If you're asked to be part of a Safeguarding Adult Review
About Safeguarding Adult Reviews
Cumbria Safeguarding Adults Board brings together organisations that work with adults and their families across Cumbria with the aim of making sure that they work well together to keep adults safe.
Cumbria Safeguarding Adult Board may be required to undertake a Safeguarding Adult Review (SAR) when, as a result of abuse or neglect, an adult dies or is seriously harmed and there is a concern that agencies could have worked together more effectively to protect the adult.
We acknowledge this will have been a very difficult time for you and we do not want to add to your distress but it is important we inform you the review is taking place and to give you an opportunity to be involved.
Cumbria Safeguarding Adult Board would like you to contribute your views and experiences to the review if you feel able, as families are often in a position to really help us understand what it is agencies need to do better so that future professional practice is able to improve. The decision to take part in this review is entirely yours and if you do not wish to take part your decision will be respected. We will notify you when the review is nearing completion and we can share the learning identified.
What happens
Each agency or organisation will provide the Safeguarding Adults Review group full details of what services they provided and when.
The group will consider all information gathered in detail to find out if expected standards of work have been met and that organisational or agency policies and procedures have been followed. A summary of the decisions that were made, services that were either offered and/or provided and any other actions that were taken will be considered in detail.
This is to identify whether any lessons can be learned about the way agencies and organisations work together to safeguard adults, and also identify any areas of good practice.
Read our in depth guidance to learn more about the process of SARs.
How long the review takes
Each review is different so it is difficult to say how long the review will take. This depends on a variety of things such as how many professional were involved in providing care and support to the person and how much information needs to be gathered.
Publication of reviews
The final SAR report will normally be published on Cumbria Safeguarding Adults website, but your views on this will be taken into consideration. The report will be fully anonymised and will not contain any identifying details. It will be made available to all professionals to ensure that the lessons learned and recommendations are put into practice.
Find our SAR reports.
How you'll be involved
Where possible the Review Group will give you and other family members (where appropriate), the opportunity to share your views and comment on the services received. If appropriate, it is likely you will be contacted by the Chair of the Review Group through a practitioner who knows you and your family.
When the review has been completed agencies and organisations will then consider what actions they may need to take to change the way they support adults and their families.
If appropriate, the Chair of the Review Group will meet with you to outline the findings, lessons learnt and recommendations from the review.
If you have any queries about a review
Contact the Board Business Manager.
Email: csab@cumbria.gov.uk