Audit and analysis of significant case reviews

Abstract

Background to the research Chapter 1 The Significant Case Review process Chapter 2 Type of case and characteristics and circumstances of the children and their families Chapter 3 Practice themes 6 Chapter 4 Understanding risk 8 Conclusions 9 List of recommendations Bibliography Appendix 1 Recommendations from SCRs categorised with the Quality Indicators Framework Appendix 2 New arrangements for undertaking Serious Case Reviews (SCRs) in Wales EXECUTIVE SUMMARY This report presents the findings from an audit and analysis of 56 Significant Case Reviews (SCRs) and 43 Initial Case Reviews (ICRs) conducted in Scotland since 2007. BackgroundNational guidance for undertaking SCRs was introduced in Scotland in 2007 -'Protecting Children and Young People: Interim Guidance for Child Protection Committees for Conducting a Significant case Review'.There was a commitment within the national guidance to promote national, as well as local, learning.However, in contrast to England and Wales where national analyses of case reviews are commissioned bi-annually, until now the findings from SCRs have not been collated at national level in Scotland and accessible data on the number of SCRs that have been undertaken has not been readily available.As a result, the value of learning in SCRs to date has been limited, with lessons insufficiently shared beyond local boundaries.The Scottish Government commissioned an independent short life working group of key multi-agency professionals in 2009 to consider the SCR process in the light of recent research and practice.The group made 10 specific recommendations to the Scottish Government to improve the SCR process in Scotland.This included a recommendation that they should commission an audit and analysis of all SCRs undertaken since 2007 to provide a baseline and an understanding of the relevant issues for practice.This report presents the findings of this audit and analysis. MethodsA content analysis approach was used to undertake the review which involved elements of a case study approach so analysis could be undertaken on a case by case and cross case basis.This enabled the findings to be pulled together across the reports but also allowed the complexities of individual cases to be examined in greater depth.Such an approach permitted in-depth analysis of the interaction of child, family, environmental and agency factors and exploration of the different causal pathways to death or harm.The study was carried out in a number of phases.The number of SCRs that had been undertaken in the 30 CPCs in Scotland since 2007 was not known prior to this study.Phase 1 was, therefore, a mapping and collation exercise to identify how many ICRs and SCRs had been undertaken since the national guidance was issued.Phase 2 of the research involved the reading/rereading of the reports, and coding and analysis of data.A template was devised to capture anonymised information about the SCR process, as well as more detailed, qualitative information about the type of case, factors relating to the children, the characteristics of the family and their

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