Procedure for Safeguarding Adult Reviews

Within 5 working days, on receipt of a referral, the CYSAB Business Unit will:

• acknowledge the notification
• quality check the referral, and seek further information if required
• advise the SAR Subgroup Chair and CYSAB Independent Chair of the referral

The referrer will be notified of the outcome by the Business Manager. This includes any services that have had involvement with the person. The purpose of this is to collect relevant information that adequately informs the discussion on whether the SAR criteria are met.

Accepted SAR referrals will be considered at the next monthly SAR Decision Panel meeting, providing this is quorate. If not, then an extraordinary meeting will be arranged.

In deciding whether a SAR should be recommended, the SAR Decision Panel must first consider whether the S.44 criteria for a SAR is met using the criteria outlined in Criteria for a SAR.

Appropriate scrutiny should be applied to the Safeguarding Adult Review Scoping Form (.docx) with each agency involved presenting their information followed by respectful challenge from Partner agencies present when determining whether the statutory criteria are met.

When considering a SAR referral, the SAR Decision Panel will need to establish if there is learning from a multi-agency or single-agency perspective. It is important that consideration be given to the increasingly complex landscape of the commissioning and provision of services.

The SAR Decision Panel will break from the meeting for ten minutes for each member to submit their written rationale as to whether the SAR criteria is met or not. When the meeting resumes any difference of opinion will be explored in order to reach a consensus. The CYSAB Business Manager is not part of the decision-making process, however they will have a key role in ensuring correct process is followed. If the recommendation is that the SAR criteria is met, then consideration will also be given to the suggested methodology.

The SAR Decision Panel’s recommendation as to whether the SAR criteria is met will be sent to the CYSAB Independent Chair who will make the decision as to whether to ratify the decision of whether to undertake a SAR or not. The referrer will be notified of the outcome by the Business Manager and recorded using the SAR Referral Form.

If a unanimous recommendation is not achieved by the SAR Decision Panel then a majority decision will be shared with the CYSAB Independent Chair who will decide whether the criteria is met and whether to undertake a SAR.

The SAR Decision Panel may consider that although the mandatory s.44 criteria is not met, there will be benefit in conducting a SAR or recommending a single-agency review to promote effective learning and improvement action in order to prevent deaths or serious harm occurring in the future, under section 44 of the Care Act 2014. These reviews can provide useful insights into the way organisations are working together to prevent and reduce the abuse and neglect of adults in the City of York.

It is important to advise the SAR Decision Panel of any governance issues and/or if there are any other parallel proceedings, for example, police investigations, or Patient Safety Incident Response Framework.

If the person has died, the CYSAB Business Unit may contact the Coroner to identify whether an inquest has or will be held; and also advise the Coroner's Office of the intention to undertake a Safeguarding Adult Review.

The SAR Decision Panel will also consider whether the referral meets the criteria for another review or learning process e.g., Domestic Abuse Related Death Review (DARDR). This may provide an opportunity for a joint review process to be considered but does not negate the obligation for CYSAB to undertake a SAR, where criteria have been met.

SAR process will not as a matter of course share material gathered as part of the SAR with another agency or parallel proceedings without the approval of the CYSAB Independent Chair.

Should the referrer challenge the decision of the SAR Decision Panel the Independent Chair of the CYSAB will respond. The decision can be re-visited if new information has come to light. Any challenge to the decision should be made for the attention of the CYSAB Independent Chair via the Business Unit e-mail within 28 days of the feedback being received.

The CYSAB Business Unit will support the SAR Subgroup to keep a record of all cases that: have been referred; considered for a SAR; and the outcomes of the decisions made. A summary report of cases will be provided on a quarterly basis to the Safeguarding Adults Board.