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Contents

1. Introduction
2. Notification
3. Immediate Protection
4. Strategy Meetings / Discussions - Principles
5. Strategy Discussion - Involvements
6. Organising the Meeting
7. Strategy Meeting - Involvements
8. Strategy Meetings - Specific Circumstances
9. Strategy Meeting - Agenda
10. Strategy Meetings - Reviews
11. Outcomes of Strategy Meetings
    
    Appendix 1: Strategy Discussion/Meeting Dispute Resolution Process (Children's Social Care and Merseyside Police Vulnerable Persons Unit)

1. Introduction

A Strategy Meeting / Discussion must take place whenever there is reasonable cause to suspect that a child is suffering or is likely to suffer Significant Harm.

A Strategy Discussion takes place at the early stages of referral or Section 47 Enquiry to discuss the immediate safeguarding issues and the progression of a case. Where a Strategy Discussion takes place in the first instance, this must be agreed between the responsible managers, that is Social Care (Children's Social Care Manager) and the Police (VPU) (Detective Sergeant or Detective Inspector). It will always involve managers from Children's Social Care and the Police. Merseyside Force Policy indicates that, wherever possible, a Detective Inspector or Detective Sergeant will attend, however if they are not available, or a Detective Constable has more pertinent or personal knowledge of the situation then it is deemed appropriate for them to attend. 

A Strategy Discussion should be followed by a Strategy Meeting. The contents of the discussion and the decisions made should be recorded, signed and shared between parties. The discussion does not have to be face-to-face, however it must be clearly deemed and understood by both Children’s Social Care and the Police to be a Strategy Discussion. 

A Strategy Meeting should involve all agencies (including agencies in adult services that provide services to adults in the family) that are able to provide information in relation to the child or children and the family and carers that are the subject of the referral or Section 47 Enquiry. Children's Social Care and the Police Vulnerable Persons Unit (VPU) will always attend the meeting. This is a face-to-face meeting and any agency that is unable to attend must provide the chair of the meeting with information in another form. The agenda (Section 8 - Strategy Meeting - Agenda) for the meeting must be followed.

A Strategy Meeting may also be convened when a number of Initial Assessments have been undertaken during a period of time, and issues continue to be raised as a matter of concern for agencies involved with the child(ren). It is the first stage of any multi-agency investigation.

A Strategy Meeting is the preferred option when planning how to respond to concerns relating to children being at risk of Significant Harm however this is not always possible.

A Children's Social Care Manager, who is experienced in child protection work and familiar with the particular case, must always chair Strategy Meetings. 

Outside of Children's Social Care office hours, the role of Manager can be delegated to the Standby Coordinator. 

However, in more specialist circumstances, such as where organisational abuse is suspected, or where allegations refer to a professional who works with children, a Principal Officer from the Quality Assurance Unit should chair the meeting. See Allegations against Staff Procedure.

It is the Children's Social Care Manager's responsibility to ensure that the discussion, outcomes and agreed actions are accurately recorded and entered on to the Record of Strategy Discussion in ICS (c). Where the meeting is felt to be complex, the BSA will be requested to support the minute taking arrangements. It is also their responsibility to ensure that a copy of the agreed actions is circulated within 24 hours to all parties, including those who were unable to attend. It is also the responsibility of those in attendance to note the agreed actions for their agency to progress. It is the responsibility of the chair to inform agencies unable to attend of the outcome and any actions required of them. All parties in attendance should sign this document, and this will be scanned by Children’s Social Care and originals held by the Police VPU.

The family should not be informed that a Strategy Meeting is taking place as this could interfere with any Police action required. The family would however be advised that information would be shared on a multi agency basis as the issues are being dealt with under Child Protection Procedures. The outcome of the assessment and any discussions / meetings held would then be shared with the family at the appropriate time. 

Where there is a difference of opinion between agencies in respect of the outcome of a contact / referral and where it is felt that a Strategy Meeting should have taken place, this should be dealt with via the Problem Resolution / Escalation Procedure - To Follow.

Where a child is looked after by another Local Authority but placed in Knowsley, Children’s Social Care has a duty in terms of the child’s immediate protection. If an allegation is made against a professional, a child protection situation arises requiring an immediate response or the child is missing from care, Knowsley Children’s Social Care would convene and chair a Strategy Meeting under the relevant procedures, notifying the responsible authority and make appropriate arrangements to ensure the immediate protection of the child.

2. Notification

Any information which indicates that a child is actually or at risk of Significant Harm must be shared with the partner agency as soon as possible after receipt of the contact / referral or concerns raised (open case), but no later than 12 hours after receipt.

In order to support the notification process, the following information has been included in this guidance: Section 11, Outcomes of Strategy Meetings provides useful contact details and telephone numbers to support the notification process. 

Notification is to be made by telephone in the first instance to advise of the concerns and basic information. This information must be followed up in writing by the VPU / Children’s Social Care worker, using the appropriate pro forma and faxed / e-mailed securely to the partner agency. It is important that the member of staff sending the fax / e-mail, telephones the partner agency to ensure that an appropriate person is available to receive the fax / e-mail, maintain confidentiality and to confirm that the fax / e-mail has been successfully received. 

In respect of out of hours arrangements, the late officer (VPU) and Out of Hours Co-ordinator should make contact with each other at the beginning of the shift. The VPU are also able to share their rota and individual contact numbers with Out of Hours Manager to support working together and effective communication.

3. Immediate Protection

Working Together to Safeguarding Children (2010) states that ‘where there is a risk to the life of a child or a likelihood of serious immediate harm, an agency with statutory child protection powers should act quickly to secure the immediate safety of the child’.

Where there are concerns that a child is at actual or likelihood of risk of Significant Harm, and / or a criminal offence may have been committed the respective (CSC / VPU) manager must be informed immediately. The Managers should then contact the partner agency to discuss the information received and to agree a course of action. The managers will then make a decision regarding whether a strategy meeting or discussion is required and any other immediate actions. Where the manager is unavailable, an alternative manager must be notified of the information and liaise with their partner agency manager.

4. Strategy Meetings / Discussions - Principles

Any strategy discussion / meeting should consider all children

• Within the family;
• In the household;
• Who may have contact with the person(s) who may pose a risk of harm with regard to possible safeguarding concerns and record decisions appropriately.

NB It is important to record where there are no safeguarding concerns and the reason, for example where a sibling lives with, and is being adequately cared for by, a grandparent.

The purpose of the strategy discussion / meeting is to:

• Share available information about the family and causes for concern;
• Agree the conduct and timing of any investigation, including criminal investigation;
• Decide whether a Section 47 Enquiry should be initiated or continued, at which point a Core Assessment should be initiated;
• Plan the detail of the Section 47 enquiry, including the need for medical treatment , and who will undertake what actions, by when and for what purpose;
• Agree what action is required immediately to safeguard the child, and/or provide interim services and support. If the child is in hospital, decisions should also be made about how to secure the safe discharge of the child;
• Determine if legal action is required;
• Determine what information from the Strategy Discussion will be shared with the family, unless such information sharing may place a child at increased risk of abuse or Neglect or jeopardize police investigations into any alleged offence(s);
• Determine the need for, and timing of, any further Strategy Meeting.

5. Strategy Discussion - Involvements

A Strategy Discussion may take place via telephone or be a discussion between two or three individuals. A Strategy Discussion may take place immediately after information has been received which raises child protection concerns, and should take place within 24 hours. Strategy Discussions would take place between the responsible manager that is, Children’s Social Care (CSCM) and VPU (DS / DI). However, consideration should be given as to the involvement of other agencies in the Strategy Discussion.

The Strategy Discussion must be recorded by the Social Work Manager and recommendations agreed and recorded regarding what action needs to take place and who will take responsibility.  The discussion must include consideration regarding whether a Strategy Meeting is required, and a date, time and venue agreed. It is expected that a Strategy Meeting would be held where a joint investigation is to take place, and this should take place within 72 hours of the Strategy Discussion.

A copy of the record of the Strategy Discussion must be provided to the other parties involved as soon as possible, but within a maximum of 24 hours.

6. Organising the Meeting 

Once a decision has been made to hold a Strategy Meeting the task of organising the meeting can be completed by the social worker or Business Support Assistant (where appropriate).

The date, time and venue for the Strategy Meeting must be negotiated between the Children's Social Care and the VPU (DS / DI). The Strategy Meeting should take place within a maximum timescale of 72 hours. Where the Strategy Meeting can not take place sooner, a Strategy Discussion would be required.

It is important to involve all relevant agencies where appropriate, and for representatives to be identified for example, during school holidays, the School Attendance Officer may be an appropriate representative for the School if no one is available. 

The CSCM and DS / DI should agree which other agencies are required to attend the meeting, giving due consideration to professionals involved with the child(ren) and family, in the incident or investigation, and who will take responsibility for inviting these professionals to attend.

7. Strategy Meeting - Involvements

Strategy Meetings must always be chaired by a Children' Social Care Team Manager who is experienced in child protection work and familiar with the particular case. Outside of Children's Social Care office hours the role of CSCM can be delegated to the Standby Coordinator.

The exception to this would include Strategy Meetings in relation to allegations against a professional, which are chaired by a Principal Officer from the Quality Assurance Unit; SUDI / SUDC strategy meetings which are chaired by the Police.  

The chair should consider the venue of any meeting in order to facilitate the attendance of key practitioners. For example, it may be vital that a paediatrician attend, and therefore a meeting in the relevant hospital might be most appropriate in such circumstances.

Where the information or nature of the concerns is deemed complex, every effort will be made to ensure that a Business Support Assistant (Children’s Social Care) will minute the Strategy Meetings.

Where possible, all professionals involved with the child or young person, who have relevant information should be invited to attend. Where the child is an adopted child a member of the Adoption Service should be invited.

Merseyside Force Policy indicates that wherever possible a Detective Inspector or Detective Sergeant will attend the Strategy Meeting, however if there is no one available or it is deemed that a Detective Constable has more personal knowledge of the circumstances, and it would be more appropriate for them to attend, then they would attend in place of the Detective Inspector or Detective Sergeant.

8. Strategy Meetings - Specific Circumstances

Unborn Child - Where a pre birth assessment is to be undertaken, and the parents have other children who are subject to a Child Protection Plan, are Looked After or have been adopted or where a member of the household is assessed as a Risk to Children, a Strategy Meeting should be chosen as the outcome of the Initial Assessment. Unless the child is due to be born imminently, the Strategy Meeting should resolve to carry out a Pre Birth Core Assessment on the child / family and to reconvene at a suitable date, which can then make a decision to progress to S47 enquiries where appropriate (see Pre-Birth Child Protection Conferences Procedure of Knowsley Safeguarding Children Board Manual). Where the child’s expected date of delivery is within six weeks of the strategy meeting, the findings of the Initial Assessment should guide the decision to commence S47 enquiries. (See Section 47 Enquiries and Core Assessments Procedure of Knowsley Safeguarding Children Board Manual).

SUDI / SUDC - Sudden unexpected and unexplained infant deaths or childhood deaths, or Acute Life Threatening Event (ALTE) Protocol. The Protocol states that a SUDI Case Meeting is the best forum for sharing information. In all cases a SUDI Case Discussion will be convened under the co-ordination of the Police’s Senior Investigation Officer (SIO), involving Children’s Social Care Team Manager, Consultant Paediatrician / A&E Consultant and, as appropriate, the Pathologist. The SIO should undertake to ensure the case discussion Pro forma is completed and distributed to participating agencies. The case discussion would normally take place in the early stages of a SUDI being reported, and would be followed by a Case Meeting within 3 working days of the infant’s death. This meeting is chaired by the Principle Officer / Independent Reviewing Officer, Quality Assurance Unit. (Ref: SUDI / SUDC Protocol).

Allegations against Professionals - where concerns are raised alleging abuse by a professional person working with children, these concerns should be referred to the Designated Senior Manager, who then contacts the Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) within 1 working day. Where there is cause to suspect that a child is suffering or is likely to suffer Significant Harm, the LADO should immediately refer to Children’s Social Care and seek to initiate a Strategy Discussion. The Police should be informed where a criminal offence may have been committed. A Strategy Discussion or initial evaluation can be conducted by way of a series of telephone discussions but it should take the form of a face to fact meeting with a dedicated minute taker wherever practicable. A Principle Officer from Quality Assurance Unit, Children’s Social Care will chair the meeting and the participants should be sufficiently senior to contribute all relevant available information regarding the complaint / allegation, child, accused person and make decisions on behalf of their agencies (see Allegations against Staff Procedure).

9. Strategy Meeting - Agenda

The chair should ensure that the agenda is followed and supports the enquiry and investigation. Additional guidance is included in Appendix 1: Strategy Discussion/Meeting Dispute Resolution Process (Children's Social Care and Merseyside Police Vulnerable Persons Unit), as to what the Strategy Meeting should consider and how it should be recorded.

10. Strategy Meetings - Reviews

More than one Strategy Meeting may be necessary. This is likely to be where the child’s circumstances are very complex and a number of discussions are required to consider whether and if so, when to initiate Section 47 Enquiries as well as how best to undertaken them.

Where the initial Strategy Meeting agrees S47 enquiries are to be initiated, there may be circumstances which will require a review Strategy Meeting being held. It is expected that this would be under exceptional circumstances and the key triggers to instigate a review Strategy Meeting should be identified and recorded by the chair. 

Where a review Strategy Meeting is required the chair, recording and agenda will be used for all subsequent Strategy Meetings.

In relation to Allegations against Professionals, following the initial strategy meeting, the LADO will monitor the progress of the investigation either by way of a review Strategy Discussion or liaising with the Police and / or Children’s Social Care. A final strategy or evaluation discussion should be held at the end of the enquiries to ensure that all tasks have been completed.

11. Outcomes of Strategy Meetings

A Strategy Meeting may recommend one or more of the following outcomes:

• Start S47 enquiries as part of a core assessment;
• Disciplinary procedure;
• Complete Core Assessment under S17;
• Police investigation;
• Arrange follow up Strategy Discussion;
• Referral to other agency;
• No further action.

It is possible to choose more than one outcome of a Strategy Meeting. 

Helpful Telephone Numbers:

Merseyside Police

T: 0151 709 6010

Critical Incident Manager (VPU)

T: 07740687259 7 am - 5 pm - VPU - 07740454981

Control Room

T: 0151 777 6952

Out of Hours Pager Number

07659590081

Appendix 1: Strategy Discussion/Meeting Dispute Resolution Process (Children's Social Care and Merseyside Police Vulnerable Persons Unit)

Click here to view Appendix 1: Strategy Discussion/Meeting Dispute Resolution Process (Children's Social Care and Merseyside Police Vulnerable Persons Unit).

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