How are Family Members and Children Involved?

 Prior to each conference the social worker should explain to the parents, any other relevant family members, and the child where they are of sufficient age and understanding:

• The purpose of the conference
• Who will be attending
• What will happen at the conference

Written information about the conference should also be provided.

The parents and children (subject to their age and understanding) should normally be invited to attend. They can bring a supporter or be offered advocacy services if they need particular support, but this must be agreed by the chair of the conference.

Family solicitors can attend conferences as supporters only, and not to represent their clients.

Where a child does not want to attend, or it is deemed inappropriate by the social worker and the chair, the family’s social worker must ascertain what their wishes and feelings are and make these known to the conference.

If a child wishes to attend a child protection conference, this should be discussed with the Conference Chair. The Conference Chair will consider any specific difficulties or potential conflicts of interest which may arise in relation to the child’s attendance at the conference. This may include that the child does not feel able to attend the conference at the same time as their parents or that because of bail conditions an alleged perpetrator will need to be excluded whilst the child attends. In these circumstances arrangements must be made for the child’s view to be given to conference in the absence of the parents or the alleged perpetrator. The final decision about whether a child attends the conference rests with the Conference Chair.

The social worker, together with the Safeguarding Unit, is responsible for ensuring that the child and family receive any assistance necessary to allow them to participate, including communication aids, signers and interpreters.

At least 24 hours before each conference, the social worker must ensure that parents and, where appropriate, children see and understand the report that they provide for the conference. They must also ensure that the family have an opportunity to meet with the Chair prior to the initial conference (and review conference if appropriate) as part of the process of helping them to participate as effectively as possible.

Other professionals attending the conference are also responsible for ensuring they share relevant information with the family. They should discuss with the Chair of the meeting beforehand any information that they feel should remain confidential, so that decisions regarding attendance and the management of the conference can be considered in advance.

Ref:

Working Together 2010 Chapter 5 Para 5.86

GUIDANCE ON CHILDREN’S PARTICIPATION IN THE CHILD PROTECTION CASE CONFERENCE PROCESS:-

There is an expectation that children should participate in the conference process and that their Views, understanding, wishes and feelings are clearly known by the conference. This should support outcomes for children in terms of staying safe and making a positive contribution.

Participation is a process and not an event, and engaging with children/young people as a matter of course, when assessments are being made and child protection plans are being implemented is an essential and basic feature of the work.

A child focused approach means that imagination is needed to help children and young people express their views. Practitioners should look to use the range of resources available to do this, including technologies such as DVD/ digital camera clips, audio recording.

Preparation for Participation

• The consideration of the participation and representation of the wishes and feelings of all children subject to a child protection case conference should be considered subject to a child’s age and understanding. There is no standard “cut off point” in terms of age.
• Children should be seen prior to a case conference (subject to age and understanding). The conference should be explained to the child. Their views, understanding, wishes and feelings should be clearly understood and recorded. Ways of engaging the children and young people in the process through attendance and/ or other means should be explored.
• When children and young people do attend conference they should be supported in the conference (and core group) setting e.g. by paying attention to seating arrangements, meeting the children prior to entering the meeting room, having arrangements if a child feels the need to leave the meeting.
• Some practical arrangements should be considered, supervisory arrangements for when a child / young person is not in the conference, resources to keep them occupied.
• Those responsible for ensuring the child’s views, wishes and feelings are shared at the conference should make use of any resources or material available in their organisation. This may include letters to parents about their child’s participation; letters to children and young people; questionnaires, and any other material or technologies available.
• Advocacy support should be pro-actively explored with children and young people and provided if they wish (this is not necessarily through the formal advocacy service).

Reporting to the Conference

• The social worker’s report to the conference should clearly record the child’s views understanding, wishes and feelings and what is important to them.
• There should be a separate report regarding each child being considered at a conference, if there is more than one, to avoid generalist, collective views of sibling groups being provided.
• If a child young person does not attend the conference the report should state the reasons why.
• The report should record how the child’s views wishes and feelings were gathered.

Chair of the Child Protection Case Conference

• Will ask explicitly at each Conference what has been done in practical terms to involve children and young people.
• Will determine, in agreement with, children, their parents and conference participants, how the children are to be involved when they do attend a Conference e.g. at what stage children are brought in to the conference/what form will the participation will take.
• Will ensure that seats are routinely reserved for children and young people, and their parents. Careful consideration should be given to who best the child should sit by.
• As a matter of course the Chair will ask explicitly for the child’s views, understanding, wishes and feelings when they are not in attendance.

After the Conference

• Children and young people, and parents should be asked their views on the opportunities that have been offered around the child’s participation. Children’s Social Care need to decide how best to do and record this. Experience has shown that this is better carried out immediately after the Conference wherever possible (there is a tendency for very low responses to questionnaires sent out post conference). Gaining this information will not only facilitate on going evaluation, but will give the message to children and young people that their views are valued and taken seriously.