prior to the conference without first consulting with the chair of the conference and then only in exceptional circumstances; for example where the offender admits the offence and there is no complaint or it is a relatively minor issue and the best interests of the child would be met by administering a caution in order to expedite proceedings.

7.88 The decision of the chair over matters of exclusion is final regarding both parents and the children. 

7.89 If, prior to the conference, the chair has decided to exclude a parent or family member, this must be communicated in writing with information on how s/he may make their views known, how s/he will be told the outcome of the conference and about the complaints procedure (see below, Complaints by Service Users).

7.90 Those excluded should be provided with a copy of the social worker's report to the conference and be provided with the opportunity to have their views recorded and presented to the conference. The chair will determine whether or not the excluded parent or family member should receive minutes of the conference.

7.91 If a decision to exclude a parent or family member is made, this must be fully recorded in the minutes. Exclusion at one conference is not reason enough in itself for exclusion at further conferences.

Information for the Conference

7.92 In order for the conference to reach well-informed decisions based on evidence it needs adequate sharing of information on the child's needs and circumstances by all agencies who have had significant involvement with the child and family, including those who were involved in the s47 enquiry.

Children's Social Care Report

7.93 Children's Social Care should provide the conference with a written report that summarises and analyses the information obtained in the course of the initial assessment and the core assessment undertaken under s47 of the Children Act 1989 (in as far as it has been completed within the available time period) and information in existing records relating to the child and family. 

7.94 The report for a Child Protection Conference should be consistent with the information set out in the Initial Child Protection Conference Report (DoH, 2002). 

7.95 The core assessment is the means by which a s47 enquiry is carried out. Although a core assessment will have been commenced it is unlikely it will have been completed in time for the conference, given the 35 working day period that such assessments can take. 

7.96 The Children's Social Care child protection conference report should include:

• A summary chronology of significant events and agency and practitioner contact with the child and family
• Information on the child's current and past state of developmental needs
• Information on the capacity of the parents and other family members to ensure the child is safe from harm, and to respond to the child's developmental needs, within their wider family and environmental context
• The expressed views, wishes and feelings of the child, parents, and other family members
• An analysis of the implications of the information obtained for the child's future safety and meeting of his or her developmental needs.

7.97 The report should make it clear which children are the subjects of the conference, as previously decided by the children's social worker and her/his manager. 

7.98 The report must make clear the distinction between fact, the interpretation of those facts and opinion. When information is provided from another source i.e. it is second or third hand, this should be made clear. 

7.99 The conference may have been called in respect of concerns about a specific child in the family or household. However it is important that the conference should give some consideration to any other children in the household and attendees should be ready to provide information about the needs and circumstances of each of them, even if they are not the subject of the conference. 

7.100 The report should be provided to parents and older children (to the extent that it is believed to be in the child's best interests) at least 2 working days in advance of the conference to enable any factual inaccuracies to be identified, amended and areas of disagreement noted. 

7.101 The contents of the report should be explained and discussed with the child and relevant family members, in the preferred language(s) of the child and family members. Where necessary, the reports should be translated into the relevant language or medium. 

7.102 The report should be provided to the conference chair at least 2 working days prior to the conference. 

7.103 The report will be attached to, or included fully into, the minutes of the conference for circulation to those invited to the conference.

Information from other Agencies

7.104 All the agencies invited to the conference should provide details of their involvement with the child and family, and their assessment of the child's developmental needs, and the capacity of the parents to meet the needs of their child within their family and environmental context. 

7.105 This information should be submitted in a written, legible and signed report for the conference. The report should be available to the conference chair and other attendees 1 working day in advance of the conference. 

7.106 The report must make it clear which child is the subject of the conference, whilst also addressing any known needs and circumstances of all children in the household. 

7.107 The report must make clear the distinction between fact, the interpretation of those facts and opinion. When information is provided from another source i.e. it is second or third hand, this should be made clear. 

7.108 For agencies in contact with the family the report should be shared with the family, where possible, before the conference. If this is not possible then the practitioner should at least ensure that nothing is included in the report that has not been shared with the family before the conference. 

7.109 The reports will be attached to the minutes for circulation. 

7.110 Where an agency representative is unable to attend the conference they must ensure that a written report is made available to the conference and should also arrange for a colleague to attend in their place.

Information from Children and Families

7.111 Children and family members should be helped in advance to consider what they wish to convey to the conference, how they wish to do so and what help and support they will require, e.g. they may choose to communicate in writing, by tape or with the help of an advocate.

7.112 See section 4 Involvement of children and families.

Complaints by Service Users

7.113 See section 9, Quality Assurance

Administrative Arrangements for Child Protection Conferences

7.114 Children's Social Care is responsible for administering the child protection conference service, on behalf of Tameside SCB.

7.115 Tameside SCB has clear arrangements for the organisation of child protection conferences including:

• Information on any standing conference members
• Arrangements for sending out invitations, detailing those to be sent centrally and those by the social worker
• Information leaflets for children and for parents translated into appropriate languages
• Standard invitations to children, parents/carers and Practitioners
• Report formats for initial and review case conference 

7.116 All initial and review conferences should be minuted by a dedicated person whose sole task within the conference is to provide a written record of proceedings in a consistent format. Alternatively an audiotape may be made for later transcriptions.

7.117 Conference minutes should include: 

• The purpose of the conference
• Name, date of birth and address of the subject/s of the conference, parents and other adults in the household
• Who was invited, who attended the conference and who submitted their apologies
• A list of written reports available to conference and whether open to parents or not
• All the essential facts
• Opinions of conference members, clearly identified as such
• Views of child
• Views of parents
• A summary of discussion at the conference, accurately reflecting contributions made
• All decisions reached, with information outlining the reasons
• An outline or revised Child Protection Plan
• Name of key worker
• Members of the core group and date of first meeting
• Date of next conference 

7.118 The minutes, signed by the conference chair, should be sent to all those who attended, or were invited, within 15 working days of the conference. Any amendment should be received within 5 working days of receipt of minutes.

7.119 A copy of the minutes should be given to and discussed with the parents by the social worker. The conference chair may decide that confidential material should be excluded from the parent's copy. 

7.120 Relevant sections of the minutes should be explained to and discussed with the child by the children's social worker. 

7.121 The conference chair should decide whether a child should be given a copy of the minutes. The minutes may be supplied to a child's legal representative upon request. 

7.122 Where parents and/or the children have a sensory disability or where English is not their first language, the social worker should ensure that they receive appropriate assistance to understand and make full use of the minutes.

7.123 Conference minutes are confidential. Therefore, practitioners, parents and family members should not pass the minutes onto third parties without the consent of either the conference chair or order of the court. 

7.124 In criminal proceedings the Police may reveal the existence of child protection records to the crown prosecution service. In care proceedings the records of the conference may be revealed in the court.

7.125 The record of the decisions of the Child Protection Conference should be retained by the recipient agencies in accordance with their record retention policies.

Decision Letter

7.126 The decision letter should be dispatched to parents and other participants within two working days of the conference. This gives details of conference decisions and recommendations, the name of the key worker and details about the right to complain.

Managing and Providing Information About a Child

7.127 Tameside Children's Social Care, on behalf of Tameside SCB will put in place systems: 

• Ensuring that records on children who have a Child Protection Plan are kept up to date
• Ensuring enquiries about children about whom there are concerns or who have Child Protection Plans are recorded and considered in accordance with the Integrated Children's System (ICS) requirements;
• Managing notifications of movements of children who have a Child Protection Plan, looked after children and other relevant children into or out of the local authority area
• Managing notifications of people who may pose a risk of significant harm to children who are either identified with Tameside or have moved into Tameside
• Managing requests for checks to be made to ensure unsuitable people are prevented from working with children. 

7.128 Information on each child known to Children's Social Care should be kept up-to-date on the Integrated Children's System. This information should be confidential, but accessible at all times to legitimate enquirers. The details of enquirers should always be checked and recorded on the system before information is provided.

7.129 Once the recipient of the enquiry in Children's Social Care is satisfied about the identity of the enquirer and that their request is an appropriate one then the information may be provided in the following circumstances: 

7.130 If an enquiry is made about a child and: 

• The child's case is open to Children's Social Care, the enquirer should be given the name of the child's key worker and the key worker informed of this enquiry so that they can follow it up.
• The child is at the same address as a child who is the subject of a Child Protection Plan, this information should be sent to the key worker of the child who is the subject of the Child Protection Plan.
• The child is not known to Children's Social Care, this enquiry should be recorded on a contact sheet together with the advice given to the enquirer. In the event of there being a second enquiry about a child who is not known to Children's Social Care, not only should the fact of the earlier enquiry be notified to the later enquirer, but the designated manager in Children's Social Care should ensure that Children's Social Care consider whether this is, or may be, a child in need. 

7.131 Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) should be notified of the name of the designated manager and should be notified of any changes in designated managers. 

7.132 Note: In Tameside, the 'designated manager' in Children's Social Care is the Quality Assurance Manager.

Recording

7.133 Records should use straightforward language, be concise and be accurate, distinguishing between opinion and fact and with judgements, decisions and interventions clearly recorded. Where decisions have been taken jointly across agencies, or endorsed by a manager, this should be explicit.

Request for a Change of Key Worker

7.134 On occasions the relationship between the parents or other family members and the key worker may not be productive in terms of working to safeguard and promote the welfare of the child. Provided that such a change is in the best interests of the child who is the focus of concern, agencies should respond sympathetically to a request for a change of worker. 

7.135 However a change of key worker should not be made solely on the basis of a disagreement, between the parents and the key worker, either about the assessment of risk to the child, or the services that should be provided.