Strategy discussion (meeting)

A strategy discussion is also called a strategy meeting. It takes place between a social worker and other agencies when they are worried a child may be suffering significant harm. Or if they suspect a child is likely to suffer significant harm.

Examples of practitioners who may be at a strategy meeting include police, a child’s teacher, health visitor, a parent’s mental health worker.

The aim of the meeting is to decide whether to start child protection enquiries. If enquiries are to start the meeting will decide:

• If the enquiries will be done by children’s services
• If the enquiries should be done jointly by children’s services and the police
• If jointly, who will lead the enquiries – the police or children’s services.

The meeting will agree if any immediate steps need to be taken to keep the child safe.

Parents are not normally invited to a strategy discussion. But they should be told soon afterwards what the plan is for the child, as long as this does not cause any risk to the child.