Case conferences for child abuse.

Case conferences have been an integral part of child abuse procedures since 1974 when the recommendations of the inquiry into the death of Maria Colwell were published. The case conference is a multidisciplinary forum for the sharing of information, for discussion, and for making recommendations to social services departments, which are ultimately responsible for the welfare of the child under discussion. In principle, therefore, case conferences are advisory rather than executive. In practice, considerable weight is usually attached to their recommendations. In some areas children leave hospital on the day of the case conference as a result of its decisions. In effect, the director of social services has delegated responsibility in advance to the local office managing the case. In other areas the director insists on vetting personally all case conference recommendations. Even so it is relatively rare for such recommendations to be over-ruled. Few people love case conferences, and many hate them. Certainly their procedures are open to criticism on many fronts.