The Association of Directors of Children's Services' (ADCS) proposals, revealed to CYP Now, would see local authorities sharing skills and expertise in order to deliver Lord Laming's safeguarding recommendations.
The honorary inspectors, or "peer inspectors" as the ADCS calls them, would assist Ofsted on inspections to help it get under the skin of frontline practice. Directors from successful authorities would offer advice and guidance to poorer performing councils between scheduled inspections as an alternative to government intervention.
The ADCS also wants directors or senior managers to chair neighbouring councils' local safeguarding children boards (LSCB).
In his report last month, Laming said no director should chair their own LSCB, but councils were concerned that few people possess the experience to do the job. Swapping directors of nearby authorities would mean that all LSCB chairs are suitably qualified and independent.
ADCS president Kim Bromley-Derry said the plans must not be seen as "a solution on the cheap". He said: "Our suggestions would require investment in developing capacity within authorities to allow them to share their expertise." He added that councils should be responsible for making good practice the norm.
Unless councils work together to improve child protection, Laming's call for more senior leaders with social care experience would be problematic, he said. The proposals attempt to satisfy Laming without permanently diverting experienced DCSs away from working in councils.
DCSs are keen to explore ways to share their knowledge, Bromley-Derry added. "This would allow their expertise to remain focused on what matters, driving improvement in their local areas, while ensuring advice given to inspectors and national policymakers is based on first-hand experience."
An Ofsted spokeswoman said: "Ofsted has been advocating to the ADCS for some time the use of secondments to our inspection teams. We welcome the fact that they are coming on board with our proposals and look forward to making them work."
Children's Secretary Ed Balls is due to respond to the Laming report by 30 April.
