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Initial Child Protection Case Conferences (ICPCC)
The conference should analyse the information available to make a decision about whether any of the children in the household are suffering or likely to suffer significant harm and whether a child protection plan is required (even if concerns are only being expressed about one child).
If the child or one of the children being taken to conference is not yet born, they should still be considered.
When should a pre-birth conference be held
An initial conference should also be held when:
- a previous child has died or been removed from the person's care as a result of significant harm
- there are children in the family or household who are subject to a CP Plan.
- a person who is a risk to children lives in the house or visits regularly.
Following the initial conference
Where it is agreed that a plan is required a key worker (a social worker from the Assessment and Intervention Team) is to be identified as the key worker and a core group should be formed to develop and monitor the child protection plan.
Actions
1. | Agreement that case should be taken to initial case conference | Unit Manager (first line social work manager) | On completion of s35 enquiries |
2. | Conference to be booked | Social worker | Within one working day of above decision |
3. | Invites to be sent out for conference | Quality Assurance Service | ***Timescale required*** |
4. | The reasons for the conference, the process of conference and what a child protection plan means to be explained to parents / those with parental responsibility. Discussion to take place about whether the family need to make alternative child care arrangements | Social worker | Within five working days of decision to take case to conference |
5. | Report for conference to be completed and sent to manager for countersigning | Social worker | Four working days before conference |
6. | Report to be countersigned by manager | Unit manager (first line social work manager) | Three working days before conference |
7. | Report to be shared with parents / those with parental responsibility and child (where appropriate) | Social worker | Two working days before conference |
8. | Report to be sent to conference chair | Social worker / Business support | One working day before conference |
9. | Attendance at conference | Social worker and Unit manager (first line social work manager) | Day of conference |