Your child protection conference
This page is for you if you have been told that a child protection conference is being held for your child.
A conference can feel like one of the most daunting things you might face as a parent.
We want to help you:
- understand what a child protection conference is
- know what will happen
- feel more confident to take part and share your views
A note about how Darlington works
Darlington is changing the way child protection is delivered.
Some teams now use a new approach. In these teams Child Protection enquiries are led by a Lead Child Protection Practitioner (LCPP) and work as part of a Multi-Agency Child Protection Team (MACPT). For more information read our leaflets.
Other teams still work in the usual way. These Child Protection enquiries are led by a Social Worker, with support from an Independent Child Protection Chair (CP Chair) and their team manager. For more information read our leaflets.
Whichever team is working with your family, your rights stay the same.
At your first meeting, professionals will:
- introduce themselves
- explain their role
- tell you how they will support you
All teams will move to the new way of working by 1st April 2027.
A child protection conference is a meeting. It brings together:
- professionals who know your child and family (including your lead professional, a health worker, a teacher, and a police representative)
- you
- any family members you would like to bring
Who runs the meeting?
The meeting is led by your Lead Child Protection Practitioner (LCPP) / Child Protection Chair (CP Chair). You will usually have met them before the conference.
Their job is to make sure the meeting is fair and that your voice is heard.
At the end of the Conference, a decision will be made about the support your child or children need. This may include:
- a Child Protection Plan, if there are concerns that they are at risk of significant harm
- a Child in Need Plan, if they need some support
- other support from Darlington Children's Services, if these are more appropriate for your family's needs.
Do I have to attend?
- We encourage you to attend and want to support you to do so. If there is anything that would help you attend, please speak to your social worker / family help worker. Or you can speak to the CP Chair / LCPP.
- If you do not want to attend, you can still share your views. Talk to your social worker or the Child Protection Chair about other ways to have your views known.
- If you would like to attend but the meeting time is difficult, speak to your social worker or LCPP. They may be able to help rearrange the meeting or get help with childcare.
- A parent may not be able to attend if their presence could stop the child's needs being discussed openly, or if there may be a risk to the safety of family members or professionals. If this happens, your social worker / family help worker will help you share your views in another way.
- If there is someone you do not want to attend, please discuss this with your social worker or the LCPP. This could be a family member or a professional. The LCPP / CP Chair will make the final decision about who can attend.
- If you do not feel able to attend the conference at the same time as your ex-partner, arrangements can be made for you to join separately at different times.
What is the meeting for?
The conference is there to:
- look at all the information together
- agree what the concerns are
- decide if a child protection plan is needed
- plan what needs to happen to keep your child safe
Everyone at the conference will share their views including you. After listening to everyone, the CP Chair / LCPP will make the final decision.
If a plan is agreed, it will be placed into one of four categories:
- physical harm
- emotional harm
- sexual harm
- neglect
If the conference decides a plan is not needed you may still be recommended support. This is likely to be a Child in Need Plan.
A Child in Need Plan is voluntary which means you can choose whether or not you want to work with professionals in this way. We encourage you to take part, getting support early can help prevent concerns becoming more serious in the future.
Your Social Worker / Family Help Lead Practitioner will write a report for the conference. You have the right to see this report before the meeting:
- at least 3 working days before the first (initial) conference
- at least 5 working days before a review conference
The LCPP/ CP Chair will contact you by phone before the meeting. They may also arrange to visit you.
If there is anything in the report you do not agree with you can say so. You can write your own response.
Getting ready
It can help to think about what you want to say.
You might want to talk about:
- what is going well for your child
- anything you are worried about
- what support you think would help
Preparing in advance can make a big difference.
Before the conference
Before the conference starts the CP Chair / LCPP will:
- explain how the meeting will run
- check if there is anything sensitive that needs to be handled carefully
During the conference
You will have a chance to share your views. Many parents say they feel nervous and find it hard to say everything they want to.
It can make a real difference to:
- prepare what you want to say beforehand
- have an advocate there to support you
You can bring someone to support you. This could be:
- a friend or family member
- a solicitor (they can come, but cannot speak in the meeting)
- an advocate, we actively encourage this
Getting legal advice
You may be able to get legal aid. This could cover the cost of independent legal advice before and after the conference.
Family Rights Group [external link] or Citizens Advice [external link] can help check if you qualify.
Your child may be able to come to the conference. This depends on their age and what they want. They may be invited to attend all or part of the meeting
Sharing your child’s views
Children who are old enough should be supported to share their views.
They can do this by:
- speaking at the meeting, or
- having someone they trust to speak for them
Support for children and young people
Children and young people can get support from a free independent advocate through NYAS. This support is separate from the support available for parents. The advocate’s role is to help your child express their views and be heard
NYAS Independent Advocacy for Children and Young People
- Phone: 0808 808 1001
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: livingwell.darlington.gov.uk/Services/1059
You will be sent a written record of what was discussed and the decisions made within 20 working days
If a child protection plan is put in place
The following will happen:
-
A core group will be set up. This is a smaller group of professionals and family members. They will work together to follow the plan
-
The core group will meet within 10 working days of the first conference. Then monthly for as long as the plan is in place
-
Your Family Help Lead Practitioner will visit your child at home at least every 10 working days
-
A review conference will take place after 3 months. It will then be at least every 6 months.
If a Child Protection Plan is put in place, the following will happen:
Initial child protection conference
A core group will be set up - a smaller group of professionals and family members who will work together to follow the plan.
First core group (within 2 weeks)
The core group will meet within 10 working days of the first conference, then monthly for as long as the plan is in place.
Core group meetings (monthly)
Your Social Worker will visit your child at home at least every 10 working days.
First review conference (3 months)
A review conference will take place after 3 months. At this conference, a decision can be made for the child protection plan to end or to continue.
Continue core group meetings
Core group meetings continue at the same intervals - monthly - for as long as the plan is in place.
Second review conference (9 months)
A second review conference will take place at 9 months. At this conference, a decision can be made for the child protection plan to end or to continue.
Ongoing review conferences
Review conferences continue at least every 6 months. At each review conference, a decision can be made for the child protection plan to end or to continue.
The plan will end on the child is no longer considered to be at risk of significant harm.
This will only be decided at a review child protection conference.
You have the right:
- to be invited and to attend
- to see all reports before the meeting
- to share your views during the meeting and have them taken seriously
- to have someone with you for support, such as an advocate or supporter
- to understand what needs to change to increase the safety for your child and what actions are expected of you to achieve this.
- to understand what action professionals are taking to increase safety for your child.
- to be treated with respect, whatever your background, race, religion, or disability
- to receive a written record of the conference within 20 working days
- to challenge decisions if you do not agree with them
- to get advice independently from the social work team by emailing [email protected].
- to make a formal complaint if you feel the process was unfair
Safety and respect
It is important that everyone in the meeting gets a chance to speak and that they are shown respect. The chair will explain before the meeting starts that aggressive behaviour of any kind will not be tolerated, nor will offensive remarks. If this happens the chair will ask the person concerned to stop and they may even be asked to leave the meeting or the chair may end the meeting altogether.
Confidentiality
Everything this is said in the meeting is confidential. Information will only be shared outside the meeting with those involved in helping your children.
If you are worried about what information is going to be shared, please ask the chair or your social worker to explain the rules regarding this. None of the information about your family will be shared with members of the public.