This chapter was last reviewed in October 2025.
October 2025: This chapter was amended throughout in line with local practice.
This section explains what information should be shared at a Child Protection Conference and how it should be prepared and presented.
CONTENTS
1. What to Include in the Report
- include all children in the household under 18;
- provide a timeline of key events and professional involvement (a genogram is helpful);
- describe the child’s current and past developmental needs;
- note when and how the child was seen during the Section 47 Enquiry;
- assess the ability of parents and family to keep the child safe and meet their needs;
- include family history and current circumstances;
- share the views and feelings of the child and family;
- analyse the information to decide if the child is at risk of significant harm;
- outline a plan to meet the child’s needs;
- state whether the Local Authority recommends a Child Protection Plan.
2. Sharing the Report
- use clear, plain language that families can understand;
- share the report with parents and older children (if appropriate) at least 3 working days before an Initial Conference and 5 days before a Review Conference;
- translate the report if needed.
Children’s Social Care must provide their report in advance to all attendees, and redaction of information should only occur where there is a clear safeguarding rationale, such as risk of harm or reprisals. This must be agreed in advance and documented.
3. Input from Children and Families
Help children and families prepare what they want to contribute and how (for example, writing, drawing, audio, advocate).
4. Reports from Other Agencies
All invited agencies must provide a written report to the Conference, even if they cannot attend. Reports should be shared with relevant practitioners and family members at least three working days before an Initial Conference and five days before a Review Conference.
If the usual representative cannot attend, a well-briefed colleague should attend in their place.
Reports must be written in plain language that families can understand.
Redaction of information should only occur where there is a clear safeguarding rationale, such as risk of harm or reprisals. This must be agreed in advance and documented.
Families have a right to know what is being shared unless there is a legitimate safeguarding reason to withhold specific details.
Concerns about fabricated or induced illness (FII) should not be brought to Conference until:
- a full paediatric assessment and chronology are completed;
- a strategy meeting has determined what information can be shared;
- the case meets the threshold for significant harm.
In cases of perplexing presentations, agencies should work collaboratively to assess concerns before considering a child protection conference.
Agencies should ensure families understand the content of reports. Where English is not the first language, the use of a qualified interpreter should be considered. This helps ensure clarity, cultural sensitivity, and emotional understanding.
Written translations may be used where appropriate, but practitioners should assess whether the family has the literacy level and dialect familiarity to benefit from them. Where there is doubt, verbal interpretation should be arranged by the respective agency prior to conference. At Conference, it is the responsibly of the Lead Social Work team to arrange an interpreter. Translation of any written reports are the responsibility of each agency.
