In a UK first, Wales is to have a new process for reviews
following a person's death or abuse to help reduce family trauma,
prevent similar cases and protect others in the future.
The Single Unified Safeguarding Review (SUSR) will incorporate
all safeguarding reviews into one single process for everyone in
Wales to follow.
Safeguarding reviews occur after a serious incident
of abuse or neglect of a child or adult, who is at risk,
which results in their harm or death.
Previously, this could have involved multiple reviews over a long
period of time with the affected family and various professionals
who would assess whether anything could have been done
differently to stop the harm.
This would often be onerous and traumatic for individuals
involved who would have to go over the serious incident many
times.
The SUSR will
- End the need for families to take part in many reviews,
reducing further trauma,
- Help professionals learn from and act upon recommendations
quicker,
- Improve information sharing and help prevent future harm and
tragedies from occurring.
All completed SUSR reports will be stored in the Wales
Safeguarding Repository – a central system helping professionals
access and learn from past cases to reduce the recurrence of
serious incidents.
The Minister for Children and Social Care, said:
“I am pleased to launch the ground-breaking Single Unified
Safeguarding Review for Wales.
“We are the first country in the UK to take this evolutionary
approach to safeguarding reviews which will ensure that
professionals can learn from past cases quickly and effectively
to prevent future harm and reduce further trauma for victims and
families.
“The SUSR is trailblazing and being seen nationally and
internationally as a beacon for others to follow - an example of
how change can happen from working together for the common good.”
Notes to editors