Resolving Professional Differences (Escalation Policy)

Transcription

1 Reslving Prfessinal Differences (Escalatin Plicy) Apprved : LSCB May 2018

2 1. Intrductin Effective wrking tgether depends n an pen apprach and hnest relatinships between agencies. Prblem slving and reslutin is an integral part f prfessinal c-peratin and jint wrking t safeguard children and yung peple. Transparency, penness and a willingness t understand and respect individual and agency views are a cre aspect f multi-agency / inter-agency wrking. Hwever, there may be ccasins where individuals / agencies wrking with children and families disagree n hw best t keep children safe and prmte their welfare. Disagreements can arise in a number f areas, but are mst likely t arise arund: Perceived levels f risk Levels f need and whether a child has met the threshld fr a service r interventin Rles and respnsibilities Level r quality f cmmunicatin/ infrmatin sharing Prvisin f services Actin r lack f actin prgressing plans Cases being / nt being stepped up r dwn and / r clsed The Cambridgeshire & Peterbrugh Safeguarding Children Bard is clear that there must be respectful challenge whenever a prfessinal r agency has a cncern abut the actin r inactin f anther. The aim must be t reslve a prfessinal disagreement at the earliest pssible stage, always keeping in mind that the child and yung persn s safety and welfare is paramunt. If a child is thught t be at immediate risk f harm, the designated safeguarding lead in yur agency shuld be infrmed immediately. Any wrker wh feels that a decisin is nt safe, r is inapprpriate, can initially cnsult their supervisr / manager t clarify their thinking, if required. They shuld be able t evidence the nature and surce f the cncerns and shuld keep a recrd f all discussins. Cncerns relating t decisins, suspected wrngding r dangers at wrk within an agency, shuld be raised in line with each agency s plicies fr dealing with such matters, including, but nt limited t, thse setting ut the arrangements fr whistleblwing. Where a dispute invlves a cmplaint abut the behaviur r prfessinal cnduct f a wrker, this shuld be reprted initially t their line manager t actin under agency plicy. Fr allegatins against staff, either the LADO shuld be cntacted (Child prtectin cncern), r the agency s whistleblwing / cmplaints prcedure used. 2. Key Principles The child s safety and welfare shuld be the key fcus at all times and any dispute between individuals / agencies shuld never leave a child unprtected It is the respnsibility f all prfessinals t be assertive and t present a respectful challenge t the actins and decisins f ther agencies where they believe there is evidence t suggest that the child s safety r develpment may be cmprmised 3

3 A culture f prfessinal challenge can be develped and facilitated thrugh cnsistent cmmunicatin and infrmatin sharing between agencies and within clear plans fr children and families. Prfessinals shuld knw wh in the multi-agency netwrk is invlved with the child, yung persn and their family Individuals /agencies shuld nt be defensive when challenged and must always be prepared t review decisins and plans with an pen mind and revise decisins in light f the new infrmatin Differences f pinin shuld be reslved at the earliest stage and within the shrtest timescale pssible t ensure that the child is prtected NOTE: If a child is thught t be at imminent risk f harm, the matter shuld be referred immediately t the Plice/ Scial Care t decide what actin t take t safeguard/prtect the child whilst the dispute is being reslved. 3. Reslving Differences f Opinin; Stages f Reslutin Stage One: Discussin between wrkers The peple wh disagree shuld have a discussin t try t reslve the prblem. This discussin must take place as sn as pssible and culd be a telephne cnversatin r a face t face meeting. It shuld be recgnised that differences in status and /r experience may affect the cnfidence f sme wrkers t pursue this unsupprted. Stage Tw: Discussin between Line Managers If the prblem is nt reslved and cncerns remain, the wrker shuld cntact their supervisr / line manager / safeguarding lead within their wn agency t cnsider the issue raised, what utcme they wuld like t achieve and hw differences can be addressed. The line manager shuld cntact their respective cunterpart t try t negtiate an agreed way frward. This culd invlve a prfessinals meeting if deemed apprpriate. Stage Three: Discussin between Operatinal/Senir Managers If the issue is nt reslved at stage tw, the supervisr/ line manager reprts t their manager r named/ lead safeguarding representative. These tw senir managers f bth individuals/rganisatins must liaise and attempt t reslve the prfessinal differences thrugh discussin. Stage Fur: Reslutin by Cambridgeshire and Peterbrugh Safeguarding Bard s Chair If there is n reslutin, and having exhausted all ther rutes, the matter shuld be escalated t the Chair f the Cambridgeshire and Peterbrugh Safeguarding Bard. The escalatin t CPSCB shuld be made via the Head f Service (fr each individual/agency) t the Safeguarding Bard. The Chair may either seek t reslve the issue directly with the relevant senir managers, r cnvene a Reslutin Panel. 4

4 The Reslutin Panel must cnsist f a senir fficer frm three agencies wh are members f the Cambridgeshire & Peterbrugh Safeguarding Bard. The senir fficers must include the agencies cncerned in the prfessinal differences. Where this invlves health agencies the Reslutin Panel members shuld include the Designated Dctr/ Nurse fr Safeguarding. The Panel will receive representatins frm thse invlved in the dispute and will cllectively reslve the prfessinal differences cncerned. Additinal Nte: 1. At each stage prfessinals must ensure that apprpriate recrds are made in the child s r family s case recrds. This shuld include the cncern, actin taken t reslve, agreed actins frm reslutin prcess, timescales and the utcme. This shuld be clear, evidenced and factual. 5

5 Appendix 1 Escalatin Prcedure Flwchart Yu cnsider that the actins, inactin r decisins f anther agency d nt adequately safeguard a child Stage 1 Make initial attempts t reslve the matter thrugh discussin with the ther prfessinal invlved. Recrd the utcme Stage 2 If the disagreement remains unreslved speak with yur line manager; wh will cntact their equivalent manager in the ther agency and seek t reslve the matter. Line managers t cnsider whether a prfessinals meeting is apprpriate. If child is subject f a CP Plan r is a Lked After Child, ntify the Independent Reviewing Officer Stage 3 If the disagreement remains unreslved the line managers reprt t their respective managers r safeguarding representatives. Again, a prfessinals meeting may be apprpriate at this stage engaging ther agencies. If there remains disagreement, escalatin cntinues thrugh the apprpriate tiers f management in each rganizatin until the matter is reslved. The respective agency members n the CPSCB are engaged in seeking reslutin befre Stage 4 is cnsidered If unreslved at Stage3, the cncerned agency ntifies the CPSCB Chair via: safeguardingbards@cambridgeshire.gv.uk Stage 4 The Chair f the CPSCB facilitates the reslutin f the issue with the senir managers invlved either directly r thrugh a Reslutin Panel CPSCB t cnsider whether a Learning and Imprvement activity / briefing needs t be undertaken t ensure lessns are learnt 6