Hybrid child protection conferences in England: participation, relational practice and decision-making

Cook, Laura ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9882-2365, Baginsky, Mary and Rimmer, Julia (2026) Hybrid child protection conferences in England: participation, relational practice and decision-making. British Journal of Social Work. ISSN 0045-3102

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Abstract

Child protection conferences are central to decision-making within child welfare systems. Following the expansion of remote working during the pandemic, many English local authorities have adopted hybrid conferences, combining in-person and online participation. However, little is known about how these arrangements shape participation and decision-making. This article reports first-stage findings from a national study of hybrid conferences. It examines how they are organised and practitioners’ views on their implications for participation and multi-agency deliberation. Data derive from nine regional workshops with children’s social care professionals (n=301) and an associated questionnaire (n=375), with responses received from 95% of English local authorities. The analysis identifies a six-type typology of conference configurations currently in use, spanning a continuum from fully in-person to fully online formats. In addition to mapping national practice, this article makes a conceptual contribution to understanding professional judgement in child protection by showing how different conference configurations create distinct relational conditions that shape interaction and decision-making. While hybrid conferences may widen access and improve attendance, some, particularly those where parents attend remotely, introduce relational risks that influence decision-making dynamics. Hybrid conferences should therefore be treated as adaptable tools requiring explicit consideration of their relational and decision-making effects.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	child protection,child protection conferences,hybrid conferences,hybrid practice,decision-making,participation
Faculty \ School:	Faculty of Social Sciences > School of Social Work
UEA Research Groups:	Faculty of Social Sciences > Research Centres > Centre for Research on Children and Families Faculty of Social Sciences > Research Groups > Child Protection & Family Support
Depositing User:	LivePure Connector
Date Deposited:	08 Oct 2026 10:16
Last Modified:	11 Oct 2026 05:38
URI:	https://ueaeprints.uea.ac.uk/id/eprint/104753
DOI:	10.1093/bjsw/bcag226

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