Initial Child Protection Conferences - basics
All practitioners are referred to paragraphs 5.80 to 5.100 inclusive of “Working Together to Safeguard Children” as amended in 2006. Also to consider the place of the Conference in the procedure for safeguarding the child. (See Flow Diagrams)
A Child Protection Conference will not be in quorum unless there are present:
- the Social Worker;
- representatives of two other professional groups or agencies concerned with safeguarding and promoting the welfare of the child and having direct contact;
- a Conferencing and Reviewing Officer provided through the Safeguarding Advisory Service to chair the meeting and
- a Minute Taker.
In very exceptional circumstances an Initial Conference may be considered in quorum when fewer than the above are present. The Chair, if necessary in consultation with the Principal Officer (Child Protection), will decide on this question. The over-riding concern will be to safeguard and promote the welfare of the child who is the subject of the Conference. The decision to proceed will be recorded as part of the minute of the Conference or Review Conference.
Paragraph 5.82 and 5.83 of “Working Together to Safeguard Children” gives advice on the range of people who may have a relevant contribution to make. The Social Worker, in consultation with a manager, will decide to whom invitations will be offered and will use Internal Procedures, available on the Council's intranet, to make appropriate arrangements.
The policy on the use of audio recording in child protection settings can be found in the document library of these procedures.