Guide to child protection case conferences

Author: Fiona Ferguson, qualified social worker and social work consultant BIOG

Publication Date: 19 April 2011

Quick links:
Introduction
Process leading to child protection case conference
What is a case conference?
Timing of case conferences
Attendance at a case conference
Involvement of child and family
Chair of the case conference
What information is required for the case conference?
The local authority’s recommendation to the case conference
What needs to happen at the case conference?
Developing the outline child protection plan – what needs to be included?
Process after a child becomes subject to a child protection plan
What happens after the initial child protection case conference?
Review case conferences
Discontinuing the child protection plan
Pre-birth child protection case conferences
Recording that a child is subject to a child protection plan
References

Introduction
A section 47 investigation is the inquiry that local authority social workers are obliged to carry out (in conjunction with police, health and education services) in certain cases, for example when there is reasonable cause to suspect that a child is suffering or is likely to suffer significant harm (Children Act 1989).

If the outcome of the section 47 investigation is that the concerns are justified and the child is suffering significant harm or likely to suffer harm, then a child protection case conference should be held.