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6.2 Resolving Professional Disagreements

Contents

1. Dissent at Referral / Enquiry Stage

Principle: At no time must professional dissent detract from ensuring that the child is safeguarded. The child's welfare and safety must remain paramount throughout.

1.1	Disagreements over the handling of concerns reported to Children's Services (Solihull MBC) typically occur when: The Referral is not considered to meet eligibility criteria for assessment by Children's Social Work Services Children's Social Work Services conclude that further information should be sought by the referrer before the referral is progressed There is disagreement as to whether child protection procedures should be invoked Children's Social Work Services and the Police place different interpretations on the need for single/joint agency response There is disagreement regarding the need to convene an Initial Child Protection Conference
1.2	If the professionals are unable to resolve differences through discussion and/or meeting within a time scale which is acceptable to both of them, their disagreement must be addressed by more experienced or more senior staff.
1.3	With respect to most day to day issues, this will require a Children's Social Work Services team manager or assistant team manager liaising with her/his equivalent in the relevant agency.
1.4	If agreement cannot be reached following discussions between the above 'first line' managers (who should normally seek advice from her/his line manager or designated/named/lead officer) the issue must be referred without delay through the line management of the respective agency/agencies structure.
1.5	Alternatively, and more commonly in health services, input may be sought directly from the Designated Professional or Named Professional in preference to use of line management.
1.6	At this point a meeting should be called to discuss the situation involving all parties. Records of discussions must be maintained by all the agencies involved. The outcome of discussions and agreed actions should also be recorded.

2. Dissent at Child Protection Conferences

2.1	If a Child Protection Conference Chair is unable to achieve a consensus as to the need for a Child Protection Plan, s/he will make a decision and note any dissenting views
2.2	The agency or individual who dissents from the Chair's decision must determine whether s/he wishes to further challenge the result.
2.3	If the dissenting professional believes that the decision reached by the Chair places a child at (further) risk of Significant Harm, it is expected that s/he will formally raise the matter with the Manager of the Child Protection and Review Unit.
2.4	The Manager of the Child Protection and Review Unit will liaise with the Conference Chair and either: Uphold the decision reached by the Conference Chair OR Require that the conference be re-convened OR Advise the dissenting professional to use the relevant agency complaints procedure

3. Dissent Regarding the Implementation of the Child Protection Plan

3.1	Concern or disagreement may arise over another professional's decisions, actions or lack of actions in the implementation of the Child Protection Plan, including participation in Core Group meetings.
3.2	The line managers of the professionals involved should first address these concerns.
3.3	If agreement cannot be reached following discussions between the above 'first line' managers, the issue must be referred without delay through the line management of each agency.
3.4	Alternatively, and more commonly in health services, input may be sought directly from the Designated Professional or Named Professional in preference to use of line management.

4. Where Professional Differences Remain

4.1	If professional disagreements remain unresolved, the matter must be referred to the LSCB representative for each agency involved.
4.2	In the unlikely event that the issue is not resolved by the steps described above and/or the discussions raise significant policy issues, it may be helpful to refer the matter to a Local Safeguarding Children Board sub-group which has the brief to consider policy and practice issues or serious cases.

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