RecruitingObservational

Hybrid child protection conferences in England: a scoping and practice development project

This research is looking into how 'hybrid' Child Protection Conferences (CPCs) are being used across England. These are meetings where families and professionals (like social workers, doctors, and police) discuss concerns about a child's safety. Before, these meetings were usually in person. Now, many people join online from different locations. We want to understand how these new hybrid meetings affect everyone involved, especially parents, and if they lead to fair decisions being made. The study aims to gather experiences from both parents and professionals to find out what works well, what doesn't, and to create better guidance for these important meetings. This will help make sure CPCs are fair, inclusive, and always put children's safety first.

At a glance

Status

Recruiting

Sponsor

University of East Anglia

Enrolment target

400

Start

01 Sep 2025

Estimated completion

01 Jun 2027

This research will investigate the implementation of hybrid child protection conferences (CPCs) in England.

What is this study about?

This research focuses on an important change in how child protection meetings, called Child Protection Conferences (CPCs), are held in England. These meetings happen when there are worries that a child might be at risk of harm. Professionals, like social workers, doctors, and teachers, meet with parents to discuss these concerns. Until recently, most of these meetings were held in person. However, since the pandemic, many places now use a 'hybrid' approach, meaning some people meet in person while others join online.

We want to understand how these hybrid CPCs are actually working. While they might be more convenient for professionals, there are worries they could make it harder for some parents to take part and share their views. There are also concerns about how these changes might affect the really important decisions made about children's safety and family life. We want to hear from both parents and professionals about their experiences to see what's good, what's not, and how we can make these meetings better for everyone.

The study will happen in three stages. First, we'll get a general picture of how hybrid CPCs are being used across England. Then, we'll look closely at specific meetings in six different areas, talking to parents and professionals about what happened. Finally, we'll use everything we've learned to create helpful advice and guidance for parents, social workers, and those who lead these meetings, to make sure CPCs are fair, supportive, and protect children effectively.

Key takeaways

Your experiences can help shape how child protection meetings are run in the future.
The study aims to make these important meetings fairer and more effective for everyone.
It's about understanding both the good and not-so-good aspects of hybrid meetings.
Your privacy will be protected throughout the research.
The findings will lead to new advice for families and professionals.

Who may be eligible?

We are looking for two main groups of people to take part in this study.

Firstly, we are inviting professionals who work with children and families and are involved in Child Protection Conferences (CPCs). This includes social workers, police officers, health visitors, teachers, and others who attend these meetings. You should be working in child protection services in England.

Secondly, we are inviting parents or carers who have recently experienced a hybrid Child Protection Conference. This means you attended a CPC where some people were in the room and others joined online. If you're an adult whose child's safety was discussed in such a meeting, we'd like to hear from you.

Could this study suit you?

Answer these quick questions to see if you may be eligible. This is a guide only — the research team makes the final call.

Are you an adult parent or carer who has attended a hybrid Child Protection Conference recently?
Are you a professional (e.g., social worker, police, teacher, doctor) who works in child protection and attends Child Protection Conferences?
Do you currently work for or live in England?
Are you able to agree to take part in the study after understanding what's involved?

Answer every question to see your result.

What does participation involve?

If you decide to take part, you'll first be given clear information about the study so you can ask questions and make an informed choice. You'll need to agree to take part.

For professionals, this might involve joining one of nine online workshops to discuss your experiences with hybrid CPCs. If you work in one of the six specific areas we're looking at more closely, you might have your CPC observed by our team, or you could be invited to join a group discussion with other professionals to share your views.

For parents, you might be invited to one of three online workshops to talk about your recent experiences with hybrid CPCs. If you're in one of the six specific areas, and you're having a CPC observed by our team, we might also ask to interview you afterwards to hear about your experience and thoughts. Your participation will help us understand and improve these important meetings.

Potential risks and benefits

Taking part in this study offers a chance to help us understand how hybrid Child Protection Conferences work, and to make them better for families and professionals. Your input could directly lead to improved guidance and practices. We don't expect any direct risks from taking part, but we understand that discussing child protection can be sensitive due to the serious nature of the topic. Remember, you can choose to stop taking part at any time, for any reason, without it affecting your care or your relationship with services.

Locations (1)

Some site locations are approximate. We're improving this — please verify with the trial team before travelling.

Local authories
Unverified
United Kingdom

Common questions

What is a 'hybrid' Child Protection Conference?

It's a meeting about a child's safety where some people, like parents and a social worker, meet in person, while others join the discussion online using a computer or phone.

Why is this study important?

It's important because many places are now using hybrid meetings, and we need to understand if they are fair, helpful, and if they lead to the best decisions for children and families. Your experiences can help make them better.

Who is running this study?

The study is being run by researchers at the University of East Anglia and King's College London, with funding from the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR).

Will my involvement be confidential?

Yes, all your information will be kept private and confidential. The research team will explain this fully before you agree to take part.

How long will the study last?

The study is planned to run from January 2024 to December 2027.

How to find out more

Julia Rimmer

julia.rimmer@uea.ac.uk +44 (0)7963998516 Official trial record

Always speak to your GP or specialist before deciding to take part in a study.