After a Child Protection Inquiry, professionals have to decide whether there is a need for a Child Protection Case Conference. This will happen if the information gathered during the inquiry indicates that a child or young person may be at risk of significant harm and his or her name may need to be placed on the Child Protection Register. 

A Child Protection Case Conference works best when parents or carers are involved.

What is a Child Protection Case Conference

A Child Protection Case Conference is:

• a meeting arranged to consider the risk of significant harm to a child or young person;
• to plan what, if anything, needs to happen to reduce and eliminate the risks of significant harm being suffered by a child or young person;
• attended by people from agencies who know a child or young person and his or her family e.g. the health visitor, school nurse, school doctor, family GP, nursery or school teacher, police officer and a social worker;
• chaired by a senior member of the social work department.

What is the Purpose of the Case Conference?

The purpose of the Conference is to:

• share information amongst those people who need to know about matters which have caused concern;
• make sure that there is as clear a picture as possible about how things are for the child or young person ans his or her family. This will include looking at strengths as well as weaknesses, the needs of the child or young person;
• consider whether or not a child or young person is at risk of significant harm, and, if so, how best to protect them;
• decide whether the name of a child or young person should be on the Child Protection Register;
• decide whether to refer a child or young person to the Children’s Reporter;
• decide whether an application should be made to the Sheriff Court for emergency protection measures;
• if a child or young person is thought to be at risk of significant harm, identify the main things that need to be done to make sure that he or she is safely cared for. The details of who needs to do what will be agreed at another meeting called a Child Protection Core Group Meeting. This will normally held within 2 weeks of the Case Conference.

What happens to the information shared at the Conference?

Those who attend the Conference will treat information about a family in strictest confidence. Information must only be shared between professionals when it is necessary for the protection of children and young people.  Any information shared by at the Case Conference could be used, for example, in a referral to the Children’s Reporter or in criminal proceedings.
A written report of the Conference will be produced and everyone invited to the Conference will be sent a copy.

What is the Legal Basis of a Case Conference?

A Case Conferences is not a legal procedure. A Conference is arranged under national child protection guidance issued by the Scottish Executive. This requires all agencies concerned about the protection of children to meet to discuss their concerns and make plans to protect children.
A Child Protection Case Conference cannot make legal decisions.  If it is thought legal decisions may be needed, the Conference may recommend that a child or young person be referred to the Children’s Reporter who decides whether there is a legal basis and a need to call a Children’s Hearing.

Do Parents or Carers attend a Child Protection Case Conference?

Yes.
Parents and carers are the most important people in their children's lives and will normally be invited to attend.  Parents or carers will be able to give helpful information about their child and family, correct any information which they think is wrong, and hear what others have to say.  There may be part of the Conference which parents or carers will not be allowed to attend. This would only be to allow staff from the agencies involved to talk about things which they may not be able to share with, e.g. private information about a third party.

Can a parent or carer  bring someone with them?

Yes.  As long as they try to let the Social Worker know before the Conference.  If a relative, friend or legal representative comes, they can speak on behalf of the parent or carer.  The Chairperson of the Conference has the final say in who can attend the conference.

Does a child or young person attend a Child Protection Case Conference?

Yes, but only if they are old enough to understand what is happening and want to attend. A social worker or other professional who knows the child or young person can help them decide whether they should attend.   
It is very important that the views of a child or young person are known to those attending the meeting. If a child or young person does not attend, then the social worker, or one of the other professionals involved can ask them if they want to write something down for the person who will chair the meeting. If they don't want to do that, then they can tell the social worker or other professional to say something on their behalf.

What if a parent or carer doesn't want to attend?

It is understandable that some people may find it too much for them to come to a Conference and may not want to be there.  If a preant or carer does not attend, the Chairperson will want to be sure that their feelings, views and wishes are taken into account.  A parent or carer can write something for the Conference themselves or you can ask someone they know will be at the Conference to write it for them and present this at the meeting.  At least one person attending the Conference will contact a parent or carer as soon as possible after the meeting to tell you what the decisions are.  They will also be sent a letter telling them the decisions of the Conference.

What is the Child Protection Register?

Every area in Scotland has Child Protection Register. It is a note of the names of children who are thought to be at risk of significant harm.  A child’s name may be placed on the Register under one or more of the following categories:

• Physical abuse;
• Physical Neglect;
• Sexual abuse;
• Failure to thrive; and
• Emotional abuse.

The category will depend on the risk of significant harm that people believe the child or young person faces..
The register is kept by a senior manager of the social work department. The Register is used to alert people who need to know, that a child or young person's situation has been considered at a Case Conference and that people are concerned about the risks of significant harm. 

What is a Child Protection Plan?

When a decision is made to place a child’s name on the Child Protection Register a “Core Group” is formed. The core group will be made up of the people who are directly involved with the child or young person. And that includes parents or carers and the child or young person if they are old enough. The job of the core group is to draw up a detailed plan that says who needs to do what, by when, so that the risks facing the child or young person can be reduced and eliminated. Everyone should work to the child protection plan. It should be used to review the progress that everyone is making towards achieving the changes that are necessary. It is also the main document that a parent or carer can use to hold professionals to account. If they are not doing what the plan says they should be doing, then a parent or carer can ask them why. Equally, the plan will say what parents or carers need to do. And if they're not doing it, the professionals can ask why.

All children on the Child Protection Register will have a Child Protection Plan. It should be updated whenever necessary. The plan will be looked at in detail at the review child protection case conference, when everyone meets again to decide whether the child or young person's name needs to remain on the child protection register.

How long will a child or young person's name be on the Child Protection Register?

That depends on how well people have achieved all the aims that are in the child protection plan.
A review case conference will be held about 4 months after a child or young person's name is first placed on the child protection register. If the risks of harm have been reduced to an minimum level by the time of this meeting, then the name will be removed from the register. If they have not, then the name name will stay on the register and another case conference will be held in about 6 months.

Further Information

Out of Office Hours – If you need to speak to someone urgently please phone
01382 436430

Children who have been abused may be able to make a claim for Criminal Injuries Compensation.  It may be suggested at the Case Conference that a claim is made.

If there is anything people do not understand about Child Protection Case Conferences or the Child Protection Register, they should speak to the Social Worker or other workers involved with a child or young person.