A Guide to Child Protection Conferences for Children and Young People

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A Conference is a special meeting called when a child has been harmed or is in danger of being harmed. It brings together people who know you and your family, as well as others who work with children and their families. WHAT IS DECIDED THERE? The meeting may decide to do nothing further, if they think you are safe. If they think you need help to stay safe, they may put your name on the Child Protection Register. This is a list, kept by the Social Services Department, of children and young people at risk of being harmed. If they think things are very serious, they may recommend that a court should decide whether a Court Order should be made to make sure you are safe in the future. CAN I GO? You should discuss this with your social worker. You may be able to attend for all or part of the meeting. Sometimes people will feel you are too young. You may not want to go. You may feel it will be too difficult or embarrassing. If you don’t go, the social worker must tell the people at the Conference what you think, and what you want to happen. You might want to write this down, or discuss it with someone you know, who will be going. WILL MY PARENTS BE THERE? You mum or dad, or any other adult you live with, will usually be invited. If you’re not happy with this, or if you want to go, but are worried about seeing someone, tell your social worker. It may be possible for you to go to different parts of the meeting. WHO ELSE WILL BE INVITED? A Chairperson. A senior person, from Social Services, is in charge of the meeting. He or she introduces everyone at the beginning, and is responsible for running the Conference. A Social Worker. You will have met him or her already. The social worker’s job is to help protect you now and in the future. A Police Officer. You may also have met the police officer. His or her job is to decide if there has been a crime committed against you. A Teacher. His or her job is to tell people how you are getting on at school, and if you have any problems there. An Education Welfare Officer. Will talk about any contact they have had with you, and will also talk about school, if a teacher can’t attend. A Doctor. Will tell people about your general health, and also any harm you have suffered, if they are aware of this. A Health Visitor or a School Nurse. Will also talk about your health and development. Occasionally, other people who know, or have been involved with your family, may also attend. HOW WILL I KNOW WHAT HAS HAPPENED? If you come to the Conference, the Chairperson and your social worker will be happy to meet you after the meeting to talk about what has been decided. If you didn’t attend, the social worker will see you as soon as possible afterwards to explain what happened. WHAT HAPPENS NEXT If your name has been put on the Child Protection Register, a plan must be made about how to help you in the future. It usually says which workers will be seeing you and your family, and what they will be doing. This plan must be discussed at regular meetings including at least every six months a Review Conference. You may also be invited to attend these meetings. The Review Conference will decide to take your name off the Child Protection Register when it is felt you are no longer at any risk of harm.

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