Paediatrics: Serious case reviews

Serious case reviews

Following ‘Working Together to Safeguard Children 2006’ serious case reviews are commissioned in cases where a child dies or sustains seri-ous injuries, and abuse or neglect is known or suspected to be a factor. They were previously referred to as ‘Part 8 reviews’ as defined in section 8 of ‘Working Together to Safeguard Children’ (Department of Health, 1999).¹

The purpose of serious case reviews is to:

·Establish lessons to be learnt about the way in which local professionals and organisations work together to safeguard and promote the welfare of children.

·Identify what those lessons are, how they will be acted on, and what is expected to change as a result.

Improve inter-agency working and better safeguard and promote the welfare of children.