A Child Protection Conference may decide that a child's name should be put onto the Child Protection Register.

The Register is a list of children who are known or believed to have been abused or injured in some way, or who are thought to be at risk of injury, abuse or neglect. The Register is kept by the Social Services Department. It is strictly confidential and information from it is available only to professional people such as Health Visitors, Teachers, Doctors, Police Officers and Social Workers.

If your child's name is placed on the Register it does not mean that it will stay on forever. A second conference will be held in about three months to consider whether your child's name should stay on the register. If the decision is yes, then the matter will be considered again in six months. Once it is felt your child is no longer at risk their name will be taken off the Register.

Can children be taken away?

Social Workers cannot take a child away against the wishes of the parent(s) simply because the child's name is on the Register. In serious cases, a Conference may recommend that the matter is brought before a court.

Children can only be removed from their home by Order of the Court. In an emergency, the Police or Social Services can seek a Court Order to remove a child from home on a short term basis. However it is rare for children to be removed.

The Social Services Department will arrange for a Social Worker, known as the "key worker", to visit you regularly. He/she will be responsible also for keeping in touch with other professional workers involved with you.

The Social Worker will collect information to help everyone involved understand your situation, so it is in your interest to work closely with them. You do not have to see the Social Worker unless a Court Order say's you must. However, if there are serious concerns about a child and the parents refuse to allow a Social Worker to see their child/ren, the Social Services Department would have to consider whether to involve a Court or the Police.

In Cambridgeshire there is no appeal process.

If you are not satisfied you should discuss this with your Social Worker, who will tell you about the Complaints procedure and will help you to use it. However, most parents would accept that the Social Worker must always do what they consider to be best for a child, particularly in situations where a child could possibly come to harm. Social Workers want to work with parents to protect the well-being of the children and families.

You are entitled to receive help from a solicitor whether or not you agree with any action which Social Services takes concerning your child.

You can get a list of solicitors in your area specialising in child-care work from your local Citizens Advice Bureau.

If your income and savings are below a certain level, you may be entitled to Legal Aid to pay for the work which the solicitor does for you. You should ask about this on your first visit to your solicitor.