Resolving Professional Disagreements

Working with children and families can be difficult and complex and involves dealing with uncertainties and making important, complex decisions on the basis of incomplete information to demanding timelines in often changing, hostile and stressful circumstances.

In most circumstances, there is mutual agreement between professionals working together to safeguard children and young people. However, when there are professional concerns or disagreements over another professional’s decisions, actions or lack of actions in relation to a referral, an enquiry or assessment/intervention, the repercussions can be extremely serious for the children and young people concerned.

Problem resolution is an integral part of professional co-operation and joint working to safeguard children, and it is important to:

• Ensure professional disputes do not put children at risk or obscure the focus on the child;
• Ensure professional disputes between agencies are resolved in a timely, open and constructive manner;
• Identify problem areas in working together where there is a lack of clarity and promote resolution via amendment to protocols and procedures.

The safety of the child or children is the paramount consideration in any professional disagreement, and any unresolved issues should be escalated with due consideration to the risks that might exist for the child by doing so or not doing so.

There may also be occasions when concerns about professional practice may be raised in respect of an individual, or a group of individuals, or where there may be concerns about the response of a professional colleague to a situation involving actual or likely harm to a child.

The first and key principle should be that it is everyone’s professional responsibility to problem solve and come to an agreed resolution at the earliest opportunity, always keeping in mind the child’s safety and welfare.

All agencies are responsible for ensuring their staff are competent and supported to escalate appropriately intra and inter-agency concerns and disagreements about a child’s wellbeing. Agencies/professionals should not be defensive if challenged and should always be prepared to review decisions and plans with an open mind and revise decisions in light of new information. Differences in status/knowledge and experience may affect individuals’ ability to challenge, and all professionals should seek advice and support from the safeguarding lead in their organisations.

Stage One: Direct Professional-to-Professional Discussion.

Differences of opinion or judgment should be discussed between frontline professionals to achieve a shared understanding and agree on a resolution and plan. If professionals are unable to resolve differences within the time scale, the disagreement should be escalated to stage two.

Stage Two: Direct the First Line Manager to the First Line Manager Discussion.

If stage one fails to resolve the issue, then each professional should discuss the issue with their first line manager or safeguarding supervisor/Named Nurse. The first line manager should then liaise with the other professional’s line manager in an attempt to reach a resolution. If a resolution cannot be reached, the disagreement should be escalated to stage three.

Stage Three: Senior Manager to Senior Manager Discussion.

If concerns remain unresolved at this stage, a senior manager-to-senior manager discussion should take place to discuss the concerns, and if necessary, call a joint meeting with the involved professionals and first-line managers. Advice and support should also be sought from the designated safeguarding children professional within their agency.

Stage Four: Multi-Agency Safeguarding Partnership/Board.

In the unlikely event that the issue is not resolved by the steps described above and/or the discussions raise significant policy issues, the matter should be referred in a timely way to the Multi-Agency Safeguarding Partnership/Board. This should include forwarding a written account of the dispute and what attempts have been made to resolve this, and if necessary, a meeting will be convened to seek resolution.