This is an area of work that is best supported by sound inter-authority working and professional discussion. Where child protection or adult safeguarding enquiries have been made in one area, but the person whom the allegation has been made about lives or works in other areas can be challenging. There needs to be clear, appropriate professional discussion in relation to these circumstances.
Decisions should also be taken in terms of referrals being made into other Local Authorities if the individual has children or caring responsibilities in another area.
There will be need for information to be shared between local authority areas. The LADO/DOS must ensure that they share all information with their counterpart in the other Local authorities.
It will usually be the responsibility of the Local authority where the alleged abuse/incident took place/concern arose to hold the Section 5 Strategy Discussion/Meeting. After discussion between the relevant LADO/DOS it will be decided and recorded which authority will be responsible for holding the Section 5 Strategy Meeting and the reasons for doing so. This should be supported by positive professional discussion and communication.
If consensus cannot be reached as to which Local Authority area will take this forward, this will need to be escalated to the LADO or other senior manager within Social Services.
If there are issues relating to lack of response or inconsistency with the threshold criteria for these procedures practitioners must escalate these to their safeguarding leads and utilise the relevant safeguarding board protocols i.e. Resolution of Professional Differences Protocol.