What is an Initial Child Protection Conference (ICPC)?
An Initial Child Protection Conference (ICPC) is a multi‑agency meeting that takes place following Section 47 enquiries where there is evidence that a child may be at continuing risk of significant harm.

The purpose of the conference is to:

• Share and analyse multi‑agency information
• Consider whether the child is at continuing risk of significant harm
• Decide whether the child should be made subject to a Child Protection Plan
• Agree how the child will be safeguarded going forward

When does an Initial Child Protection Conference take place?

An ICPC must take place where Section 47 enquiries indicate ongoing risk of significant harm.

Where a decision is made to hold a conference, this should take place within 15 working days of the strategy discussion at which Section 47 enquiries were initiated.

What format does the conference take?

An Initial Child Protection Conference is normally a structured multi‑agency meeting, which may be:

• Face-to-face
• Virtual (for example, via MS Teams)
• A hybrid of both

The conference follows a clear format to support effective decision making:

• Presentation of reports by each agency
• Information sharing and clarification
• Analysis of risk and protective factors
• Consideration of the child’s lived experience
• Decision making on whether a Child Protection Plan is required

Parents, carers and, where appropriate, the child should be supported to attend and contribute.

Who is involved?

Attendees will include:

• Independent Conference Chair (appointed by the local authority)
• Children’s Social Care (social worker and manager)
• Police
• Health professionals
• Education providers
• Other relevant agencies involved with the child and family
• Parents and carers
• The child, where appropriate
• Advocacy support, where required

Expectations and roles within an Initial Child Protection Conference

All professionals attending an Initial Child Protection Conference must come prepared with up‑to‑date, evidence‑based information and a clear professional view. The effectiveness of the conference depends on high‑quality preparation, active participation and a shared commitment to safeguarding the child.

Before the conference

Professionals must ensure they are fully prepared and that families are supported to participate meaningfully.

This includes:

• Preparing a written report and sharing it with the child (where appropriate) and family at least 3 days before an Initial Child Protection Conference and 5 days before a Review Conference
• Submitting the report within the same timescales to the agreed local process
• Ensuring reports are clear, evidence‑based and focused on the child’s lived experience
• Explaining the purpose of the conference to the child and family, including what will be discussed and the possible outcomes

This approach supports transparency, reduces anxiety for families and ensures there are no unexpected issues raised within the meeting.

During the conference

Professionals are expected to actively contribute to a structured, multi‑agency discussion led by the Independent Chair.

Responsibilities of key roles

Independent Chair

• Facilitate the meeting in an impartial, structured and timely way
• Ensure all voices are heard, including the child and family
• Promote a respectful and constructive environment
• Lead decision making and clearly confirm the outcome

Children’s Social Care

• Present the findings of the Section 47 enquiries
• Provide a clear analysis of risk, need and protective factors
• Make recommendations regarding safeguarding and planning

Police

• Provide relevant information relating to any criminal investigation
• Contribute to risk assessment and safety planning

Health and Education

• Share information about the child’s development, wellbeing and daily experience
• Identify risks, needs and strengths within their involvement

All agencies

• Share relevant information openly, accurately and professionally
• Contribute to analysis of risk and protective factors
• Provide a clear professional opinion
• Participate fully in decision making
• Commit to delivering agreed actions

Parents and carers

• Share their views and respond to concerns
• Participate in planning to keep the child safe

Professional expectations during the meeting

All professionals must:

• Attend for the full duration of the conference
• Share information clearly, factually and without ambiguity
• Apply relevant statutory guidance, including Working Together principles
• Consider contextual safeguarding where risks exist outside the home
• Work collaboratively with other agencies
• Adopt a strengths‑based, respectful and trauma‑informed approach
• Maintain a clear focus on the child’s lived experience

After the conference

The conference must result in clear actions and accountability.

Professionals are expected to:

• Implement the actions allocated to them within the Child Protection Plan
• Attend Core Group meetings and contribute to the ongoing review of the plan
• Provide updates on progress, impact and any changes in risk
• Continue to share information in line with local procedures
• Escalate concerns promptly where risks increase or where there is professional disagreement

Multi‑agency working must continue beyond the conference to ensure that the agreed plan is delivered effectively and the child remains safeguarded.

Key principles for practice

• Preparation and information sharing are critical to effective decision making
• The child and family must be supported to understand and participate
• All agencies share responsibility for safeguarding and implementing the plan
• Professional challenge is essential where there are differing views
• Actions must be clear, timebound and owned

This section sets out the expectations that underpin effective multi‑agency safeguarding practice and ensure that Initial Child Protection Conferences lead to clear, coordinated and impactful outcomes for children.

Why participation matters

Effective safeguarding depends on understanding the child’s lived experience. This can only be achieved when children, young people and their families are actively involved in assessment, planning and decision making.

Participation is not optional. It is a core expectation of good safeguarding practice and underpins all stages of the child protection process, including strategy discussions, Section 47 enquiries and Child Protection Conferences.

Children and families bring essential information about:

• What life is really like for the child on a day‑to‑day basis
• The impact of risk and harm
• What support is working or not working
• What changes are realistic and sustainable

Without this input, there is a risk that decisions are based only on professional perspectives rather than the full picture.

What does meaningful participation look like?

Meaningful participation goes beyond simply inviting families to meetings. It requires professionals to take active steps to ensure that children and parents can:

• Understand why professionals are involved
• Know what is happening and what decisions are being considered
• Express their views, wishes and feelings
• Contribute to planning and decision making
• Feel heard, respected and treated fairly

For children, this means communication in a way that is appropriate to their age, development and needs.

For families, this means clear, jargon‑free information and support to engage with what can be complex and potentially distressing processes.

The role of professionals

All practitioners have a responsibility to promote and support participation.

This includes:

• Being open and transparent about concerns, unless doing so would place the child at further risk
• Preparing children and families for meetings, including explaining purpose, process and possible outcomes
• Sharing reports in advance, wherever possible
• Creating opportunities for children and families to contribute, including through written or recorded views
• Ensuring meetings are conducted in a respectful, inclusive and non‑judgemental way
• Taking account of diversity, culture, language and any additional needs

Participation should be seen as an ongoing process, not a single event.

When participation may be limited

There are situations where full participation may not be possible or appropriate, for example:

• Where there are concerns that sharing information may place a child at immediate risk
• Where there is an ongoing criminal investigation and certain information cannot be disclosed
• Where a child or parent is unable to participate due to capacity or communication difficulties

In these circumstances, decisions must be clearly recorded, including the rationale for limiting involvement, and efforts should continue to maximise participation wherever it is safe to do so.

The Role of Advocacy

Advocacy plays a key role in ensuring that children and families are able to participate effectively.

An advocate is an independent person who can:

• Support the child or parent to understand the process
• Help them express their views, wishes and feelings
• Speak on their behalf where needed
• Ensure their voice is heard within meetings and decision making

Advocacy is particularly important where:

• The child is older and wishes to express their own views
• There are communication barriers, including language or disability
• The family feels overwhelmed or unsure how to engage with professionals
• There is conflict or disagreement with professionals

Children and young people should be routinely offered access to advocacy, and practitioners should actively consider whether it would support effective participation.

How participation influences decision making

Participation is not only about being heard. It must inform the assessment of risk and the decisions made.

Professionals should be able to demonstrate:

• How the child’s views have been considered in analysis of risk
• How family views have informed planning and decision making
• Where views have not been followed, the reasons why

This ensures that decision making is transparent, defensible and centred on the child.

Expectations for partner agencies

All agencies have a shared responsibility to promote participation.

This includes:

• Supporting children and families to understand processes and expectations
• Ensuring their own involvement with the child reflects a child‑centred approach
• Sharing relevant information about the child’s voice and lived experience
• Working collaboratively to remove barriers to engagement

Participation must be embedded across the whole system, not relied upon as the responsibility of a single agency.

Key principles for practice

• The voice of the child must be central to all safeguarding activity
• Families should be seen as partners wherever it is safe to do so
• Communication must be clear, honest and accessible
• Advocacy should be offered where it will support meaningful participation
• Decisions must reflect, and clearly reference, the views of children and families

The Initial Child Protection Conference will agree one of the following outcomes:

• The child is not at continuing risk of significant harm
  • No Child Protection Plan is required
  • The child may step down to Child in Need or Early Help support
• The child is at continuing risk of significant harm
  • A Child Protection Plan is agreed

In more complex cases, legal action may also be considered.

Relevant Policies and Guidance

Local Procedures

• North and South of Tyne Child Protection Conferences Procedure (May 2025)
  (See section 1.0.8 Child Protection Conferences)

Statutory Guidance

• Working Together to Safeguard Children (2026) – National statutory guidance referenced throughout conference procedures.

Additional Professional Resources

• Child Protection Conferences Training Course – South Tyneside Council
  safeguarding-training-course
   

Local Contacts  

Professionals must contact Children and Families Social Care for concerns, referrals, or to provide information before conferences:

• Children and Families Social Care (Office hours): 0191 424 5010
• Out of hours: 0191 456 2093
   

Police non‑emergency: 101
Emergency: 999