Participation | Right Decisions

The people involved in a CPPM should be limited to those with a need to know, or those who are essential to an effective plan. Participants attending are there to take active part, represent their agency, and share information to ensure that risks can be identified and addressed. They have a responsibility to share relevant information, if proportionate to do so.

Participants need to understand the purpose and functions of the CPPM, and the relevance of their particular contribution. The Chair, in conjunction with the lead professional, will decide who to invite. Consideration should be given to inviting the following:

the child
parents, carers and family members, including all those with parental responsibility, and if required, a support person or advocate for the child and/or family
social worker and other social work practitioners essential to the formation of this plan
the police – who should continue to be involved if there is continuing police involvement in the case
(supported) foster carers
early learning and child care staff, or most appropriate education professional
primary and acute health professionals, and/or child and adolescent mental health services if appropriate
adult mental health services/justice/drug and alcohol services if appropriate
Third Sector organisations supporting children and families
housing/support workers
representative of the Armed Forces, in cases where there is a service connection
on occasion a Children’s Reporter may be invited to attend, although their legal position means they can only act as an observer and cannot be involved in the decision-making

Consideration should be given to how to respond to a situation when a parent or carer refuses to allow a child or young person access to information and advocacy services in relation to child protection processes.

Parents’/carers’ participation in CPPMs

Involvement of children and families in child protection processes is considered in general terms above. Parents, carers or others with parental responsibilities should be invited to the CPPM. They need sufficient time and support before, during and after the meeting to understand shared information, including concerns and decisions.

In exceptional circumstances, the Chair may determine that a parent or carer should not be invited to, or should be excluded from attending, the CPPM (for example, where bail conditions preclude contact or there are concerns that they present a significant risk to others attending, including the child or young person). The reasons for such a decision need to be clearly documented. Their views should still be obtained and shared at the meeting and the Chair should identify who will notify them of the outcome and the timescale for carrying this out. This should be noted in the record of the meeting.

The Chair should encourage the parent or carer to express their views, while bearing in mind that they may have negative feelings regarding practitioners’ intervention in their family. The Chair should make certain that parents/carers are informed in advance about how information and discussion will be presented and managed. Parents/carers may need to bring someone to support them when they attend a CPPM. This may be a friend or another family member, at the discretion of the Chair, or an advocacy worker. This person is there solely to support the parent/carer and has no other role within the CPPM.

Information about CPPMs should be made available to children and parents/carers. This may be in the form of local leaflets or national public information.

Children’s participation in CPPMs

Consideration should be given to inviting children and young people to CPPMs. They should be given the information they need in a way that helps them understand and take part. The emotional impact of attending a meeting must be considered. CPPMs can be disturbing or confusing for children who attend, but the development of a child protection/child safety plan must take into account the child’s perspective.

A decision not to invite the child or young person should be verbally communicated to them, unless there are reasons not to do Children and young people attending should be prepared beforehand so that they can participate in a meaningful way, and thought should be given to making the meeting as child- and family-friendly as possible.

Even if a child does not attend the meeting, their views are still necessary before and after the meeting, ensuring that for babies and infants their presentation and pattern of behaviours need to be considered.

The child’s views are obtained, presented, considered and recorded during the meeting, regardless of whether or not they are Consideration should be given to whether a child should attend the Core Group.

Reasons for agreeing that older children and young people should or should not attend a CPPM or Core Group meeting should be noted, along with details of the factors that lead to the This should be recorded in the Child's Plan and Minutes of Core Groups/CPPMs.

Two practice insights on this topic have been drafted to illustrate and explain key practice considerations, offer a resource, prompt reflection and signpost selected sources. They can be found in the Practice Insights supporting document alongside the National Child Protection Guidance.