The protocol aims to provide the necessary structure to enable staff to meet within a professional forum, as appropriate, to meet the needs of the adults or children they support.
Multi-agency meetings are used to support staff in relation to their practice and working together successfully. The Protocol considers the following:
- Multi-Agency Group Supervision
- Reflective Learning Practitioner Forums
- Professionals’ Meetings
Multi-agency working forums and professionals’ meetings are not planning meetings. If participants believe the child or adult is suffering from, or at risk of, immediate or significant harm, then existing child protection or adult support and protection procedures should be implemented.
Purpose of multi-agency working forums
There are currently many multi-agency meetings designed to allow professionals, in partnership with the person, parents or carers, to consider multi-agency information, identify the needs of the person, and together formulate plans to meet these needs. In most circumstances these meetings should provide the appropriate context for multi-agency discussion and debate. However, there are times when a multi-agency meeting is required outwith these planning forums.
It is every practitioner’s responsibility to problem solve where there is disagreement and ensure that communication is clear and open, and that disagreement and escalation does not result in time delay in considering next steps for the child or adult.
What the protocol does
The multi-agency working protocol is designed to make it as easy as possible for frontline practitioners to work together and build trusting relationships. It recognises that good communication is central to effective multi-agency working.
How the protocol will help
It helps to:
- distinguish the differences between the identified multi-agency working meetings
- outline the factors that should be considered in order to help staff identify which multiagency meeting best suits their needs
- focus on the requirements of a Professionals’ Meeting
- inform next steps and if things should be escalated
- consider the importance of Professional Curiosity and Professional Judgement when working together
- highlight that professional disagreement can be healthy and generate constructive debate, which may ultimately lead to more robust assessment and action planning
What you need to do
Read the protocol document and discuss the new protocol with your team or manager.
After reading the protocol, you should consider if you understand the protocol and if the differences between when a multi-agency working forums and a professionals' meeting is required.
If you have any questions or would like to discuss the protocol
Contact the Public Protection Lead Officer Adult Support and Protection.
Email: Sandie.Donald@dumgal.gov.uk
Contact Public Protection Lead Officer Child Protection
Email: Clare.Cowan@dumgal.gov.uk