Dear SA**,
Wecome to the Parents Forum. I am sorry to hear about the difficulties your son’s family have experienced.
The police were mistaken to advise your son that he could now get in touch with his partner and children. I assume they were referring to bail conditions being lifted once they had decided they did not have enough evidence to prosecute your son. Instead, they should have advised him to check with children services. Has your son let the social worker know what the police advised him?
Had the social worker also told the family in writing that they could not be in touch with each other?
Your question is about what happens at a child protection conference.
Here is some information about
child protection conferences and
FAQ’s that he may find helpful.
Because the risks of harm to the children relate to allegations of domestic violence, it is possible that the conference will be split into two sections to keep mum and dad separate.
Your son should receive the social worker’s written report before the conference. He needs to check through and amend any errors and make sure his views as dad are reflected in the report. Or if this is not possible, due to time pressures, he needs to make sure that he lets the chairperson who manages the conference his response to the report.
Your son may want the support of a solicitor or an advocate to assist him at the conference.
At the conference, which will probably last about an hour to 2 hours, the professionals invited, will share information about the family.
At the end of the conference, the chair person will sum up the evidence and ask the professionals to vote on whether or not they suspect the children may have suffered significant harm or have been placed at risk of harm and whether the risk is ongoing. If they decide that it is, a child protection plan will be prepared in respect of any child who is considered to be at risk. The plans will last up to 12 weeks and will be reviewed at a further conference.
Here is information about
child protection plans ..
If the conference decides that the children are not at an ongoing risk, they may suggest that there be a child in need plan (with the parent’s consent) or no plan at all.
I hope this advice and information helps. Please post back if you have any questions.
Best wishes,
Suzie