There are two types of Social Services Case Conference, the initial and the review case conference. The First case conference is held very quickly after the Social Services get a referral, regarding you and your family.

The people around the table are representatives of all the various agencies involved with your case or that could become involved with it, Social Services, police, education, health, probation or even NSPCC.

This is to set the initial plan regarding what needs to be done, possibly putting children on the "at risk" register, or indeed removing them to a place of safety. This could include moving children out of the family home by court orders and seeking orders banning certain adults from the home as well.

You would be invited to attend this initial case conference and I would urge you to attend and bring your solicitor, even though the Social Services will not allow your solicitor to say anything he can advice you.

All future case conferences are spaced at six monthly intervals; some may be brought forward if circumstances dictate. The aim of these Social Services review conferences is to keep all of the professionals up to date with the progress of the case. It also formulates different plans and strategies to help the family return to as normal a life as possible and includes a confirmation of any continuing need for at risk registration.

OK. So this is all very worrying and it seems as though control of your life is being taken away. Just stop for a minute, you have to focus on the family. Of more concern is what you do when faced with your first case conference, here is a list of things to look out for.

1) You must have an invitation, delivered by hand.

2) Any questions you have should be able to be asked of the person giving you the invitation.

3) You are entitled to read any reports from social workers or other agencies before going into the conference. Days in advance should be demanded.

4) A list of all the people attending the conference is included with the invitation, if there is anyone on it you have problems with, tell the social worker, if your friend or solicitor is not on it, ask why.

5) Do not sit quietly on the sidelines, your future life is being determined by people who go home at night to a family, not concerned about how you feel.

6) Half an hour before going into the meeting, you will be invited to talk through, with the Chairman of the conference, how it all operates. Ask all the questions and do not let him think it will be just a rubber stamping exercise, it will be if you let it!

7) The perception to the outside world is given that these Social Services conferences are a means for parents to be heard and their views to be taken on board. Rubbish, the truth is that the outcome and plan of action has probably been sorted out prior to you even being there.

8) Never allow your anger to get in the way of your determination to get a life back, channel all this aggression into supporting other members of your family who may be unable to see the light at the end of the tunnel. It may be dim but it is there!

9) Be firm and resolute, in your questions and do not be bullied by sarcasm and flatulent noises by the Social Service members of the conference. They will not expect you to produce a counter report against theirs, so that might be worth doing, especially if your solicitor is involved in producing it.

10) Stick to the old adage, give them an inch and they take a mile. The Social Services only use Case Conferences to prop up their self believe that they are the only law of the land. When you pull them up, which you will, if you are determined to, the look of incomprehension on their faces makes you feel much better. The possibility that they may be wrong never enters their heads, probably because of all the other baggage they are carrying.

11) When the Social Services Case Conference ends, make sure you confirm when you will receive both the protection plan and the minutes, you can put complaints in if they are late or incorrect.

12) I will go into greater detail within the complaint section. Most of the tools to use against the SS over zealousness and fabrication are easy to use and by costing them time and monies, will ultimately lead to the inquiries of the higher authorities.

13) Keep in mind that actually taking to court a Social Worker is almost impossible, so they have a lot of power. Until they get moved sideways or demoted. The only way to reduce this power is by showing them you will not stand for inaccurate reports; they have to attach your comments and concerns to all the documents put before conferences and court.

14) In further reading you will find various ways to further make Social Services professionals take what you say seriously.

15) A number of people have found the same problem i had, that is the physiological assessment they ask you to have. A very large number, although "in Denial" agreed to it, only to be labelled dangerous! I pushed two NSPCC physiologists into a corner on this and they had to agree, they automatically have to label you as such because of your denial! So my solicitor demanded they stop pressuring me, at court and they had to except it. So, if asked, say why as i did and DO NOT do it, getting your solicitor to show why.