Strategy Meetings in Child Protection: Purpose and Process UK

What is a Strategy Discussion?

A strategy discussion (sometimes called a strategy meeting) is a multi-agency discussion that takes place when there is reasonable cause to suspect that a child is suffering, or is likely to suffer, significant harm. It is the gateway to Section 47 enquiries and a critical decision-making point in child protection.

Strategy discussions are required under Working Together to Safeguard Children and represent the formal point at which agencies come together to share information and plan the child protection response.

When Should a Strategy Discussion Happen?

A strategy discussion should be convened whenever:

• There is reasonable cause to suspect a child is suffering or likely to suffer significant harm
• A referral raises child protection concerns
• New information emerges during an assessment that indicates significant harm
• An emergency protection situation has arisen
• A child discloses abuse
• There are concerns about non-accidental injury
• At any point where the threshold for child protection enquiries may be met

Who Should Attend?

As a minimum, strategy discussions should involve:

• Children's social care: The allocated social worker and their manager
• Police: A representative from the child abuse investigation team
• Health: Usually a designated nurse or doctor for child protection

Other Agencies as Relevant

• School or nursery (if the child attends)
• Health visitor (for younger children)
• Mental health services (if involved)
• Probation (if relevant adult is supervised)
• Housing (if relevant)
• Any other professional with significant information

Format of Strategy Discussions

Strategy discussions can take different forms:

• Face-to-face meeting: Preferable for complex cases
• Telephone/video conference: Acceptable for straightforward cases or when urgency requires
• A combination: Core agencies meet face-to-face with others joining remotely

Whatever the format, the discussion must be properly recorded and decisions clearly documented.

The Strategy Discussion Agenda

1. Information Sharing

• Nature of the concerns
• How and when concerns came to light
• Information held by each agency
• Family history and previous involvement
• Current circumstances of the child and family

2. Analysis of Risk

• Is there reasonable cause to suspect significant harm?
• What are the risk factors?
• What are the protective factors?
• Is the child safe to remain at home?
• Are there other children at risk?

3. Decisions

• Whether to initiate Section 47 enquiries
• Immediate protection actions required
• Whether a joint investigation with police is needed
• Whether legal advice is needed
• Whether to inform parents (and if not, why not)

4. Planning the Enquiry

• Who will lead the enquiry
• When the child will be seen and by whom
• What information is needed and from whom
• Whether a medical examination is required
• Who will speak to parents and when
• Timescales for actions
• Date for reconvening if needed

Recording the Strategy Discussion

The strategy discussion record should include:

• Date, time, and format (face-to-face, phone, video)
• Names and roles of all participants
• Summary of information shared by each agency
• Analysis of risk and protective factors
• All decisions made and rationale
• Actions agreed, with responsible person and timescale
• Whether parents/carers are to be informed
• Date for review or further strategy discussion

Key Decisions at Strategy Discussions

Decision to Initiate Section 47

The strategy discussion must determine whether there is reasonable cause to suspect significant harm. This is a collective multi-agency decision, though children's social care holds ultimate responsibility.

Joint Investigation

Where a criminal offence may have been committed, the strategy discussion should agree whether a joint investigation with police is required. This ensures that:

• Criminal evidence is not compromised
• The child is not interviewed multiple times
• Investigations are coordinated

Medical Examination

The discussion should consider whether a medical examination is needed and if so:

• What type of examination
• Who should conduct it
• How consent will be obtained
• Timescale for the examination

Informing Parents

Parents should normally be informed of the concerns and the enquiry. However, there may be circumstances where this would:

• Place the child at increased risk
• Prejudice a criminal investigation
• Lead to evidence being destroyed

Any decision not to inform parents must be clearly recorded with rationale and kept under review.

Follow-Up Strategy Discussions

Additional strategy discussions may be needed:

• When significant new information emerges
• When circumstances change
• To review progress of the enquiry
• Before key decisions are made
• If the enquiry is not progressing as planned

Good Practice Tips

Before the Discussion

• Ensure you have all available information ready
• Review any previous history or records
• Prepare a clear summary of your agency's involvement
• Consider what questions you need answered

During the Discussion

• Share all relevant information—don't hold back
• Be specific about concerns and evidence
• Focus on the child's experience and safety
• Challenge if you disagree with the decision
• Ensure actions are clear with named individuals and timescales

After the Discussion

• Complete your agreed actions promptly
• Share the strategy discussion record with your agency
• Update your own records
• Raise concerns if actions are not being completed

Common Challenges

Difficulty Convening Discussions

When key agencies cannot attend, consider:

• Telephone/video participation
• Proceeding with available agencies for urgent decisions
• Obtaining written information from absent agencies
• Reconvening when all agencies can attend

Disagreement About Threshold

If agencies disagree about whether Section 47 threshold is met:

• Ensure all perspectives are fully heard
• Focus on the evidence and the child's experience
• Consider erring on the side of caution
• Use escalation procedures if needed
• Record the disagreement and how it was resolved

Conclusion

Strategy discussions are a critical point in child protection. They bring agencies together to share information, analyse risk, and make decisions about how to protect children. Effective strategy discussions require good preparation, clear communication, and robust recording.

The quality of the strategy discussion often determines the quality of the subsequent enquiry. Getting this right—with the right people, the right information, and the right decisions—is essential for effective child protection.