- Home
- / Procedures
- / Managing individual cases
- / After the Initial Case Conference
- / Review Case Conference
Review Case Conference
When should a review be bought forward?
Consideration will be given to bringing forward the date of a review conference where:
- the core group believes that ending the plan should be considered
- there has been a further incident of serious harm to the child or it has not been possible to carry out a significant part of the child protection plan
- a person who is a danger to children begins to have contact with the child
- a significant change takes place which has implications, or will have implications, for the safety of the child or another child in the household
- the child moves from where they were at risk to a safer place, either with foster carers, a children's home, other family members or friends of the family.
Format of a review conference
Each review conference will:
- review the safety, health and development of the child and compare this with what was hoped for
- ensure that the child continues to be protected
- consider whether the child protection plan should continue as it is, or should be changed
- decide either that the child continues to be at risk of serious harm and should be made subject to a further child protection plan, or that their present plan should be ended.
- Interpreters should be used where the family's first language is not English, or where anyone has needs because of a disability.If it is decided that a child is no longer at risk of significant harm follow the de-registration process.
Hearing the child's voice
This is the same as for initial case conferences - more information can be found on this page, Involvement of children at conference.
Involvement of parents / carers This is the same as for initial case conferences - more information can be found on this page, Involvement of parents and carers - at conference.
A conference cannot go ahead unless there is a social worker present from services for children and young people, and at least two other professional groups or agencies that have had direct contact with the child.
Lessons from research
The enquiry into the death of Caleb Ness, who died aged 11 weeks, focused on the child protection conference about him. It was noted that the ward nurse, who was attending her first conference, did not feel able to say what she really thought, because she felt herself to be of lower status than the other professionals there. Unfortunately, she was the person who had spent most time with the parents and the child.
It is therefore important to make sure that all members of the conference, including children, young persons and parents, are taking part fully, and this should not be the sole responsibility of the chair.