1.6.4 Disputes between Teams Regarding Child Protection Cases including Flowchart |
This procedure is to be implemented when there is a dispute between two teams over the appropriate status of a case e.g. Team A has assessed a family and concludes the case status as ‘Child in Need’ and Team B believes the case meets the Child Protection Threshold the following procedure should be implemented.
The social worker/family centre officers should first try and resolve the issue themselves by discussing their different opinions and their rationale (evidence) of this position. Ensure at all times that your decision-making holds the welfare and safety of the child as paramount and that where appropriate, the London Child Protection Procedure have been followed. If the front line officers are unable to reach agreement, they must refer the case to their respective team managers for a decision within 24 hours.
The two Team Managers should review the case and through discussion try to resolve the issue between themselves by discussing their different opinions and their rationale of their position. If the team managers are unable to agree, they must refer the case file, with a written summary of their rationale and position, to the Child Protection Manager to review and to make a decision within 24 hours.
The Child Protection Manager will review the file and the two differing opinions and will make a decision within 24 hours. The Child Protection Manager’s decision will be recorded on the file as a case management action. In addition, the Child Protection Manager will advise both managers of the outcome.
In the absence of the Child Protection Manager, the file and summary must be referred to the Principal Manager, Safeguarding & Family Support, for a decision within 24 hours.
Alternatively, in their absence refer the case and summary to the Principal Manager, Looked After Children & Leaving Care, for a decision within 24 hours.
Alternatively, in their absence refer the case and summary to the Assistant Director Children & Families for a decision within 24 hours.
NB: Recordings on the case file throughout the dispute must be professional and officers should refrain from engaging in unprofessional recording. The Write Enough Standard should be used.
AND
If one party in the dispute is an external professional, Section 7.11.18, Disputed Decisions of the London Child Protection Procedures should be implemented: see
14:4:1 - 14:4:6 for the procedure on ‘disputes at referral stage’
or
6:12:10 for the procedure on disputes regarding ‘the need to hold a child protection conference or not’.
Flowchart on Disputes between Teams regarding Child Protection Cases.
Click here to view Procedure on Disputes Between Teams Regarding Child Protection Cases Flowchart
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