7.2.4 Lack of Consensus at Family Support Team (FST)/Permanency Planning Review Team (PPRT) Meetings
Occasionally, there are situations when Family Support Team/Permanency Planning Review Team participants put forth recommendations which Children’s Division (CD) staff cannot accept as the recommendations are not believed to be in the best interest of the child and/or conflicts with CD’s Child Welfare policy. Unless otherwise noted in this manual, staff should follow the steps listed below when confronted with a lack of consensus at a FST/PPRT meeting.
The Children’s Service Worker (CSW) should:
- Inform the participants of the meeting that s(he) may not approve or agree with the specific recommendation, and will seek supervisory guidance.
- Refer the issue to the next level of supervision for review and guidance.
- The Supervisor/Circuit Manager or designee should review the case plan.
- If it is determined the recommendation is in the best interest of the child, the Supervisor/Circuit Manager or designee should provide written documentation to the CSW why the specific recommendation is appropriate, and the CSW should then submit the case plan to the court of jurisdiction.
- If it is determined the recommendation is not in the best interest of the child, the Supervisor/Circuit Manager or designee should provide the CSW with written documentation why the specific recommendation is not appropriate. The CSW should then submit the case plan along with a written explanation to the court of jurisdiction why the CD believes the recommendation is not in the best interest of the child.
The recommendations listed below are two examples which the CD may not agree with, if they were made at a FST/PPRT meeting:
- The FST/PPRT recommends a child be placed in an out-of-state residential treatment facility, or
- The FST/PPRT recommends the separation of a sibling group for placement or adoption.
If there are concerns regarding other recommendations put forth by FST/PPRT participants, staff should refer their concerns to the next level of supervision.