Meetings

How to prepare for Child Protection, Child in Need and professionals’ meetings so you are heard and protected.

Child Protection conferences, Child in Need meetings and multi-agency reviews can be some of the most intimidating parts of the safeguarding process. You may be sitting in a room (or on a call) with social workers, school staff, health professionals and sometimes police – all talking about your parenting and your children.

This page explains what these meetings are for, who will be there, and how to prepare so that your voice and your child’s reality are not lost.

You do not have to go into these meetings alone or unprepared. 1VAA can support you before and after each step.

Types of Meetings You May Be Asked to Attend

Child in Need (CiN) Meetings

Held when a child needs extra support but is not currently considered at risk of significant harm. These meetings usually:

Review your child’s needs and progress
Agree support plans and actions
Involve you in discussions about what would help

Child Protection Conferences

Held when there are concerns that a child is at risk of significant harm. These meetings:

Review all available information about risk and safety
Decide whether your child should be placed on a Child Protection plan
Agree actions for all professionals and for you as a parent

Core Group Meetings

If a Child Protection plan is in place, a smaller group of professionals will meet regularly with you to:

Monitor how the plan is working
Review progress and ongoing risk
Update actions and timescales

Professionals’ Meetings

Sometimes meetings are held between professionals without you present. These can still have a major impact on your family.

You are entitled to know what decisions have been made and what information is being shared about you and your children.

Who Will Be at the Meeting?

Depending on the type of meeting, you may see:

Social workers and team managers
School staff (teachers, pastoral leads, safeguarding leads)
Health professionals (GP, health visitor, school nurse, CAMHS worker)
Police (particularly in Child Protection conferences)
Other agencies involved with your family (substance misuse, housing, DV services)
Sometimes, a chairperson or independent reviewing officer

In many cases, you are allowed to bring a supporter, advocate or McKenzie Friend. Ask in advance if this is permitted and give their name.

Preparing Before the Meeting

Good preparation reduces anxiety and helps you to speak clearly when the pressure is high.

Before a meeting, try to:

Ask what type of meeting it is and what the purpose is
Ask who will be there and whether you can bring a supporter
Request copies of any reports that will be discussed (social work reports, school reports, assessments)
Read these documents carefully and note any inaccuracies or missing information
Write down your main points: what is going well, what you are worried about, what you need help with
Bring your incident log and chronology in case you need to refer to dates and events
Think about specific examples that show your child’s needs and your protective actions

1VAA can help you prepare a short written statement to take to the meeting so your key points are clear and not forgotten.

During the Meeting

It is easy to feel overwhelmed, especially if professionals speak in jargon or make assumptions. Some ways to protect yourself include:

Stay as calm and factual as possible, even if you feel attacked or misunderstood
Bring notes and refer to them – you are allowed to read from your own summary
Ask people to slow down or repeat themselves if needed
Ask: “Can you explain what that means in practical terms?” when jargon is used
Correct factual inaccuracies as they arise (dates, events, who did what)
Make it clear when you disagree, and say why – especially around risk, abuse or your child’s wishes
Keep your focus on your children’s safety, needs and wellbeing

If you feel overwhelmed, it is okay to ask for a short break or to ask your supporter to read out your prepared statement.

Your Voice and Your Child’s Voice

Two things must be heard clearly in any safeguarding meeting:

Your voice – what you have seen, what you are doing, what support you need
Your child’s voice – how they feel, what they have said, what they are afraid of, what they want

Practical steps:

Bring examples of what your child has said, drawn or written (where safe and appropriate)
Explain changes you have noticed in their behaviour, sleep, school attendance or mood
Be clear where your child does not feel safe and why
Challenge any attempts to minimise or re-interpret your child’s disclosures without evidence

Your child may not be in the meeting, but their reality should be at the centre of it.

After the Meeting

What you do after the meeting is just as important as what you say during it.

Afterwards:

Write down your own record of what happened while it is still fresh (who attended, what was discussed, decisions made)
Ask for the official minutes or notes from the meeting
Compare the minutes with your own notes – highlight anything that is inaccurate or missing
Write to the chair or social worker to correct any serious errors or omissions
Keep all documents together with your evidence file

1VAA can help you draft a follow-up email such as: “For the avoidance of doubt, my understanding of the meeting is…” to make sure your position is formally recorded.

Red Flags in Meetings

Some warning signs that a meeting may not be safe or fair include:

Domestic abuse or coercive control is barely mentioned or treated as “background conflict”
The focus is on your reactions, not on the abuser’s behaviour
Your child’s disclosures are minimised, doubted or ignored
Professionals shut you down when you try to raise safeguarding concerns
Decisions are presented as final with no explanation of how you can challenge them
Threats are used (“If you don’t agree, we may have to consider removal”)

If this happens, it is vital to keep a written record and consider formal complaints or legal advice.

Complaints and Escalation

If you believe a meeting was conducted unfairly or key information was ignored, you can:

Raise your concerns in writing with the social worker and their manager
Use the local authority complaints process
Ask for an advocate or independent reviewing officer (where available)
Discuss options with your solicitor if court proceedings are ongoing or likely

1VAA can help you draft clear, calm letters that set out:

What meeting took place and when
What was decided
What you are concerned about
What you are asking to be reviewed or changed

How 1VAA Can Help With Meetings

As a 1VAA member you can access:

Step-by-step preparation for Child Protection and Child in Need meetings
Templates for personal statements and key points
Support understanding reports and minutes
Help challenging unsafe or inaccurate records
Guidance on bringing an advocate or McKenzie Friend
Support linking what happens in meetings with your wider legal and safeguarding strategy

We help you stay grounded, organised and focused on your children’s safety – even when the system feels overwhelming.