These pages offer some basic information and advice about Child Protection Conferences.

If you are a parent or carer and a conference is being held about your child, additional information leaflets are available by contacting WDSCB - see the 'Contact Us' link.  

• A Child Protection Conference is a meeting of family members and people who work with your family. These may include social workers, health visitors, nursery workers, headteachers and police officers. A Child Protection Conference is a meeting that decides whether a plan of action needs to be made to keep your child safe.
  
  
• The Child Protection Conference will consider all the information available and then decide if your child is in need of or is likely to need protection in the future. If so, they will be subject to the Child Protection Plan and put on this list.
  
  
• Parents are usually invited and encouraged to attend the conference because it is important that your views are listened to and that you are involved in any plan to protect your child. However, there are some cases when parents are not allowed to attend. To find out more about this contact the Wakefield District Safeguarding Board.
  
  
• Your child may be invited to the conference, it is up to the chairperson to decide if it is in your child's best interest to attend and this will depend on your child's age and understanding of what is happening.
  
  
• You will have the opportunity to share your views in the meeting. If you have something to say, waiting until everyone has finished speaking and then ask the chairperson if it is your turn to speak.
  
  
• You have the opportunity to take a friend or advisor (such as a solicitor) to support you at the meeting.
  
  
• People attending the meeting will have prepared reports and a copy will be given to everyone at the meeting to read.
  
  
• At the end of the conference it may be recommended that your child's name is placed on the Child Protection Plan list. The conference can also recommend what sort of help your family may need to keep your child safe.
  
  
• Although the only decision a conference can make is whether the child would be subject to the Child Protection Plan. There are occasions when it may be recommended that Family Services should apply for a court order to protect a child when it is felt that the risk is very high.

If you have any questions about a conference that is planned for your child ask your social worker. Your social worker will show you their report before the meeting, if they haven't - ask!