Unit 3 Providing safe environments for children © Hodder & Stoughton Limited

LO4 Understand the purpose of serious case reviews. AC 4.1 Explain why serious case reviews are required. AC 4.2 Analyse how serious case reviews inform practice. © Hodder & Stoughton Limited

LO4 Understand the purpose of serious case reviews [AC 4.1, 4.2] Time: 15 mins Do you feel you have ever been let down due to poor communication? Consider: The cancellation of an appointment or meeting and no one telling you Someone not passing on important information for you Someone not passing on important information to you What are the possible effects of these situations? © Hodder & Stoughton Limited

LO4 Understand the purpose of serious case reviews [AC 4.1] 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. © Hodder & Stoughton Limited

Agencies involved in serious case reviews LO4 Understand the purpose of serious case reviews [AC 4.1] Agencies involved in serious case reviews Police Health Local authority Education Social services © Hodder & Stoughton Limited

Information to be shared How to share information LO4 Understand the purpose of serious case reviews [AC 4.1] 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. Teacher notes: Learners should consider the difficulties faced by agencies that are not all under one roof. © Hodder & Stoughton Limited

Why do you think it is important to hold serious case reviews? LO4 Understand the purpose of serious case reviews [AC 4.1] Time: 20 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. Teacher notes: Learners should discuss the benefits of all agencies coming together and the benefits to everyone involved. Useful resources: http://www.nspcc.org.uk/preventing-abuse/child-protection-system/england/serious-case-reviews/ http://www.safeguardingchildren.co.uk/serious-case-reviews.html © Hodder & Stoughton Limited

A serious case review will inform practice. This may include: LO4 Understand the purpose of serious case reviews [AC 4.2] Serious case reviews 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. © Hodder & Stoughton Limited

Police were criticised for not investigating suspicious injuries. LO4 Understand the purpose of serious case reviews [AC 4.2] The case of ‘Baby P’ 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. © Hodder & Stoughton Limited

The case of ‘Baby P’ (cont’d) LO4 Understand the purpose of serious case reviews [AC 4.2] The case of ‘Baby P’ (cont’d) 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. © Hodder & Stoughton Limited

The need to share any concerns with all agencies involved LO4 Understand the purpose of serious case reviews [AC 4.2] Time: 15 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. Teacher notes: For each point learners are to show how this will improve practice with regard to the safeguarding, welfare and protection of all children. © Hodder & Stoughton Limited

LO4 Understand the purpose of serious case reviews [AC 4.2] 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. Teacher notes: Learners should discuss the positives and negatives of removing the head at that time. Discuss the consequences of a new person taking over and what that says about the previous head. Discussion can also be had about the impact it will have on people’s confidence of the systems in place. Useful resources: Baby P resources http://www.haringeylscb.org/baby-peter-serious-case-review-statement-chairman-graham-badman http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-11626806 http://www.communitycare.co.uk/2014/10/28/baby-p-untold-story-shocking-catalogue-cover-ups/ © Hodder & Stoughton Limited

In this lesson we learnt that: 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. © Hodder & Stoughton Limited

When does a serious case review take place? Who may be involved in a serious case review? Describe two improvements in practice that may arise from a serious case review. © Hodder & Stoughton Limited