After the Initial Child Protection Conference
In cases where there is agreement by the Conference that a child is suffering, or is likely to suffer significant harm, a Core Group is formed. The Core group is a Team Around the Child (TAC) with the only differences being that it will form and implement a child protection plan and usually have a social worker as lead professional. The key social worker is responsible for convening the Core Group within 10 working days of the Conference and leading it thereafter.The Core Group meets in order to develop the detailed child protection plan which the Conference has outlined. The Core Group membership includes the child (if appropriate) and the family members identified during the Conference, as well as professionals with front line practice responsibilities.
In exceptional cases, where there is no allocated social worker, the Core Group must continue to function. The members of that Core Group must keep under review their progress in promoting the child protection plan and decide whether they can continue to function in the social worker's absence. Any member of that group may request the calling of a Review Conference at any time by contacting the Conference and Reviewing Officer who chaired the previous Conference or the Principal Officer (Tel: 01952 385678). If a Review Conference is called in this way and there is still no allocated social worker, the Team Manager concerned will attend the Conference.
The Chair of the Conference is responsible for the production and circulation of minutes according to the time scale set in the Children's Services' policy "Arranging Child Protection Conferences".
The key social worker is responsible for seeking to obtain the agreement of the child to the protection plan in a manner appropriate to their age and understanding and to ensure that they have a copy of the plan written in their preferred language and in a style which is comprehensible to them.
The key social worker will make sure that parents understand:
- the causes for concern which have led to the plan being formed,
- what needs to change to safeguard and promote the child's welfare,
- what they need to do to fulfil their part of the plan and
- what are the parameters for the plan being completed.
This will be carried out in the parents’ preferred language and in style which they fully understand.
Recording will be undertaken by each worker in accordance with their agency procedures and in accordance with paragraph 5.141 to 5.143 and 5.149 to 5.152 of “Working Together to Safeguard Children”.