Child Safeguarding Practice Reviews

The trigger for this is a notifiable incident –

There is a Duty on local authorities to notify incidents to the Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel (this is a National Panel). Working Together 2023 states that a local authority in England knows or suspects that a child has been abused or neglected, the local authority must notify the Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel if

• the child dies or is seriously harmed in the local authority’s area, or
• while normally resident in the local authority’s area, the child dies or is seriously harmed outside England.

Initially a rapid review will be undertaken in order to ascertain whether a local child safeguarding practice review is appropriate , or whether the case may raise issues which are complex or of national importance such that a national review may be appropriate.

The Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Safeguarding Children Board (CPSCB) has a sub-committee which oversees and quality assures all the child safeguarding practice reviews undertaken by the Board, and provides advice on whether the criteria for conducting a review have been met. Any professional or agency may refer a case for consideration using the Child Safeguarding Practice Review Referral Form

Upon completion of a child safeguarding practice review, there is an expectation that the final report is published in full and will be available on the website for a minimum of 12 months. The report will include

• a summary of any recommended improvements to be made by persons in the area to safeguard and promote the welfare of children
• an analysis of any systemic or underlying reasons why actions were taken or not in respect of matters covered by the report.

Any recommendations will be clear on what is required of relevant agencies and others collectively and individually, and by when , and focussed on improving outcomes for children. Additional information and guidance in relation to child safeguarding practice reviews can be found in the statutory guidance Working Together to Safeguard Children.

In addition to child safeguarding practice reviews, the Safeguarding Children Board will also undertake Multi-Agency Case Reviews / Partnership Reviews which do not meet the criteria for a child safeguarding practice review, but are considered to offer good opportunities to identify lessons for learning and ways in which multi-agency practice to safeguard children and young people can be improved locally.