Andrew Cozens, president of the Association of Directors of Social Services, told CN that because GPs were self-employed many wanted payment to attend case conferences, but some PCTs did not provide compensation.
He said: "The statutory duty of collaboration in child protection arrangements should be extended to GPs and school governors.
"Responsibility should be with primary care trusts, but it would help if there was a duty on GPs to co-operate with child protection and this was clarified in their contracts."
Ian Johnston, director of the British Association of Social Workers, said social workers want GPs to come to case conferences, but their independence means that some were "not well motivated (to work in partnerships)."
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