Learning from practice

Quality Assurance and Performance

The NEL Safeguarding Children Partnership Scrutiny and Assurance framework will enable safeguarding partners to:

have a direct line of sight to practice
take account of independent scrutiny which helps determine the effectiveness of local safeguarding arrangements
inform practice through audit
have assurance whether inter agency practice is joined up and effectively safeguards and promotes the welfare of children

Audit is a quality assurance process. It provides a means of finding out whether the service is following guidelines and/or applying best practice in a particular area. It is a systematic process that involves defining standards, collecting data and implementing change.

Audit is undertaken to ensure that policy or procedure is being followed. It provides evidence of best practice and can demonstrate the quality of our work to external bodies and inspectors. It also allows areas of weakness to be identified and acted upon.

The actual process of carrying out an audit can sometimes be as beneficial as the outcomes. It provides staff with the time and space to reflect critically on practice. Where different agencies are involved, there is an opportunity to learn about different roles and responsibilities.

Safeguarding reviews and audits

The purpose of reviewing serious child safeguarding cases at both local and national levels is to find ways to better protect and improve the welfare of children.

It’s important to understand if there are systemic issues and how policies and practices need to change to keep improving the system.

Reviews should:

aim to prevent similar incidents from happening again
establish what can be learned from the case about how local professionals and organisations work individually and together to protect and promote the welfare of children
clearly identify the lessons learned, what actions are needed, the timelines for these actions, and what changes are expected
improve cooperation within and between agencies to better safeguard the welfare of children

Child Safeguarding Practice Review (PDF, 178KB)

Notification to Safeguarding Partners (Word, 93KB)

Published practice reviews

Learning from practice

These 7 Minute briefings outline the learning from the NEL SCP Learning Line of Sight Events.

Child death reviews

When a child dies, in any circumstances, it is important for parents, families and professionals involved in the child’s care to understand what has happened and whether there are any lessons to be learned.

View the arrangements for child death reviews