Who Should Attend?

The Designated Senior Person has a responsibility to ensure that all child protection conferences and core groups are attended by a school representative.

The Designated Senior Person must attend the initial Child Protection Conference as s/he has:

• An overview for safeguarding activity within the school
• A responsibility to gather information to be shared at conference and to disseminate information from conference to key school staff on a need to know basis.

It is preferable that Designated Senior Person attends Review Child Protection Conferences and Core Group Meetings, however the DSP may identify that it is more appropriate for another member of staff to do so. If any other members of stsaff attends review CPCS core group meetins, the DSP must ensurethat they are are aware of their roles and responsibilities, including:

• Issues of confidentiality
• Information gathering and sharing
• That a school report must be submitted
• They must give their professional opinion about the need for a child protection plan.