Meetings and conferences

Meetings are where plans are made, checked and changed. They can feel like an ambush, especially the first time. A bit of preparation makes a big difference, and so does knowing you're allowed to say "I need to check that."

Which meeting is it?

• Review or planning meetings: for children on a Family HelpFamily Help. The coordinated approach described in Working Together 2026, bringing targeted early help and section 17 support into a more seamless offer through a family help plan and named lead practitioner. Local arrangements… or Child in NeedChild in Need (CIN) / section 17. A child who is unlikely to achieve or maintain a reasonable standard of health or development without services; whose health or development is likely to be significantly or further impaired without services; or who… plan. Usually less formal, and chaired by your child's lead practitionerLead practitioner. The named professional who coordinates support and keeps the family’s plan under review. or social worker.
• Initial child protection conferenceInitial Child Protection Conference (ICPC). Multi-agency meeting that decides whether a Child Protection Plan is needed.: decides whether a Child Protection PlanChild Protection Plan. A formal multi-agency plan to reduce the risk of significant harm. is needed. Bigger and more formal. It should normally happen within 15 working days of the strategy discussionStrategy discussion. Multi-agency discussion (usually without parents) to plan section 47 enquiries and immediate safety..^[9]
• Core groupCore Group. The smaller group (including parents and key professionals) that turns the conference outline into detailed action and reviews progress. meetings: smaller, more frequent meetings between you, the social worker and key professionals to check progress on a Child Protection Plan. The first should be within 10 working days of the initial conference.^[9]
• Review conferences: the full chaired meeting where a Child Protection Plan is reviewed, and can be stepped up, stepped down or ended. The first is within three months, then at least every six months.

Who's likely to be there

It might include the social worker, a safeguarding lead from your child's school, a health visitor or other health professional, a family support worker and sometimes the other parent. Not everyone goes to every meeting.

Child protection conferences are usually chaired by someone independent of your case, not your child's social worker. They may also include police, a GP or a paediatrician.

If you're not sure who will be there, ask beforehand. It's a reasonable question, and Working Together says parents should be told.^[1]

All parents and anyone with parental responsibilityParental responsibility. The legal rights, duties and authority a parent has in relation to a child. It does not on its own guarantee a set amount of time with the child. should normally be invited to a child protection conference, including a dad who doesn't live with his child. If you're told you can't attend, see Your rights as a father.

Before the meeting

A few days before, ask for the current plan and any reports that will be discussed. For a conference, ask when you will see the social worker's report, and whether you can bring a supporter or advocate.

The night before, give yourself half an hour. Make one page of notes:

• what has got better for your child
• what's still difficult or unsafe
• which actions or promised support haven't happened
• what your child needs next

Pick two or three clear examples. Don't stay up all night trying to answer every sentence. Get your notebook or laptop and charger ready, then stop and try to sleep. You will think more clearly if you're rested.

Recording the meeting

What the guidance says

The Family Justice Council published guidance on recordings in 2025. It recommends that local authorities and other agencies have clear policies on when meetings can be recorded openly, with everyone's agreement. It notes that agreeing to recordings can help where trust between parents and professionals has broken down.^[21]

It also says recording shouldn't become the default, and doesn't replace professionals' own notes and minutes. Many local authorities now have a policy, so ask to see yours.

Record openly, not secretly

Ask first and record openly. The same guidance warns that secret recordings cause problems:

• Data protection law can apply once a recording is used outside your own home life, such as in meetings with professionals or in court.
• A court may not accept a secret recording as evidence. Arguing about it takes time and money, and how you made it can count against you.
• Secretly recording your children is very rarely in their interests, and a court may see it as a welfare concern in itself.
• Recording a court hearing is never allowed and can be contempt of court.^[21]

Keep it private

Don't publish or share a recording, including on social media. It contains confidential information about your child and other people.^[12] If you think it's needed as evidence, talk to your solicitor first.

If recording isn't agreed, ask whether a supporter can take notes, and ask when the minutes will be sent.

If the other parent is there

Don't let it turn into an argument or a point-scoring match. Speak to the meeting, not to the other parent. Stay calm and keep coming back to your child and the plan.

If being in the room together would make it hard or unsafe for you to take part, raise it with the chair beforehand. You can ask to attend separately.

When you're put on the spot

You may be asked to agree something there and then. Don't guess, and don't agree just because you feel pressured. If you're unsure, or your answer could affect your legal position or arrangements for your child, say you need to check or take advice, and give a realistic date.

If you're asked whether you finished a course or an action, don't just say yes. Say what you learned, what you do differently now and what's changed for your child.

Before it ends

Read back what you understand has been agreed: each action, who's doing it and by when. Ask when you will get the minutes and the updated, dated plan.

Afterwards, send a short email confirming your understanding. Then put it away and do something ordinary.