What is a pre-proceedings meeting and who will attend?

The aim of the meeting is to agree a plan. The plan should address the concerns children’s services have. And aim to avoid the need to start care proceedings.

Parents should be told in advance about who will be at the meeting.

It is likely the mother and father will be invited to the same meeting. And anyone else with parental responsibility. If there is any reason why a parent would not want to be in the same meeting as another parent or carer, their solicitor can ask for separate meetings. If there has been domestic abuse within the family a separate meeting may be appropriate.

The people who will attend the pre-proceedings meeting are:

• The parents or anyone else with parental responsibility for the child
• Their solicitor
• The social worker and their manager from children’s services
• The solicitor for children’s services
• Any interpreters or advocates supporting the parents.

Some parents may need extra help to be able to take part fully in the meeting. In that situation, children’s services should provide or arrange this. If a parent needs an interpreter, one should be provided for example.