Escalation Policies: When and How to Escalate in Social Work

What is Escalation?

Escalation is the process of raising concerns when you believe that a decision, action, or lack of action by another professional or agency is putting a child or adult at risk. It's a formal mechanism for resolving professional disagreements when informal discussion has not worked.

Every Local Safeguarding Children Partnership and Safeguarding Adults Board should have an escalation policy (sometimes called a "resolution of professional disagreements" policy) that sets out how to escalate concerns.

When Should You Escalate?

Consider escalation when:

• You disagree with a decision and informal discussion hasn't resolved it
• You believe a child or adult remains at risk
• Another agency isn't taking action you believe is necessary
• Information isn't being shared appropriately
• A referral has been rejected and you disagree
• Threshold decisions are being applied inconsistently
• There are concerns about the quality of work
• Agreed actions aren't being completed

The Escalation Process

Step 1: Informal Resolution

Before formal escalation, try to resolve the issue directly:

• Speak to the professional you disagree with
• Explain your concerns clearly
• Listen to their perspective
• Try to reach agreement
• Document the discussion and outcome

Step 2: First-Line Manager

If informal resolution doesn't work:

• Discuss with your own line manager
• Your manager contacts their counterpart in the other agency
• Managers attempt to resolve the disagreement
• Set a timescale for resolution

Step 3: Senior Manager

If still unresolved:

• Escalate to senior manager level
• Senior managers meet or discuss
• Decision documented and communicated

Step 4: Strategic Level

For persistent or very serious disagreements:

• Escalate to service director or equivalent
• May involve safeguarding partners
• Final decision made at strategic level

How to Escalate Effectively

Be Clear About Your Concern

• What specifically are you concerned about?
• What is the risk to the child or adult?
• What action do you think should be taken?

Document Everything

• Record the concern and the risk
• Document attempts at informal resolution
• Record who you escalated to and when
• Record the outcome

Be Professional

• Focus on the issue, not personalities
• Present facts and evidence
• Listen to other perspectives
• Remain respectful even when disagreeing

Urgent Situations

The standard escalation process is for non-urgent disagreements. In urgent situations where a child or adult is at immediate risk:

• Do not wait for formal escalation processes
• Take immediate action to protect
• Go directly to senior managers if needed
• Use emergency services if appropriate
• Document your actions and rationale

Common Scenarios

Referral Rejected

If you believe a referral should have been accepted:

• Ask for the rationale in writing
• Provide additional information if you have it
• Escalate if you still believe it should be accepted
• Don't just accept "NFA" if you're worried

Disagreement About Threshold

If you believe the child protection threshold is met and others disagree:

• Be clear about what evidence points to significant harm
• Ask what would need to change for them to agree
• Escalate if you believe the child is at risk

Actions Not Being Completed

If agreed actions from plans or meetings aren't being done:

• Raise it at the next meeting
• Contact the professional directly
• Escalate if non-completion is putting someone at risk

Barriers to Escalation

Common barriers include:

• Not wanting to damage relationships
• Fear of being seen as difficult
• Uncertainty about being right
• Not knowing the process
• Pressure to "get on with" other work
• Culture of not challenging

Remember: Your duty to the child or adult at risk outweighs these concerns.

What Happens After Escalation?

• A decision should be made and communicated
• The outcome should be documented
• Actions should be agreed and followed up
• Learning should be captured for future practice

If You're the Subject of Escalation

If another professional escalates about your decision:

• Treat it professionally, not personally
• Listen to the concerns raised
• Explain your rationale clearly
• Be open to reconsidering if new information emerges
• Involve your manager as appropriate

Conclusion

Escalation is not about conflict—it's about ensuring that professional disagreements don't leave children or adults at risk. It's a sign of professional confidence to escalate when you believe it's necessary, and it's a sign of professional maturity to respond constructively when someone escalates about your practice.

Know your local escalation policy, document your concerns clearly, and never let fear of conflict prevent you from advocating for a child or adult's safety.