School Role at Core Group Meetings

The multi-agency core group (whose membership will have been identified at the child protection conference) is responsible for the formulation and implementation of the detailed child protection plan, previously outlined at the conference.

All members of the core group are jointly responsible for:

• Collecting information to assist the key worker in compiling and completing the Core Assessment
• Formulation and implementation of the child protection plan as a detailed working tool
• Monitoring progress of the plan against specified objectives
• Making recommendations to subsequent review conferences about the need for and content of any future protection plans

If any member of the core group is aware of difficulties implementing the protection plan due to changed or unforeseen circumstances, the key worker must be informed immediately and consideration given to recalling the core group meeting to re-consider the protection plan.

The date of the first core group meeting must be within ten working days of the initial conference and the date arranged at the end of the initial conference. The conference should provide an indication of the required frequency of subsequent meetings.

Good practice would be for subsequent core group meetings to be held at least every six weeks. More regular meetings may be required according to the needs of the child.