Child Protection Case Conferences

What is a Child Protection Conference?

A Child Protection Conference is held when social workers are worried that a child or young person is experiencing, or at risk of experiencing what they call significant harm. This might be because someone isn’t looking after you properly, or because someone in your life is harming you in some way, physically or emotionally.

The conference is a meeting between your family, your social worker and other professionals in your life. The purpose of the conference is to discuss why people are worried about you, what’s going well for you and your family, and what’s not going so well. The aim is for everyone to agree what is called a Child Protection plan to keep you safer by changing the things that aren’t going well.

Who will be at the conference?

The people who come to the conference depends on who is important in your life. There will always be a Conference Chair to lead the meeting, your social worker, a member of staff from your school, someone who works as a health professional, like a school nurse and someone to take notes. Sometimes police might attend if they are concerned about what’s happening for you and your family. If you have other important people in your life, like a youth worker or therapist they might come too.

You have the option to have a Child Protection Advocate who will meet with you before to explain the conference clearly, understand your views and feelings, and share this at the conference.

How can I be part of my conference?

Your conference is about you. It is up to you whether you go and how you take part in the meeting. You can also tell your social worker or Child Protection Advocate who you would like to be there. If you don’t want to be there in person, you can call or video call for part of the conference, or write, email or draw something to be shared with everyone on your behalf.

What happens after the conference?

If a Child Protection plan is made for you, your social worker will visit you and your family regularly. The professionals involved in your life will also meet to make sure everyone is doing what they agreed.

If you decide to have a Child Protection Advocate, they will come and see you after the conference to go through the plan with you and make sure you have your own copy to keep. If you don’t want to have a Child Protection Advocate, your social worker can do this instead.

What have other children and young people said about their conferences?

‘They really listened me and I liked that everybody got to speak.’

‘The meeting felt more relaxed and comfortable. I felt relaxed.’

‘I felt everyone at the meeting cared about what I had to say.’

If you have any questions or would like to speak to a social worker in your area, you can contact them via email or on the phone:

Hammersmith & Fulham: [email protected] or 020 8753 6600
Kensington and Chelsea: [email protected] or 020 7361 3013
Westminster: [email protected] or 020 7641 4000

In an emergency, call 999.