Summary
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The timing of initial conferences will depend on the urgency of the case and on the time required to obtain sufficient information about the child and family in order to make informed decisions. There needs to be time to adequately assess the child’s circumstances, but cases should not be allowed to drift where there are risks of significant harm.
All initial child protection conferences should be within no more than 15 working days of the strategy discussion decision to initiate Section 47 enquiries.
The timing of initial conferences in respect of unborn babies must occur within sufficient time prior to the birth to allow all agencies to contribute to a pre-birth assessment and achieve positive outcomes for those children. Where possible, the initial conference should take place approximately three months prior to the estimated date of delivery (EDD). However, the EDD must not be the sole guide for determining the date of the conference, as this, in itself, cannot be relied upon due to a number of possible variables (e.g. drug/alcohol use, obstetric history, homelessness and other environmental factors that may bring about early delivery).
Where a child moves into the area and they are the subject of a Child Protection Plan in another local authority, a child protection conference must be held within 15 days of Children’s Social Care receiving notification of the move.
