Dissent, dispute and complaint

Getting it right for every child & young person in Highland: interagency practice model & child protection procedures 2024

This could include challenges about the inter-agency process, decision-making and outcomes, challenges by children/ young people or their parents/carers about the CPPM decisions, or complaints about practitioner behaviour.

  • Pending dispute resolution process:
  • if actions are required to ensure the child’s immediate safety, they should be prioritised and progressed without delay
  • the child’s name will be added to child protection register
  • the Child Protection Plan should be developed as required
  • the agencies and services involved in child protection work have complaints procedures, which should be followed where there is a complaint about an individual practitioner

Dispute resolution

When a practitioner wishes to raise an issue about the process, or disagrees with CPPM decisions, communication and concerns should be channeled through their agency line management. If a parent or carer wishes to challenge the decisions of the CPPM, there are clear processes set out in the decision letter. If the complaint is about a specific practitioner, they should follow the relevant agency’s complaints procedures. Children and young people should have access to guidance that they can understand about how to challenge a decision or make a complaint from any of the practitioners with whom they have contact.