What is the child protection review conference?

When a child's name has been placed on the Kent child protection register and a child protection plan is agreed and implemented, progress and continued risk of abuse or neglect will be reviewed regularly by a child protection review conference.

The first review will be held within three months of the initial child protection conference and registration and then at minimum intervals of six months all the time that a child's name remains on the register. Members of the Core Group responsible for the child protection plan will report to the review conference on the plan's implementation and progress. Parents and carers will be invited to participate in the review conference. Children who are subjects of the review may also participate if they wish and if they are of sufficient maturity to benefit. If they are not present, the views of parents or carers and of registered children will be sought and reported to the review.

The need for the child's name to remain on the child protection register will be assessed at each review conference. The decision will depend on the progress of the child protection plan and an assessment of the continued risk of significant harm to the child.

If the review conference decides that registration should continue, a new outline child protection plan will be agreed or the existing plan will be confirmed. The Core Group will be responsible for agreeing details of the plan and for ensuring its implementation.

If the review conference decides there is no longer a risk of significant harm to the child, it will direct that the child's name be removed from the child protection register. This does not mean that services for the child and family will necessarily be discontinued. If there is continued need, services will be provided by individual agencies or as part of an agreed child in need plan.

All child protection review conferences will be conducted in accordance with the requirements of Section 15 of the Kent & Medway Safeguarding Children Procedures 2007.