In this section:
One of the Suffolk Safeguarding Partnership's core statutory duties is to conduct reviews. Practice Reviews provide opportunities to learn lessons when abuse or neglect is suspected to be a factor in the death or serious harm of a child or young person, or an adult with care and support needs.
It is the responsibility of all partner agencies to make a referral into the relevant case review panel when there are reasonable grounds to consider the criteria may be met. Partner agencies should not draw their own conclusions on whether the criteria is met in borderline or unclear cases and should make a referral to the Suffolk Safeguarding Partnership.
What are Safeguarding Practice Reviews
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How to make a referral
DO NOT USE THIS ROUTE FOR LIVE SAFEGUARDING CONCERNS. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO REPORT CONCERNS PLEASE GO TO OUR PAGE CONCERNED ABOUT SOMEONE.
To make a referral to the Suffolk Safeguarding Partnership for consideration for a SAR or LSCPR please complete the relevant form:
For an Adult: Case Review - Notification Form
For a Child: Case Review - Notification Form
Please note you do not need an account to make a referral.
If you have any problems completing this form please email: enquiries@suffolksp.org.uk
Safeguarding Practice Review Flowchart
The purpose of any safeguarding practice review is to identify improvements that can be embedded in practice at a local or systems wide level to safeguard and promote the welfare of adults or children at risk of harm, abuse, or neglect. Reviews should seek to prevent or reduce the risk of recurrence of similar incidents and identify learning. They are not conducted to apportion blame or to hold individuals, organisations, or agencies to account. A visual overview of the review process can be found below:
Safeguarding Adults Review Criteria
The Suffolk Safeguarding Partnership must arrange a SAR when:
An adult with care and support needs (whether or not those needs are met by the Local Authority) in the Safeguarding partnership's area has died as a result of abuse or neglect (whether known or suspected) and there is concern that partner agencies could have worked together more effectively to protect the adult.
An adult with care and support needs (whether or not those needs are met by the Local Authority) in the Safeguarding Partnership's area has not died, but it is known or suspected that the adult has experienced serious abuse or neglect, and there is concern the partner agencies could have worked together more effectively to protect the individual. Something can be considered serious abuse or neglect where, for example, the individual would have been likely to have died but for an intervention, or has suffered permanent harm or had reduced capacity or quality of life (whether because of physical or psychological effects) as a result of the abuse or neglect.
It is believed that there will be value (such as public interest) in doing so. This may be where a case can provide useful insights into the way organisations are working together to prevent and reduce abuse and neglect of adults, and can include exploring examples of good practice.
Children’s Safeguarding Practice Review Criteria
Local Authorities are responsible for notifying the Department for Education of a Local Children’s Safeguarding Practice Review when they become aware of an incident involving the care of a child which meets any of the following criteria:
A child has died (including cases of suspected suicide), and abuse or neglect is known or suspected;
A child has been ‘seriously harmed’ and abuse or neglect is known or suspected
A looked after child has died (including cases where abuse or neglect is not known or suspected); or
A child in a regulated setting or service has died (including cases where abuse or neglect is not known or suspected)
‘Seriously harmed’ in the context of the above includes, but is not limited to, cases where the child has sustained, as a result of abuse or neglect, any or all of the following:
A potentially life-threatening injury;
Serious and/or likely long-term impairment of physical or mental health or physical, intellectual, emotional, social or behavioural development.
These definitions are not exhaustive. In addition, even if a child recovers, this does not mean that serious harm cannot have occurred.
What if the Criteria isn’t met?
When the criteria for a statutory review is not met, the Partnerships Review Panel may still feel that significant learning can be taken from an incident. In these cases, a Partnership Review may be undertaken. A Partnership Review is not a statutory responsibility of the Partnership in the same way a LCSPR or SAR is but is good practice in terms of multi-agency learning, and improving outcomes and services.
If the matter is urgent because a child or vulnerable adult is in immediate danger, phone 999.