Wolverhampton SCB Logo


Top of page

Size: View this website with small text View this website with medium text View this website with large text View this website with high visibility

Appendix 21 - Complaints / Representations about Inter Agency Child Protection Conferences

Contents

  1. Introduction
  2. Procedure
  3. Complaints against Professionals


1. Introduction

Parents, carers, children and anyone attending a conference can challenge its decisions using the Wolverhampton Safeguarding Children Board Complaints/Representation Policy. This policy can be invoked when the individual:

  • Believes that the Child Protection Conference has not been run in accordance with Wolverhampton Safeguarding Children Board Procedures;
  • Disagrees with the facts and/or category of primary concern which resulted in the child being made subject of a Child Protection Plan
  • Disagrees that the child has been made subject to a Child Protection Plan or that the Child Protection Plan has been discontinued.

Where there are complaints or representations about the Child Protection Conference process, complainants should be requested to put their complaint in writing to the Conference Chairperson within 21 days of the conference taking place.

The Conference Chairperson will establish whether the complaint meets the LSCB complaints criteria and respond initially by attempting to resolve the complaint through conciliation.

If the complaint cannot be resolved at this initial stage, it should be passed to the local authority's complaints officer on the appropriate form and to the Deputy Head of Safeguarding.


2. Procedure

1.

The Deputy Head of Safeguarding will:

  • Where necessary, contact the complainant  to clarify that she or he understands the basis on which the complaint is being made
  • Interview members of the conference to clarify certain issues as necessary
  • If necessary, arrange for the complainant to be interviewed by an agency colleague who is outside the case management process of the particular case
  • Provide the outcome of enquiries to the inter-agency panel
2. The complaints officer will set up an inter agency panel consisting of senior representatives from three member agencies of Wolverhampton Safeguarding Children Board to consider the complaint.
3.

The Panel should:-

  • Review all the individual written agency reports that were submitted to the Child Protection Conference together with the conference minutes and any other information or evidence as appropriate
  • Consider whether the decisions and recommendations were made in accordance with the multi-agency procedures agreed by the Wolverhampton Safeguarding Children Board and whether these were reasonable having regard to the information given at the Child Protection Conference
  • Consider whether the relevant inter-agency protocols and procedures have been observed correctly, and whether the decision that is being complained about follows relevant protocols  and procedures.
4. Following the Wolverhampton Safeguarding Children Board Panel meeting the local authority complaints officer will write to the complainant with the Panel's decision. This should be within 28 days of receipt of the complaint.
5. Complainants will be kept informed of the progress of their complaint or representations at all times.
6. The Wolverhampton Safeguarding Children Board will be informed at each meeting of any complaints or representations.


Complaint is Upheld
7. The Wolverhampton Safeguarding Children Board Panel should refer any recommendation regarding the Child Protection Plan or change of category to a reconvened Child Protection Conference
8. The Deputy Head of Safeguarding will make the necessary arrangements to convene the Child Protection Conference with a different Chairperson.
9.

The Child Protection Conference will be reconvened within 14 days from the request of the Wolverhampton Safeguarding Children Board Panel and will consider:-

  • Whether the test for the child being subject to a Child Protection Plan is met, and
  • If so, the relevant category to be applied
10. A complainant who continues to be dissatisfied with the outcome of the reconvened Child Protection Conference may wish to seek a review of the position through the Safeguarding Children Board Review Panel (in accordance with the Complaints Directions 1990).


Complaint is not Upheld
11. The Deputy Head of Safeguarding will write to the complainant, confirming the original decision(s) will stand. S/he will ensure that the chair of the original Child Protection Conference, and through the chair, the  other conference attendees, are aware that the complaint has been made and has not been upheld.


3. Complaints against Professionals

Where there are complaints or representations about the contribution or behaviour of an individual professional at a conference rather than the conduct/decisions of the Child Protection Conference itself these should be dealt with under the relevant individual agency's complaints procedures.

End