Overview of section

In this section the decision-making process for concluding s47 enquiries is outlined. Key to this process is establishing ‘significant harm’ and making the decision in terms of three possible S47 enquiries determinations.

These are:

1. Determination 1: concerns of significant harm are not substantiated
2. Determination 2: concerns are substantiated but the child is not at continuing risk
3. Determination 3: concerns are substantiated, and the child is judged to be experiencing or at risk of harm, abuse or neglect and a child protection conference should be convened.

The initial child protection conference follows s47 enquiries where there are concerns of continuing risk of significant harm to a child/ren - Determination 3.

Procedures, in relation to the conference include:

• Practitioner tasks
• Timing of the initial child protection conference
• Attendance
• Quoracy for the child protection conference
• Duration of conference
• Conferences for sibling groups
• Pre-birth child protection conference

The following procedures are essential to both securing child-centred practice and that the voice of the child is heard at the conference:

• Involving children in the conference.
• the role of the conference chair and social worker including:
• preparation and after the conference.
• Determining whether it is in the child’s best interests not to attend a child protection conference.

Involving parents in the child protection conference is important because they have a significant contribution to make. If this is to be effective, then practitioners should be clear about their own roles and responsibilities in:

• preparing the parent/caregiver to participate in the conference
• supporting parents or caregivers to participate in the child protection conference
• immediately prior to conference
• immediately after the conference
• follow-up
• determining whether it is in the child’s best interests for a parent to attend a child protection conference
• accommodating family members

Preparing reports for conference is essential in order to inform decision-making. This part of the Procedures outlines:

• what should be included in the social worker’s report
• contributing practitioner reports including specific information required from different agencies.
• agencies responsibilities for sharing reports with the family

The procedures relating to the initial child protection conference: process are detailed including:

• chairing the child protection conference
• the agenda
• confidentiality and the sharing of information at child protection conferences
• practitioner requests to withhold confidential information from the family
• circumstances when information must be disclosed

The decision-making process at an initial child protection conference should lead to:

• conference decision 1: child not at continuing risk of harm but may have needs for care and support

or

• Conference decision 2: the child is experiencing or at risk of harm is registered and made subject of a care and support protection plan

Process details are include:

• reaching a decision
• decision making at child protection conferences where consensus is not reached
• deferring a decision at a child protection conference

If Conference decision 2 is made the conference participants must list the child’s name on the Child Protection Register.

Procedures cover:

• placing a child’s name on the child protection register
• the consequences of placing a child’s name on the child protection register
• children looked after and registration
• accessing the register

If the child’s name is placed on the Child Protection Register then the conference participants must develop the outline care and support protection plan and the chair must identify the social worker: (care and support protection plan co-ordinator). The social worker’s role and responsibilities are detailed.

There are several other tasks for the initial child protection conference and post conference. These include managing:

• records of the child protection conference
• complaints from parents, caregivers and children about the decisions and functioning of a child protection conference