Future Risk of Emotional Harm

How can this justify the removal of children from their parents' care?

#CPConf2018 presents contributions from various speakers, followed by a panel discussion and contributions from the audience.

The aim of the event is to

• understand the historic basis and justification for the use of 'risk of future emtional harm' as a reason to remove children
• explain and discuss the parameters of 'emotional harm' - how do the courts define it?
• discuss people's concerns about this as a rationale for removing children
• consider how these concerns can be addressed
• use the discussions to form the basis of a Transparency Project Guidance Note about assessment of risk

Anyone with an interest in the child protection system is welcome. We hope that parents, social workers, lawyers and other professionals will find it useful.

11am to 1pm Speakers

• Sarah Phillimore - site administrator of Child Protection Resource online, considering the historical justifications for reliance on 'risk of future emotional harm' and discussion of The Transparency Project's Guidance Note on the use of expert evidence in family proceedings
• Professor Lauren Devine of the University of the West of England, discussing her recent research about evaluation of risk in care proceedings
• 'Annie' - considering the parent's perspective; blogs at www.survivingsafeguarding.co.uk - a parents guide to the child protection process
• Louise Tickle - journalist - what does 'risk of future emotional harm' sound like to the 'intelligent outsider' ?
• Lucy Reed - Chair of The Transparency Project, barrister and author of Pink Tape blog; will discuss the importance of transparency in the family justice system with particular reference to The Transparency Project's forthcoming Guidance Note about issues of domestic abuse in family proceedings.
• Simon Haworth - Academic at university of Birmingham. Previously principal social worker. Research interests include social work and social harm and fatherhood - the social worker's perspective

2pm - 4.30pm Audience and panel discussion

Panel members include the morning speakers and

• Professor Andy Bilson - Emeritus Professor of social work at University of Central Lancashire, who will introduce and discuss his recent research about adoption trends
• Representatives from Special Guardians and Adopters Together who will discuss the results of their recent survey about what those polled understand to mean by 'future risk of emotional harm'.

This event is supported by The Transparency Project; a registered charity which explains and discusses family law and family courts in England & Wales, and signpost to useful resources to help people understand the system and the law better. The TP works towards improving the quality, range and accessibility of information available to the public both in the press and elsewhere. The charity does not take on individual cases or provide legal services.

We have to charge for tickets to cover venue hire and refreshments but this is intended to be a non-profit event. Any money left over from sale of tickets will be donated to The Transparency Project.

We can offer 10 tickets free of charge for those in financial need - please contact sarah.phillimore@stjohnschambers.co.uk

EDIT 23rd July 2018 - all free tickets have now been taken but please do ask if you want to come but can't afford a ticket as we can consider other requests depending on how much space is left in the venue.

Registering for a ticket will be taken as your agreement to the Ground Rules - the most important of which being the need to respect the confidentiality of care proceedings.