Child Protection Conference (CPC) - Action checklist for social workers and managers

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This document is based on Government guidance and Wiltshire LSCB procedures, and details the various action points required by social workers, their managers and the conference service when arranging an Initial and Review Child Protection Conference (CPC).

Arranging an initial child protection conference
1.  Strategy discussions make decision to convene a Child Protection (CP) conference (manager inputs strategy discussion onto CareFirst with this date, & CPC must be held within 15 working days).
2.  Social worker contacts CP coordinator or CP secretary to request a CPC and agree a date, time and venue.  Risks should be summarised.  Invitees discussed / invitation list emailed to social worker.  Invite list to be completed with the relevant contact details and returned to CP secretary within 24 hours. Social worker must provide all the relevant details i.e. dates of birth (inc. parents), home address, date of strategy discussion.  It should be made clear to the CP secretary whether an advocate is required or not.

Between the strategy discussion and the initial CP conference
1.  Social worker to continue with Core Assessment to assess further the level of risk.  The social worker should try to gain an understanding of the child’s wishes and feelings and see the child (3/5yrs+) alone.
2.  Social worker to collate information from Sec 47 investigation, files, and other agencies and complete Initial Child Protection Conference social worker’s report on Carefirst.  The initial plan on Carefirst should also be updated and ready for the conference.

Between 5 and 2 working days before the initial CP conference
1.  Social worker visits family and shares report, initial plan with parents and child if 10+ Social worker explains to parents and child/ren the following: a)  Purpose of conference (to decide if multi-agency CP plan is needed to protect child) b)  Who will attend - inc child if 10 yrs+ c)  How it works (Agenda items - i. Info sharing, ii. Assessment of risk, iii. Decision re registration, iv. Recommendations re core group etc.) d).  Advocacy service (automatic referral) children 5yrs+ will be offered advocacy service e).  Need for family to arrive 30 mins before CPC to see Chair (social worker needs to ensure they know how to get to the CPC). f).  Explore child-care arrangements for younger children with the family.  If there is no-one within the family or friendship network who can safely care for the child/ren during CPC then other appropriate child-care arrangements should be made by the social worker.
2.  Social Worker includes the parents’ and child’s views on their report to conference and then requests a manager to authorise the report.  The Manager should also check the initial plan.
3.  Two days at the latest before the CPC, sSocial worker ensures that the report and initial plan are available for the Chair to read.

Within 15 working days of strategy discussion
1.  CONFERENCE HELD, and if child/ren made subject(s) of child protection plans, date & venue agreed for 1st multi-agency Core Group Meeting (by 10 days) & Review CPC (3 months).  Core Assessment should be completed within 35 days of starting date.

Actions leading up to a review child protection conference

At least 7 working days before the review conference
1.  Social worker completes the actual outcome boxes in the ‘Needs’ section of the Child Protection Plan.  The pre- review section should also be completed.
2.  Social worker completes their report for conference.
3.  Social worker shares the updated CP plan and report with the family and record the child’s and parent’s views on the plan and report.

At least 5 working days before the review conference
1.  Social worker requests manager to authorise the report and to check the CP plan.

At least 2 working days before the review conference
1.  The social worker’s report and updated CP plan are authorised and available for the Chair to read.

List of invitees to a CP conference

NB:  Those with an asterisk * will be automatically invited to every initial & review conference where appropriate - i.e. school, if child school aged etc.

Family: *Child's parents/ carers *Child/ren subject to CPC age 10+ (children age 5+ will be invited to give their views using the Advocacy Service) *Advocate (Barnardo's) *Other family members	Wiltshire Council: *Social worker *Team manager/ assistant team manager Resource centre worker LA solicitor Other council services, e.g. Adult/ transport/ leisure services
Health: *GP *Health visitor (if under 5)/Health visitor supervisor *Midwife Supervisor of Midwives *Consultant paediatrician *Community paediatrician *Named nurse for child protection *School nurse/s	School/Nursery Personnel: *School representative for each child (if nursery/school age) *Nursery/Playgroup *Education Welfare Officer/s
Police: *CPU DVU Other police	Additional agencies/specialists: Probation Voluntary organisations - e.g. NSPCC, Splitz, Barnardos, Refuge etc. Army Welfare Service Housing

Oct 2009 (review Oct 2010)

Last updated: 16 November 2010