Child protection conference and plan

This page explains child protection conferences, including information on who is able to attend and what will likely be discussed, as well as information regarding child protection plans and their function.

What is a child protection conference?

A child protection conference is a discussion about a child's future safety, health, and development with family members, the child (if appropriate), and professionals involved with the family.

The child protection conference aims to look at all relevant information and circumstances in order to determine the best way to protect the child and promote their welfare. Following an investigation under Section 47 of the Children Act 1989 (a child protection investigation), a child protection conference may be held.

The conference will hear about the family and the concerns that have been expressed. There will be a discussion about whether the child is at risk of serious harm and whether the child should be placed on a "child protection plan." If a child protection plan proves to be necessary, the child's name will be added to the child protection register, also known as the 'at risk' register.

Guidance on child protection conferences is contained in Working Together to Safeguard Children. This is guidance published by the Department for Education and is designed to ensure that there is a coordinated and child-centered approach to safeguarding.

Who goes to a child protection conference? 

Professionals who know the family and can provide relevant information attend the meeting. This could include the child's health visitor, teacher, doctor, other health and education workers, and police officers with specialised training. Other people may be invited to attend if they have specialist information or knowledge about the child.

Professionals will be required to submit a written report to the Chairperson beforehand.

Parents and carers are encouraged to attend and participate because they play an important role in the conference. Both the social worker and the Chairperson have a responsibility to help parents and children understand the conference process and what to expect.

The Chairperson can exclude certain persons from the conference in some situations, for example, where there has been domestic abuse. The excluded person should still be allowed to submit their views in writing.

Can a parent bring a friend or relative with them for support?

If it will help them express their views, a parent can request that another person attend the conference. However, this person must be trustworthy because family information must be kept private.

A parent is entitled to take their solicitor with them, but the solicitor cannot speak on the parent’s behalf.

If the parent has learning difficulties or a problem that interferes with their ability to communicate effectively, they should notify the social worker. If English is not the parent's first language, an interpreter can be arranged to attend the conference.

Can the child attend the child protection conference?

The child who is the subject of the conference is not required to attend, but they may if they would like. The Chairperson may refuse to allow the child to attend if it is determined that their presence could cause harm or if they are too young to understand what is going on.

A child may request the assistance of an advocate or a friend to help them express their views and wishes at the meeting. If a child is mature enough to instruct a solicitor, they may bring a legal representative to the meeting.

If it is determined that the child should not attend the conference, the child may write to the conference and express their thoughts on the situation. The social worker working on the case should be able to help the child with this.

See our page on Advocacy for more information on obtaining an advocate.

Will I be able to be present during the whole child protection conference?

This will depend on the protocol of the relevant local authority. Parents can generally stay throughout the discussion, however they may be asked to leave the conference to allow the professionals involved in the case to seek legal advice.  

Local authorities should make available their policy and protocol on child protection conferences.

What happens if I cannot attend the child protection conference?

If a parent is unable or unwilling to attend the conference, he or she can write to the child protection co-ordinator explaining their position or ask the social worker to relay their position to the conference.

Can I see the minutes of the child protection conference?

A parent is able to request the minutes of the child protection conference, but these are confidential and should not be shared with anyone other than the parent's legal representative. If you have difficulty in obtaining this information you are able to contact the Information Commissioner's Office on 0303 123 1113.

I am not happy about what happened at the child protection conference - what can I do?

If a parent is dissatisfied with the outcome of a child protection conference or the manner in which the conference was conducted, they may have the right to appeal, depending on the policy of the relevant local authority. In such cases, we would advise the parent to check to see if this is an option.

If a parent is not happy about how children’s services have acted, they are entitled to make a complaint. A parent should put their concerns in writing to the chair of the child protection committee.

See our How to Guide on Complaints against children's services for more information. 

What is a child protection plan?

A child protection plan should:

• assess the likelihood of the child suffering harm and look at ways that the child can be protected;
• decide upon short and long term aims to reduce the likelihood of harm to the child and to protect the child's welfare;
• clarify people's responsibilities and actions to be taken; and
• outline ways of monitoring and evaluating progress.

When will a child come off of a child protection plan?

A child will no longer be under a plan:

• when it is judged that the child is no longer continuing to or believed to be suffering significant harm;
• where the child and family have moved permanently to another local authority area - the new local authority should arrange a child protection conference within 15 days of being notified of the move;
• when the child has reached 18 years old - the local authority should conduct a review around the time of the child's 18th birthday when the plan can be ended;
• if the child has died; or
• if the child has permanently left the UK.

Going further

If you wish to initiate a complaint against children's services, detailed information can be found in our How-to Guide.