Introduction
Regulation 5 of the Local Safeguarding Children Boards Regulations 2006 requires LSCBs to undertake reviews of serious cases. Updated national guidance in respect of serious case reviews can be found in the letter to LSCB Chairs and Directors of Children’s Services.
This document sets out the joint South West Local Safeguarding Children’s Board’s policy and agreed framework for executing their duty to undertake a systematic evaluation of inter-agency involvement in cases where a child has died or been seriously injured by a parent, family member or when significant harm has been caused by a carer. (See section 8, Working Together 2010)
When a child dies or is seriously harmed, and abuse or neglect is known or suspected to be a factor, the first priority of local organisations should be to consider immediately whether there are other children at risk of harm who require safeguarding (For example siblings, or other children in an institution where abuse is alleged). Thereafter, organisations should consider whether there are any lessons to be learned about the ways in which they work together to safeguard and promote the welfare of children. (Working Together 2010, paragraph 8.8)
It should be emphasised that the specific nature of individual cases requires that the framework should be adapted for different situations.
There are four appendices:
- Individual Management Reviews
- Example of Management Report
- Overview Report
- Flowchart of the process
