Child care conference

[SM1970]

Hello all, I'm a parent attending a child care conference in a couple of days. I've just been given the social workers report.

How much opportunity do parents get to speak at these? For example is it worth me writing a report of my own to read out with my points on the issues being raised? Or do I just get to answer questions from the other speakers?

Do they take into consideration what parents have to say or does the chair reach a decision based purely on the professional points of view?

Also on the report under outline plan it states 'consideration for Public Law Outline if parents do not engage with local authority', yet the report states in several places that I have engaged fully with them and been totally cooperative. My wife however has refused to speak to SS. Are they likely to go for a PLO when one parent is engaging with them?

[Suzie, FRG Adviser]

Dear SM1970

Welcome to the Family Rights Group Parents’ Discussion Forum.

My name is Suzie and I am an Adviser at Family Rights Group.

I note your concern about the involvement of Children Services with your family. As you are about to attend an Initial Child Protection Conference, Children Services have carried out child protection enquiries and concluded that your child or children have suffered harm and are at risk of significant harm in the future.

To address your specific question as to whether you will be able to speak at the conference, the answer is you will be given an opportunity to do so. If there are any factual inaccuracies the report prepared by the social worker, you should point these out and ask for these to be corrected prior to the conference. If there are issues in the report that you wish to comment on there is no reason why you cannot make a note of these and present it at the conferences. I should explain, however, that you cannot change the opinions expressed by the social worker.
I am including a copy of our advice sheet relating to child protection procedures for your information. You will find an explanation of the how the conference will be conducted at page 15. Also included here is a film of an initial child protection conference which will give you a better idea of what to expect.

It is really helpful that you are cooperating with Children Services and you should encourage your wife to do the same. Is there any particular reason why your wife is choosing not to cooperate? Usually, working openly and honestly with Children Services is the way to get the best outcome for your family.

Regarding the decision making at the child protection conference, each professional will be asked at the end of the discussions whether the child or children should be on child protection plans or child in need plan. If there is a split then it will be for the Chair to decide as to which plan he or she believes to be more appropriate.

As far as PLO (Public Law Outline) is concerned, Children Services always give notice that this process could be triggered if a child protection plan is not followed. If you wife fails to cooperate and she is considered to be in any way a risk to the children, then Children Services may wish you to be the protective factor for the children, this could in some circumstances mean separation. The process would be for you to be issued with a letter informing you of their intention to commence court proceedings. A PLO meeting would be arranged and you are entitled to have a solicitor attend with you. The purpose of the meeting is to set out what Children Services expects to be done or not done to stop the court process starting. A time frame will usually be set for things to change.

I hope you will find this information helpful but if you wish to speak to an Adviser, please telephone our advice line on 0808 801 0366. The advice line is open from 9.30 a.m. to 3.00 Monday to Friday.

Best wishes

Suzie