Child Safeguarding Practice Reviews (CSPRs)
Working Together 2023 sets out the purpose and process of Child Safeguarding Practice Reviews (formerly known as Serious Case Reviews). These reviews must be undertaken when:
- Abuse or neglect of a child is known or suspected and
- The child has died (including by suicide) or has been seriously harmed
The purpose of reviews of serious child safeguarding cases is to identify improvements to be made to safeguard and promote the welfare of children. Reviews should seek to prevent or reduce the risk of recurrence of similar incidents. They are not conducted to hold individuals, organisations or agencies to account.
All Child Safeguarding Practice Reviews will result in a report, which will be published and readily accessible on the SSCP website for a minimum of 12 months, unless there are overwhelming reasons why the report should not be published.
The Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel published practice guidance for safeguarding partners in September 2022.
Serious Child Safeguarding Incidents
Serious child safeguarding cases must be brought to the attention of a senior manager or professional in a specialist safeguarding role.
Serious child safeguarding cases are those in which:
- abuse or neglect of a child is known or suspected and
- the child has died or been seriously harmed
Serious harm includes (but is not limited to) serious and/or long-term impairment of a child’s mental health or intellectual, emotional, social or behavioural development. It should also cover impairment of physical health.
If the senior manager or professional in a specialist safeguarding role believes that the circumstances of the child constitute a serious child safeguarding case, he or she must refer the circumstances to the SSCP Business Unit using the Serious Child Safeguarding Case Referral Form.
Reports