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Please read the following section if you are a parent or carer involved in a Child Protection Conference. It contains essential information that may help you:
THE CHILD PROTECTION CONFERENCE
A Child Protection Conference is a meeting where people talk about your child. This is done because something has happened which makes them worried about your child. An information leaflet is available to download here ' The Child Protection Conference and Child Protection Plan' and for young people 'Information for Young People Attending a child Protection Conference'
The first meeting is called the Initial Conference, and Doctors, Social Workers, Health Visitors, Teachers and Police might be there.
At the first meeting all the people there will talk about what they know about your child and decide how best to help.
HOW WILL I KNOW WHAT IS SAID AT THE CONFERENCE?
You can go to this meeting.
Sometimes you might not be able to stay for the whole of the meeting but your Social Worker will make sure that everyone knows what you think.
You will also be given the opportunity to speak to the person in charge of the meeting (the Chair) before it starts and (s)he will make sure that you are able to say what you want during the meeting.
Your Social Worker will have written a report for the meeting about why they are worried about your child. (S)he will give you a copy and talk to you before you go to the meeting.
They will help you to think about what you might want to say to the people at the meeting.
You can bring somebody with you to these meetings to help and support you or you might want an Advocate to talk for you. Further information about Advocates and Supporters is included later in this section.
When the meeting has decided what will happen, someone will talk to you to make sure you understand and you will also get something in writing to say what has been decided.
What might happen is that your child is made subject to a Child Protection Plan. Children who are made subject to a Child Protection Plan are children who are believed to be at risk of harm.
If your child is made subject to a Child Protection Plan this is done to try to make sure that no harm comes to your child and that you get all the help you need to care for and look after your child.
Information about children who are subject to a Child Protection Plan is strictly confidential.
WHAT IF THE CONFERENCE DECIDES TO MAKE MY CHILD SUBJECT TO A CHILD PROTECTION PLAN?
If the Conference decides to make your child subject to a child protection plan, the plan will make sure your child is safe and that you get any help you need.
This Child Protection Plan will set out what help will be offered and who will do what. It will include things like when a Social Worker or Health Visitor will need to see you and your child. It may also say things that you need to do, for instance attending hospital or looking for somewhere to live.
After 3 months another meeting called the Review Meeting will be help. Many of the people who were at the first meeting will be there and they will talk about what has happened since they last met. They will decide whether or not your child still needs to be subject to a child protection plan. If the people at this meeting decide they are no longer worried about your child, your child will no longer be subject to a child protection plan, but if they are still worried, the child protection plan will stay in place.
Between these two big meetings smaller meetings will be held which are called Core Group Meetings.
All the people involved with you and your child will be at these smaller meetings and will make sure that everything is being done to help you and your child and that the Child Protection Plan is being followed.
If you want to complain about what is happening at a Conference you can talk to your Social Worker who will also explain things to you. You can also write to:
Principal Officer, Child Protection 2/3 Burleigh Court, Burleigh Street, Barnsley, S70 1XY
Telephone: 01226-772400
The government has set out clear rules about how all this should happen and Barnsley will follow these rules.
CHOOSING SOMEONE TO GO TO THE CHILD PROTECTION CONFERENCE WITH YOU.
Reasons why you might want someone to go to the meeting with you:
you can bring someone with you to either support you or speak for you. If you decide to bring someone to speak for you, this person is called an Advocate. Someone who comes with you to support you cannot speak for you.
There are two leaflets available to download 'Choosing someone to go to the Child Protection Conference with you' and 'Helping someone attanding a Child Protection Conference'
WHO CAN BRING SOMEONE TO THE MEETING?
If any other family members want to have a supporter they will need to ask the Chair of the meeting.
WHO YOU MIGHT CHOOSE TO GO WITH YOU TO SUPPORT YOU
The person can come to the meeting with you but is not able to speak for you. They can help you to speak for yourself.
If you would prefer to bring an Advocate with you to the meeting, then that person can speak for you.
WHO WILL NOT BE ABLE TO COME WITH YOU TO SUPPORT YOU.
When you choose someone to come with you to support you, you need to be sure that:
WHY YOU MIGHT WANT AN ADVOCATE
You might want to have an Advocate (someone who can speak for you) to help you take part in the meeting and help you understand what is happening.
YOU SHOULD HAVE AN ADVOCATE WITH YOU IF...
WHO MIGHT YOU CHOOSE AS AN ADVOCATE?
You will usually meet your Advocate before the meeting. You and your supporter or Advocate will also usually meet the Chair of the meeting before it starts.
If you want to know anything else you can talk to your Social Worker who will explain what is happening. Or you can contact the Safeguarding Children's Unit on (01226) 772400.
Contact the Barnsley Safeguarding Children Board :safeguardingchildrenboard@barnsley.gov.uk
This page was last updated on the 4th of September 2007 and is scheduled for review on or before the 4th of September 2008
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