Kirklees Case Reviews

Introduction

Kirklees Safeguarding Children Board will undertake case reviews of some children to try and get a better understanding of how agencies worked together and how and why decisions were made. The prime purpose of a serious case review is for agencies and individuals to learn lessons to improve the way in which they work both individually and collectively to safeguard and promote the welfare of children. The lessons learned should be disseminated effectively, and the recommendations should be implemented in a timely manner so that the changes required result, wherever possible, in children being protected from suffering or being likely to suffer harm in the future.

When is a serious case review undertaken?

A serious case review is always undertaken when a child dies and abuse or neglect is known or suspected to be a factor in the death. 

Additionally a serious case review is always considered where:

• a child sustains a potentially life threatening injury or serious and permanent impairment of health and development through abuse and neglect; or
• a child has been seriously harmed as a result of being subjected to sexual abuse; or
• a parent has been murdered and a domestic homicide review is being initiated under the Domestic Violence Act 2004; or
• a child has been seriously harmed following a violent assault perpetrated by another child or an adult;

        and the case gives rise to concerns about the way in which local professionals and services worked together to safeguard and promote the welfare of children.  This includes inter-agency and/or inter-disciplinary working.

What is the process for undertaking a review? 

A serious case review is a formal process of bringing together the records of all agencies that have had involvement with the child and family.  An overview report is produced which provides a complete picture of events. This report contains analysis of contact with the child and family and decision making, it draws conclusions and makes recommendations. 

Why are reviews undertaken? 

Case reviews are undertaken to:

• establish what lessons are to be learned from the case about the way in which local professionals and organisations work individually and together to safeguard and promote the welfare of children;

• identify clearly what those lessons are both within and between agencies, how and within what timescales they will be acted on, and what is expected to change as a result; and

• improve intra- and inter-agency working and better safeguard and promote the welfare of children. 

Learning from case reviews 

Learning lessons and bringing about improvements in inter-agency working practice are key outcomes of the review processes.  One of the ways in which the Safeguarding Children Board can share information about case reviews is through publication of executive summaries.  These contain a summary of each case, the terms of reference, the conclusions and the recommendations.

Executive summaries from case reviews completed in Kirklees in the last six months can be viewed below.

Serious case review regarding safeguarding issues between 1995 and 2008 associated with five children in a family:
Executive Summary
Executive Summary Appendix I - Recommendations arising from the individual management reviews
Executive Summary Appendix II - Individual management review action plans
Press release

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