Professional Challenge is about challenging decisions, practice or actions which may not effectively ensure the safety or well-being of a child, young person or his/her family.
It should be seen as part of ‘healthy’ professional working relationships. Practitioners should be encouraged to give or receive professional challenge in a constructive and positive way. Successful joint working is reliant upon resolving disagreements effectively.
Agencies should work to the principle of resolving disagreements and maintaining positive relationships at the lowest possible level with a focus on achieving the most appropriate outcomes for children and families.
For disputes between agencies that can’t be resolved between professionals, please refer to the
HIPS Escalation Policy for the resolution of Professional Disagreement
. For disputes within agencies, in house procedures should be followed.