safety

1. Unit 2.2 Understand legislation
relating to the safeguarding,
protection and welfare of children

2. Starter activity
http
Catch 22
Research how these agencies
support?

3. Learning outcomes
LO4. Understand the purpose of serious case reviews
• Explain why serious case reviews are required
• Analyse how serious case reviews inform practice

4. • The Local Safeguarding Children’s Board (LSCB) will call for a
serious case review if a child dies and abuse or neglect is
suspected or known to be the cause.
• A serious case review will expect each service involved to
review its own practices to examine whether any changes
need to be made.
• This review will enable everyone to identify whether there are
any lessons to be learned from the case.
• A serious case review does not intend to find out who is to
blame for the death or serious injury.
Serious case reviews
LO4. Understand the purpose of serious case reviews [AC 4.1]

5. Agencies
involved in
serious case
reviews
Police
Health
Local
authority
Education
Social
services
LO4. Understand the purpose of serious case reviews 4.1

6. Time: 15 mins
How should agencies communicate effectively to share concerns
about a child and family?
Consider:
• Information to be shared
• How to share information
• Effective record keeping
• Roles and responsibilities.
LO4. Understand the purpose of serious case reviews 4.1]

7. Time: 15 mins
Why do you think it is important to hold serious case reviews?
Consider:
• The role of each agency or organisation
• Lessons to be learnt
• Impact on future practice.
LO4. Understand the purpose of serious case reviews [AC 4.1]

8. A serious case review will inform practice, this may include:
• Sharing information
• Improvements in communicating
• Early identification of a child in potential danger or at risk of
serious harm
• Effective and accurate record keeping of all events that are
causing concern
• Clear roles and responsibilities
• Working in partnership with parents and agencies that may be
involved with the family.
Serious case reviews
LO4. Understand the purpose of serious case reviews 4.2

9. Baby P died in 2007 after months of abuse. In 2009 a serious
case review stated that Baby P was failed by all agencies
involved.
• All three children living in the house at the time were on the
Local Authority’s child protection register.
• The GP did not raise concerns after bruising was found on
Baby P’s head and chest.
• Police were criticised for not investigating suspicious injuries.
The case of ‘Baby P’
LO4. Understand the purpose of serious case reviews 4.2]

10. • The school attended by Baby P’s siblings did not share
information about concerns over the mother.
• Social workers and their managers did not think he was being
harmed or at risk of harm.
• No agency involved realised that a man with known violent
tendencies was living in the house.
The case of ‘Baby P’ (cont’d)
LO4. Understand the purpose of serious case reviews 4.2]

11. Time: 25 mins
Discuss how the following points raised from a serious case
review will support improvement of practice in safeguarding.
• The need to share any concerns with all agencies involved
• Clearly written, accurate and detailed reports of any concerns
• Clear lines of reporting and responsibility.
LO4. Understand the purpose of serious case reviews [AC 4.2]

12. Time: 15 mins
After the serious case review into the death of Baby P, the head
of children’s services for his local authority was removed from
her post. The post was to be covered temporarily until a suitable
replacement could be found.
• Analyse the possible reasons behind this and the impact on
other cases.
LO4. Understand the purpose of serious case reviews 4.2]

13. Summary
 Serious case reviews are held to reflect on the situation and make
recommendations for improvements in practice.
 Serious case reviews do not look for who is to blame for the death or
serious injury.
 All agencies involved in safeguarding need to respond to lessons
learned from a serious case review.

14. Summary: plenary activities
1. When does a serious case review take place?
2. Who may be involved in a serious case review?
3. Describe two improvements in practice that may arise from a serious
case review.