Re-Think: Overcoming professional difference or 'stuckness' as social workers

At the COMPASS Jobs Fair in London last week, Sam Nesbit and Adam Shepherd, from Portsmouth City Council discussed ‘Re-Think’, Portsmouth’s approach to making, mending and maintaining professional relationships to make children safer.

Re-Think is a restorative way of bringing together the multi-agency professional network when there has been disagreement over, or limited progress with a family.

Ms Nesbit, who is the city’s Safeguarding Children Partnership Training Manager, said ‘We are trying to create a culture where relationships are prioritised’. At the centre was the belief that mending and maintaining relationships between professionals would mean safer decision-making for children and their families.

Mr Shepherd said that sometimes, rather than look at a family, Re-Think means looking at thematic issues, such as improving school attendance. Also, ‘We would not use it as part of a court process but we have used it post-proceedings.’

Ms Nesbit said that Re-Think worked by creating psychologically safe spaces, where professionals could develop a shared understanding. People care about the children they are working to help. 'We are not doing this job for the money. When we have experiences which impact on the way we behave with other professionals, children are less safe; When we disagree with other professionals and we do not find ways through, children are less safe.’

Everyone wanted the best for the children but people often talked of frustration when trying to work together. ‘What is the impact of not being able to challenge another professional? Incivility has an impact on self-esteem, and on decision-making. When our frustration impacts on how we communicate with other professionals, children are less safe,’ she said.

Re-Think gives a clear framework for multi-agency professional meetings. Ms Nesbit outlined the essentials in creating the psychologically safe space:
- Clarity – the purpose, the process, the structure
- Acknowledgement – everyone has their own context
- Validation – feelings matter and can impact decision making
- Safety – boundaries, neutral facilitation, freedom to express
- Inclusion – everyone has an equal voice to speak and to be heard
- Reassurance – no blame, take accountability
- Space – time to think, reflect and speak

Mr Shepherd said ‘It is not a meeting that is about coming out with a plan but coming out with a way forward because of a whole new perspective.’

Creating the safe space meant that the meetings are always face-to-face—there is no online option. Also, everyone who attended came for the full two hours ‘you’re in or you’re out -– you can’t come for 45mins,’ he said.

‘And there are no laptops or notes.’ Ms Nesbit said, ‘Sometimes I can feel the tension and conflict between the professionals at the start and at the end of the two hours, there is harmony and agreement. Sometimes it is about understanding the histories we have as a professional network. It can be emotional and sometimes there are tears. The [end result] is better for the child.’

They said that the work has impacts which are impossible to measure but communication, compassion and clarity are three key areas in which they have evidence of growth.

Feedback from the sessions was positive: ‘I am not alone; at times I have felt like the only one who cared -- realising others are feeling the same is helpful,’ one participant said. Another commented, ‘Helpful to talk freely, not be task-led, listen to all perspectives without judgement and share a new understanding together,’ and a third said. ‘We have been able to grow compassion for each other rather than being frustrated.’