Key points
During a case conference, the following areas will be covered:
- A pooling of information and opinion in respect of the children.
- A discussion about of the level of risk based on the information available.
- A decision will be made as to whether to make a child subject to a child protection plan. The category of abuse should be clearly stated and recorded in the minutes, together with an indication of ’certainty’ i.e.
- The child has suffered significant and predictable harm and the parent admits to or has been convicted of having been the cause,
- The child has suffered demonstrable harm and all the evidence points to the parents being responsible, despite their denial,
- The child has suffered demonstrable harm under suspicious circumstances but there is some reasonable doubt as to whether the parents were responsible,
- The child has not suffered actual harm but that the parents’ lifestyle and/or their previous behaviour is such as to indicate ’likely to suffer significant harm’,
- If a child is made subject to a child protection plan, an outline plan will be recorded, identifying the roles of the people who will help the child and family,
- A key worker, usually the social worker, will be identified who will be responsible for co-ordinating the child protection plan. Any significant changes or events should be reported to the key worker,
- Conference identifies members of the core group and agrees timescales for core group meetings.
