What Happens at a Child Protection Review Conference?

The first review conference must be held within three months of the initial child protection conference and all further reviews must take place at least every six months for as long as the child remains the subject of a child protection plan. Where necessary, reviews can be brought forward to address changes in the child’s circumstances.

The purpose of the child protection review conference is to:

• Review the safety, health and development of the child against the planned outcomes set out in the child protection plan
• Consider how the current plan has affected the perceived concerns
• Ensure that the welfare of the child continues to be adequately safeguarded
• Consider whether inter-agency co-ordination is functioning effectively
• Consider the membership of the core group
• Consider whether the child protection plan should continue in place or should be changed

The same decision making procedure should be used to reach a judgement on continuing to have a child protection plan as is used in the initial child protection conference.

Conference participants should base their judgements on:

• Whether the risk of harm has been reduced by action taken through the child protection plan
• Whether the child and family’s circumstances have changed
• Whether a re-assessment indicates a child protection plan is not necessary

As in the initial child protection conference, the views of parents and children are important to the conference but it is the professionals who make the decision about whether the child protection plan should be discontinued. Clear reasons for the review conference decision should be given and recorded.

Participants in the conference should include all members of the core group, including family members and the child, and any other relevant agencies such as those present at the initial child protection conference. The lead social worker is responsible for ensuring that the appropriate people are invited.

Information which should be available to the review conference:

• A report from the lead social worker collating the collective views of all Core Group members, using this template. This report includes the Child Protection Plan
• Where a key professional is unable to attend a final core group/review conference, they must submit a written report and indicate their views (with relevant evidence) on whether a Child Protection Plan needs to remain in place: the report template is here Child Protection Conference Report Proform. Where possible attendance should be delegated to a well briefed colleague.

If possible, reports should be shared with the child (if of sufficient age and understanding) and the family at least one working day prior to the review conference

Expectations and procedures for the participation of the child and family and for exclusions are the same as for the Initial Child Protection conference.

Similarly, the quorum for any review conference should be representation from Children’s Social Care and at least two other professional groups or agencies that have had direct contact with the child.

If a child already subject to a child protection plan becomes looked after under an interim or full care order, a review child protection conference should normally be arranged to consider the discontinuation of the child protection plan as the interim/full Care Order gives the local authority parental responsibility and makes the child subject to a care plan which addresses their safeguarding needs and the management of any risks to the safety and welfare of the child.

In the very few cases where a looked after child may remain subject to a child protection plan (e.g. brief period of accommodation under Section 20 Children Act 1989), the child protection review should be part of the looked after child review.  This will be achieved by the reports of any core group/child protection review conference being considered at the review of the child’s Care Plan. This is to ensure that the same information in relation to the child’s safety and welfare is considered both within the child protection review meeting and within the care planning process.

Child Protection Conference Report Proform

Ref:

Working Together 2010 Chapter 5   Para 5.136 – 140

GOOD PRACTICE GUIDANCE:-

Factors to be taken into account in decision making include:

• The child’s age, level of development and need, wishes and feelings
• Whether there have been any further incidents, and if so, the nature of these.
• Whether there is a support network which is accessible to the child.
• Whether the child is able to apply self-protection strategies.
• Whether the parents are co-operative.

If the child is considered to be continuing to suffer significant harm, the local authority should consider whether to initiate care proceedings.