Chairs have a statutory function to chair child protection conferences independent of case management within DCST. Core functions, tasks and responsibilities of the chair are: • To ensure that the conference and associated activity is child focused and the safeguarding.
What is the role of a child protection conference chair?
Child Protection Conference Chairs are responsible for ensuring Local Authority Child Protection Plans are robustly implemented, reviewed and progressed, to ensure timely outcomes for children, young people and their families.
What happens at a child protection conference?
The conference will hear information about the family and concerns which have been expressed. There will be a discussion about whether or not the child is at risk of significant harm and whether the child should be placed on a ‘child protection plan’.
What is the difference between a child in need and child protection?
A child in need plan operates under section 17 of The Children Act 1989 and doesn’t have statutory framework for the timescales of the intervention. … A child protection plan operates under section 47 of The Children Act 1989, and happens when a child is regarded to be suffering, or likely to suffer, significant harm.
How do I prepare for a child protection conference?
Make sure you know who is likely to attend the conference (ask your child’s social worker to explain who will be there). Ask your social worker to provide you with a copy of their written report about your child, well before the conference. Ask the social worker questions about the report if you need to.
What does a child protection plan do?
Ensure that each child in the household is safe and prevent them from suffering further harm; Promote the child’s welfare, health and development; Provided it is in the best interests of the child, to support the family and wider family members to safeguard and promote the welfare of their child.
What should you avoid if a child makes a disclosure?
Don’t:
- promise confidentiality.
- ask leading or probing questions.
- investigate.
- repeatedly question or ask the girl to repeat the disclosure.
- discuss the disclosure with people who do not need to know.
- delay in reporting the disclosure to the Safeguarding team.
What is a Section 47 in child protection?
A Section 47 enquiry means that CSC must carry out an investigation when they have ‘reasonable cause to suspect that a child who lives, or is found, in their area is suffering, or is likely to suffer, significant harm’1. … The aim is to decide whether any action should be taken to safeguard the child.
Can you refuse a child in need plan?
Specialist Children’s Services works with children in need and their families on the basis of consent. … If parents refuse consent after the Social Worker has made sure that they have been given full information about the benefits of assessment and support, this refusal should be accepted and recorded.
Social work professionals are also setting up fake social media accounts to spy on parents and children. … The Law allows government investigators including social workers to view a citizen’s social media accounts once, but thereafter requires the actor to get permission for repeat viewing or continued surveillance.
How long is a child protection plan?
Usually a child will require a child protection plan for no longer than two years. By that stage the work undertaken with the family usually means that the child is no longer at risk. In a small number of cases where there is no improvement, it may be necessary for the court to become involved.
How long do child protection orders last?
The local authority must return the child to the parent as soon as it appears safe to do so. They must review the case every day to make sure the parents and child are not separated for longer than is needed. However, an emergency protection order can last for up to eight days.