My opinion did not matter: Views of parents and young people on child protection conferences
Summary
An article from ExChange Wales explores how parents and young people experience child protection conferences (CPCs), revealing widespread feelings of powerlessness and exclusion. Most of the 52 parents and 40 young people interviewed described CPCs as intimidating and disempowering, with many saying their views were disregarded or that they didn’t understand the purpose of the meeting. Participants reported being given critical reports only at the last minute, leaving little opportunity to prepare or challenge inaccuracies. Nearly all young people had never seen any assessment report before the conference. The research highlights that inadequate preparation and poor communication discourage meaningful participation, undermining family engagement and trust at a crucial point in safeguarding practice.