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What is a Child Protection Case Conference? This is a meeting to share information about you and your family and to discuss your child’s safety and welfare. This can be worrying and cause anxiety for parents/carers and you may hear information that you find upsetting or do not agree with. However, you will have a chance to discuss what is likely to be said at the meeting with your social worker. If this is an initial meeting, it is arranged following a child protection investigation and where there are still some concerns about your child who has suffered, or is thought likely to suffer harm. All of the children in your family may be considered at the meeting. The meeting cannot make legal decisions. However, the meeting can refer to the Reporter to the Children’s Hearing, or when it is considered that concerns are so significant that a child should not remain at home, an application for a Child Protection Order may be made upon the recommendation of the meeting. Parental agreement and consent is always sought for any work plan before it becomes necessary for such an application to be made. The chair of the meeting will meet with you briefly, immediately beforehand, explain the process to you and answer any further questions that you may have. What does the conference do? All agencies concerned about your child(ren) must meet to discuss their concerns and make plans to ensure your child’s safety and protection. Your social worker will write a report, which they will share with you before the conference. Other professionals will also write reports and you should see these before the conference takes place. None of the information shared at the conference should be a surprise to you. After all of the information has been shared and discussed, all of the participants of the conference will consider the risks that there may be to your child(ren) and what needs to be done to keep your child(ren) safe. Everyone at the conference will be asked to give their views on whether your child(ren) is at risk of harm and plans about what type of support and protection is needed. The chair will then invite professional participants to recommend: Whether your child's name should be placed/remain on the Child Protection Register; Whether to pass information about your child to the Reporter to the Children's Hearing for Midlothian; Whether any emergency legal measures have to be taken for your child's protection; Whether there would be any benefit in arranging a Family Group Conference.
If your child’s name is placed on the child protection register, a child protection plan will then be made, which will detail all the things that need to change and consider a range of supports that can be offered to improve your situation and reduce the risk to your child. A ‘Core Group’ will also be formed, which consists of people involved with your family (such as Health Visitor, Teacher, G.P and Social Worker.). Parents/carers are always included in the Core Group and your input is valuable to the success of the child protection plan. The Core Group will meet approximately 4 weekly to look at the progress made and discuss anything that has to change in the child protection plan.
Fionna Miskelly
0131 271 3676
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