Child protection FAQ

Below are the frequently asked questions concerning child protection.

For more information you can also download our Safe Parenting Handbook (PDF 3MB).

Contact us

Telephone 01922 658170
Website www.wlscb.org.uk/cpprocedures.htm

What is child protection?

The council has a duty to investigate any concerns they have about a child whenever they have reason to suspect harm.

The investigation will be undertaken by a social worker and a police officer. Usually the investigation takes place when there are concerns that one or more of the following may be happening:-

Physical Abuse: Physical injuries to a child which are not accidental.
Sexual Abuse: Sexual abuse by adults or other young people.
Emotional Abuse: Emotional ill treatment or rejection of children which affects their emotional and behavioural development.
Neglect: Failure to provide appropriate care and attention to the child's needs, including health, food and a safe environment.

Additionally, investigations are undertaken when a person who has previously harmed a child becomes involved with a family.

What is an investigation?

An investigation includes gathering information from a number of sources including yourselves and your child. A police officer and social worker may ask to talk to you, your child and other members of your household or anyone else who can add relevant information about your circumstances.

Do I have the right to refuse?

Yes you do, but if the police and children's services are unable to confirm the safety of the child without completing a full investigation they may have to take the matter before a court. The court can direct the investigation to proceed if it is in the child's best interests.

Walsall Council is committed to working with parents in partnership and aim to do this with their full co-operation, even though they may have to face up to some very difficult issues.

What happens when the investigation is complete?

The investigating social worker and police officer discuss the information gathered with their managers who then decide if there are outstanding child protection issues.

If there are, children's services will arrange an initial child protection conference to discuss the matter more fully. In the meantime, children's services have a duty to ensure the child is protected.

If there are no outstanding child protection issues, this is the end of the investigation but you may be offered support services and advice, if appropriate.

What is a child protection conference?

A child protection conference is a meeting orginised by children's services on behalf of the Walsall Safeguarding Children Board. The conference is known as an initial child protection conference if it is the first conference held on a child. Those who attend are professional people; some you may know, others you may not.

The aim of this meeting is to bring professionals together to share information.

At the conference we may discuss information that is sensitive and would not normally be shared between professionals. However this is often necessary to make sure the child is safe.

The information shared must not be used for any other purpose and should only be shared by people involved with the child's protection.

Can parents / carers and children attend the child protection conference?

Yes, they will be invited to attend and participate in the conference. In rare circumstances they may be excluded because:-

The person who has allegedly harmed the child has not been interviewed by the police.
Medical evidence has not yet been divulged to the parents/carers.
Legal advice is confidential to the agencies involved and not appropriate to be shared with parents/carers.
The chair may exclude on the basis that violence is anticipated.

Parents and carers may wish to bring a supporter; who may be a relative, friend or legal representative; the role of supporter will be confirmed at the conference.

Generally it is expected that a young child will not attend the conference; however, the child's views will be represented by the social worker and/or an appropriate advocate.

What decisions and recommendations can a child protection conference make?

The only decisions a conference can make are:

Whether or not a child should be subject to a child protection plan.
To appoint a social worker to work with the child and family (known as the key worker).
To set a date for futher conference and core group meeting.

Recommendations will be made about a child protection plan which is designed to keep the child protected and assess any risk to the child.

The conference may decide that your child is not at risk. In these circumstances it may still be of benefit to offer services. The child protection conference can make recommendations about what kind of services might help.

Can I contribute my views?

You will be invited to attend the conference half an hour before the professionals arrive. This is to provide you with an opportunity to meet with the chairperson, who will explain the process of the meeting and answer any questions you may have about this.

What if I do not agree with the decisions / recommendations?

You can express your disagreement with the decision of whether or not to make your child subject to a child protection plan at the child protection conference. This will be recorded. You will also be sent a form to complete if you wish for futher consideration of the issues.

If you are dissatisfied with any other aspects of the the service during the investigation, you can make your representations/complaints through the local authority's complaints procedure. The telephone number of the customer care team is 01922 650487.

What is a Child Protection Plan?

Children’s services in every local authority keep a list of children who have a child protection plan. The list contains the names, ages and addresses of all members of the household and the reason the child protection plan is necessary. People whose job it is to care for children can get information from the list, but proper care is taken to check that all enquiries are genuine.

An outline child protection plan will be drawn up at conference. Children who have a child protection plan are considered to be in need of protection. This includes protection from physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse and neglect. The plan will detail the main areas of concern, what action will be taken to reduce those concerns, how the child will be kept safe, and how we will know when progress is being made.

A core group of people usually including the social worker and other professionals (such as staff from health and education) will need to meet within ten days of the initial conference to draw up a detailed child protection plan. Parents will be asked to contribute to this work. The core group will decide how to monitor the plan and how often they will meet.

The first review conference will be held within three months of the initial child protection conference. After that a review must be held every six months. When a review conference is held it must consider whether it is necessary for the child to continue to have a child protection plan.

Discontinuing a Child Protection Plan

A child will no longer have a child protection plan when the professionals and carers can show conference that they have been able to work together to reduce the risk of further harm.

A child’s plan is also discontinued when they move to another authority and that authority agree to work with the family, or when the child reaches 18.

Links

Initial response team
Quest Building
139-143 Lichfield Street
Walsall WS1 1SE
Telephone 01922 658170

Review and child protection unit
The Hollies
10 Lichfield Road
Walsall WS4 2DH
Telephone 01922 646640

Children's legal centre
Telephone 01206 873820 - advice line
Telephone 01206 874026

Family rights group
Telephone 0800 731 1696 - advice line