Watch this video explaining what a Child Protection Conference is

The views expressed in this video are those of young people and not that of YAP or Brighton and Hove City Council.

Sometimes parents may have a difficult time in looking after you in the best way possible. If social services are worried about the way you are being looked after and think that extra help might be useful they might arrange a child protection conference.

Who will be there?

At this meeting people will get together to share information and talk about what is best for you and your care. That could include:

• Your parents
• An Independent Reviewing Officer (IRO)
• A social worker
• A health visitor
• A police officer
• A teacher from your school
• Your Doctor

These people will talk about any concerns they have about your care and work out a way they can best help you and your family.

How can you have a say?

It’s really important that you get to pass on your wishes and feelings about what you think is best for you and this can be done in different ways. You might be able to go to some of the meeting if you wanted to pass on your thoughts and wishes. You may want to write things down to be read out. Or make a video to be shown. An advocate can help you pass on your message in a way that suits you best.

After the meeting…

The people at the meeting will then decide if they think it is best for you to have a child protection plan.

A child protection plan will then be written. This plan will include all the things that are needed to keep you safe and give you the best care. This means that a social worker will be involved in your family to support your parents to care for you in the best way possible.