Serious Case Review Procedure

All agencies must adopt lines of accountability within their own organisation.

Stage 1

  1. Following notification that a Case Review is to be undertaken, each Agency should immediately secure all files and notes in relation to the child concerned.
  2. Ofsted and Government Office: West Midlands are to be informed by the Chair of the Serious Case Review Panel.
  3. Each Agency's Manager will meet with the staff concerned to inform them that a Case Review is to be undertaken to determine the facts and sequence of events.
  4. Each Agency's Manager will undertake to provide staff with regular and up-to-date information on the progress of the Internal Management Review.

Stage 2

  1. Each Agency will identify an appropriate officer who will undertake the Internal Management Review.  The officer appointed should not have been directly concerned with either the child or the family.
  2. Each Agency's Manager will inform relevant staff of the purpose of the Review, who will be conducting it and the way in which it will be undertaken.
  3. The Serious Case Review Panel will nominate an officer who will act as a point of contact on behalf of the LSCB for any particular media/public interest.
  4. Contact with the media will be the subject of legal and police advice to ensure that nothing is made public that may prejudice civil or criminal proceedings.

Stage 3

  1. Individual Agency Management Reviews should be conducted within the time scale set by the Chair of the Serious Case Review Panel.
  2. An Overview Report will be produced for the Board
  3. When the Overview Report has been accepted by the Board it will be submitted to the appropriate authorities.
  4. The Panel will formally decide on a case by case basis, whether to inform and/or actively involve the family .

Stage 4

  1. Any Agency recommendations arising from the Case Review will be acted upon.  This may require agencies to review their policies and procedures.
  2. The Board will ensure that any changes to operating procedures are incorporated into any revision of these Procedures.
  3. An executive summary of the Overview Report may be made public. This would include information about the Review process and recommendations made.
  4. A debriefing for all staff involved in the case may be arranged by the Chair of the Case Review Panel.
  5. An action plan comprising of the recommendations will be drawn up and will be monitored by the Panel.

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