Information for parents, carers and families

If anyone - for example, a neighbour, a teacher, a doctor - has concerns about a child or children, they can ask Children and Families Social Care to find out what is happening. By law we have a duty to look into every case that we are told about or investigate when a child has been harmed or is in danger of being harmed. 

We make enquires and if we think it is necessary, a social worker visits you. If the social worker believes that your child/children is likely to be at risk of injury, abuse or neglect we have to decide what should be done about it. One way of doing this is to bring together people who have information about what is happening- to hold a 'Child Protection Conference'. 

A Child Protection Conference is arranged when there has been a child protection enquiry or social workers have become increasingly worried about your child's safety. 

A Child Protection Conference is a meeting that a number of people including you and your family are invited to attend and where information is shared to see if your child is at risk of significant harm. Significant harm is serious and may be continuing or may happen again. 

The conference has one main task which is to decide if your child needs a child protection plan to safeguard them.