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Child Protection Conferences

This page explains Child Protection Conferences, including information on who is able to attend and what will likely be discussed, as well as information regarding child protection plans and their function. 

Do you want to be part of the group of people who make decisions about your future? Then you probably have some questions about the conference you have been invited to.

It is a meeting of people directly concerned with you and your family such as Schools, Health, and Children Services to look at what has happened to you, and whether you need a plan to protect you in the future. The conference is managed by an independent person (Independent Chairperson) who is responsible for ensuring the conference is managed well and that the right decisions are made.

The other people who will be invited to the conference will be there as they provide important support to you and your family. This may be your teacher, health visitor, Doctor , social worker, and possibly a probation officer or police officer. The Social Worker will explain who will be at the conference and why that is.

It is important that your parents take part in the conference as they are responsible for looking after you, so their views are important. We will plan arrangements carefully so that you feel supported and comfortable in sharing your views. If you do not feel comfortable talking in front of your parents, we will find a way to manage this.

Only the people at the meeting and their managers. They must keep all the things they hear confidential, and they would be in serious trouble if they did not.

Yes, you can bring a trusted adult. However, there is an Advocacy Service whose role is to support young people who wish to take part in the Conference process. Your social worker should always ask you whether you want an advocate to support you and, if you do, will ensure that the Advocacy service is contacted.

 

For further information and support, we recommend downloading this helpful guide: "Going to a Child Protection Conference - A Guide for Young People in Warwickshire" Just click the title and it will download automatically.

Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE)

Are you not quite sure, or worried about something that is or could be happening to you or maybe a friend?  By clicking here you can access our 'Something's Not Right' website which provides loads of information for young people like you including:

  • what child sexual exploitation (or CSE) is
  • about spotting the signs of CSE
  • healthy relationships
  • who you can speak to and people who are there to help

If Something's Not Right, contact us immediately by clicking here.

 

I don't feel safe

If you are being hurt, treated in a way that makes you feel scared, uncomfortable or unsafe, or you feel very alone or unhappy, please tell someone about it so they can try to help you. 

Talk to someone you can trust, like a Teacher or a Nurse at your school.  They will listen to you and support you, and talk through what can be done to help sort things out.  Very often difficulties can be helped by trusted adults you already know. 

Asking for help early on can help stop things getting worse.  All adults working with children know that they have a responsibility to protect children from harm. 

If you would like to talk to someone in confidence, you can call:

Childline - 0800 1111
You can call anytime for free, it's confidential and the call won't show on the phone bill.

Warwickshire Children and Families Front Door (Front Door) - 01926 414144.
Front Door are open 8.30am - 5.30pm (Monday to Thursday), 8.30am - 5.00pm (Friday).

Police - call 999 if you or someone you know is at immediate risk or danger.  

You can also contact the police in a non-emergency 24hrs a day, 7 days a week, by calling 101.

What happens if someone is worried about a child or young person?
If a baby, child or young person has been harmed or there are worries that they might be harmed in the future, the law says that the local authority (Warwickshire County Council) has to find out what has happened so that children can be kept safe. 

A Social Worker, sometimes together with a Police Officer, will talk to the child or young person to find out how they feel and what worries them.  They will normally talk to the parents and carers as well (unless the young person has explained that this may make things worse). 

If there are a lot of concerns a meeting called a Child Protection Conference will be arranged.  Parents, carers and the children or young people will be invited to attend along with people who know the family, for example a Teacher, Doctor or a Health Visitor.  You can read further information about Child Protection Conferences by clicking the link below.   
Going to a Child Protection Conference or Review: A guide for young people.

Law Stuff
There is a website that provides young people with lots of free legal information over the phone or online about many different things.  For example, it explains your rights as a child, a who's who of adult professionals you may come into contact with whilst growing up, the law, education and much more.  To acces, click on the link LawStuff

Bullying

Bullying can happen anywhere and to anyone.  Children and young people in Warwickshire wrote their own definition of bullying:

When a person’s or group of people’s behaviour, over a period of time, leaves someone feeling one or more of the following:

  • Physically and/or mentally hurt or worried
  • Unsafe and/or frightened
  • Unable to do well and achieve
  • ‘Badly different’, alone, unimportant and/or unvalued
  • Unable to see a happy and exciting future for yourself it could be bullying

When a person, or group of people, has been made aware of the effects of their behaviour on another person, and they continue to behave in the same manner, this is bullying.  If someone feels like this, or if they think someone they know feels like this, it should be investigated.  This should happen straight away as it can take a long time to build up the courage to tell.

Who could you talk to?
If you are experiencing bullying, or are worried your friend is, you should talk to someone who can help you tackle it.  It could be your parent or carer, an adult at school or a support worker.

If you want to talk to someone in confidence, there are other organisations that could help:

Bullying UK by contacting 0808 800 2222 and you can talk to one of their Family Support Workers, calls are confidential or click here to access online.

Childline by contacting 0800 1111 anytime, all calls are free of charge.

NSPCC by contacting 0808 800 5000, where you can speak to trained Counsellors at any time or visit their website by clicking here

Cyberbullying
Cyberbullying is bullying that happens using phones, tablets, computers on social media - anything sent electronically.  Click here to access a campaign that has been designed by young people for young people, about what it is, how to stop it and provide support to other people that you might know it's happening to.  

Further information
In Warwickshire, we have produced our own guidance to bullying.  Click on the link below to access further information. 
Warwickshire’s Anti-Bullying Guide

Keeping Safe Online

The internet is a wonderful resource that you, and your friends, will have access to via your smartphone, tablet, laptop/PC and games consoles, each linking to the internet. Sometimes the internet can be used by people to try and cause children harm or distress. These websites provide information and advice to ensure you can continue to enjoy using the internet safely.

  • Online grooming is when someone, who you may o may not know, uses the internet to trick, force or pressure a young person into doing something they don’t want to do. This is wrong.
  • Someone who’s grooming others online will sometimes build their trust so it’s not easy to know if someone’s trying to groom you. These websites provides information and advice to help.

https://www.childline.org.uk/info-advice/bullying-abuse-safety/online-mobile-safety/online-grooming/
https://www.somethingsnotright.co.uk/index.php?u=2

Here are some examples of what you might be worried about:

  • Someone online has asked me to send them images I don’t want to share
  • I shared images with someone online and they are threatening me
  • Someone I don't know is asking me to live-stream and do things I don't want to do
  • Someone online kept asking me to meet them face-to-face and I feel pressured by them
  • Someone online was talking to me about sex and it made me feel uncomfortable
  • Someone online is putting pressure on me to do things I don't want to do
  • Someone keeps trying to talk to me on my own and I don’t want to
  • Someone is posting threatening and unpleasant messages about me online
  • Someone is sharing or tagging embarrassing images or videos of me without my permission
  • Someone is leaving racist, homophobic, transphobic or sexist comments on my profile pages
  • Someone is making unpleasant jokes or status updates about me and I am not ‘in on the joke
  • Someone is sending messages pushing me to engage in sexual acts
  • Someone is showing me pornographic pictures or videos, or sending me unwanted sexual images
  • Someone is posting sexual comments, pictures or videos about me online

https://www.brook.org.uk/your-life/cyber-bullying/



Sexting’ is a word used to describe sending sexual messages and photos (referred to as ‘nude selfies’ or ‘nudes’), often using a mobile phone. The word is a mix of the words ‘sex’ and texting’, but can happen on a variety of digital platforms and devices.
But it’s important to know that once you send or upload an image or video, you lose all control over it. Everything you share could be sent on or uploaded and potentially seen by anyone, including your friends and family, and total strangers. With apps like Snapchat people can take screenshots and capture your image on their phone. Those messages, images or video could potentially exist forever and could resurface when you least expect it, such as when applying for a job or for university

https://www.brook.org.uk/your-life/sexting/

  • It can be hard to know when extreme views become something dangerous. And the signs of radicalisation aren't always obvious.
  • It might be nothing, it might be something. But whatever you're worried about, this website can provide information and advice

https://www.nspcc.org.uk/keeping-children-safe/reporting-abuse/dedicated-helplines/protecting-children-from-radicalisation

  • Most people use social media to stay connected with friends and have fun. However, there are people who don't play by the same rules, and use it as a platform to offend people or cause them harm.
  • Don't let these users ruin your experience, but make sure that you do what you can to stay safe.

https://www.kidscape.org.uk/advice/advice-for-young-people/dealing-with-cyberbullying/staying-safe-on-social-media/

  • Sexual exploitation can start and stay online.
  • There are people who use the internet to groom by trawling social media and gaming sites looking for people to target and exploit.
  • They might hide their true age, gender and identity. They may try and meet up with the young person face to face or may encourage them to send sexual images/videos of themselves. They might offer gifts, game codes or flattering messages in return.

https://www.somethingsnotright.co.uk/online-exploitation/

 

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