Assurance and Learning Project for Serious Case Reviews
The Children’s Improvement Board (CIB) is working with partners to develop sector-led
approaches to improve the quality of learning from Serious Case Reviews (SCRs). Outcomes
UK is the lead contractor, and has also partnered with BAAF and the Social Care Institute for
Excellence (SCIE) to bring to bear significant sector-led experience. The CIB also facilitated a
event to develop this project in September 2012 with representation from Local Safeguarding
Children Board chairs and the Department for Education. LSCB chairs are crucial to the
success of this project and the CIB will continue to work very closely with the Association of
LSCB chairs on this project.
We are seeking to identify a rigorous and challenging approach to sector-led support, which
can assist the sector in the following areas:
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At the point of final draft report writing and/or LCSB response to the report
Post-review, to consider impact measures and embedding of learning across
safeguarding and partnership working, and
Sharing learning from Safeguarding Peer Reviews, as well as wider improvement
work
The context for this work is the Munro Review’s vision of a wider quality assurance role for
LSCBs. We will also work with the sites to consider how a sector-led approach could help at
the point of decision to undertake a serious case review or not, and in planning media
strategy to support report publication.
Engaging the sector
We are seeking up to five sites to work with us in testing these approaches between
November 2012 and March 2013. Candidate sites must:
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Have concluded a case review in the last six months OR be nearing final report stage
Have agreement from the LSCB chair and Director of Children’s Services
Be willing to meet with the project team and other sites up to three times during the
project period and have telephone contact in between
Be part of an action research project, leading to a report on the learning from the trial
and options for the future use of sector led approaches in this context.
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In identifying sites we are seeking a range of perspectives and disciplines, and are therefore
keen to work with LSCBs representing a variety of geographical areas, sizes and types
Sites participating in the project will have the opportunity to:
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Participate in national policy development
Co-design an effective sector led approach to SCR assurance and learning with the
child’s journey at its heart, and identify ways to measure impact
Access best practice in regard to Munro implementation, inspection readiness and
the new safeguarding framework
Meet with other sites to share and exchange knowledge and experience
Connect with the CIB’s Development Demonstrator programme, and gain access to
the learning journey of those implementing the Munro reforms
Receive a tailored final report on the conclusions of the action research.
If you would like to take part, please complete the attached form and return it to Mark
Cairns at [email protected] by 16th November 2012.
Expression of interest in being a SCR assurance and learning test site
Name of site
Lead contact
Email address
Phone number
In which of the following areas are you
interested in testing approaches? (You
may select more than one.)
A. At the point of final draft report
writing and/or LCSB response to the
report
B. Post-review to consider impact
measures
and
embedding
of
learning across safeguarding and
partnership working
C. Sharing learning from Safeguarding
Peer
Review
and
wider
improvement work
DECLARATION
I/we confirm that we are in agreement with
this expression of interest and meet the
criteria, ie we:




Have recently concluded a review (in
the last six months) OR are nearing
final report stage
Have agreement from the LSCB
chair and DCS to be involved in the
project
are willing to meet with the project
team and other sites up to three
times during the project period and
have telephone contact in between
are willing to be part of an action Be
part of an action research project,
leading to a report on the learning
from the trial and options for the
future use of sector-led approaches
in this context.
Signature (DCS)
Signature (LSCB chair)