SAR Quality Marker 11: Involvement of the person, relevant family members and network

SAR Quality Marker 11

The Safeguarding Adult Review (SAR) is informed by the person, relevant members of their family and social network in terms of information they hold, their experiences and perspectives as relevant to the precise form and focus of the SAR commissioned. The process enables the individual and family to see how the SAR is designed to have impact and contribute to positive change.

Questions to consider for:

  1. Has clear leadership been provided about the priority of enabling the person and relevant family and network members to contribute meaningfully to the SAR?
  2. Is there a clearly documented and defensible decision process about who is invited to contribute to the SAR, how and the ways their input will inform the SAR, as well as a detailed rationale for anyone who has been excluded or declined?
  3. Has the statutory requirement for early engagement with the individual, family and friends to agree how they wish to be involved, managing their expectations appropriately and sensitively, been sustained in this SAR regardless of its precise form and focus?

  1. Has there been discussion about which family members should be invited to contribute and why, linked to the purpose of the SAR and the precise form, focus and approach?
  2. When two or more families are involved, is there a clear, feasible plan for how the process will be managed?
  3. Has it been agreed who is best positioned to have early discussions with the individual, family and friends to understand how they wish to be involved, how this fits with the form and focus of the SAR, and agree how best to enable them to contribute in a way that is meaningful to the learning?
  4. Is there clarity about how the person and/or their family and networks will be able to influence the focus of the review?
  5. Is there clarity about what the family is going to be asked and why?
  6. Has there been discussion about how the analysis will be informed by family members’ information, experiences and perspectives relevant to the form and focus of this SAR?
  7. Is there clarity and agreement about how the person and their relevant family and network, and their input, are to be represented in the final report?
  8. What are the mechanisms to allow the person and/or their family to provide feedback on the report before it is completed?
  9. Do arrangements to feedback on drafts for the report balance the need for assurance about confidentiality until the report is signed off by the Board, and the value of trust and partnership with the individual and their family members?
  10. Is there clarity and agreement, including with the reviewer(s), on any limitations regarding how individuals can be involved and influence this SAR?
  11. Who in the network has appropriate experience and expertise to communicate well with the person and family members at what may be an extremely difficult time, to best enable them to understand how to be involved, why it is important, to appreciate their expectations and manage any limits on their options clearly, kindly, sensitively and with respect?
  12. Where there are criminal proceedings and family members are witnesses or suspects, has a discussion taken place with the police senior officer about the precise form and focus of the review, and the implications for when and how family members can be involved?

  1. Is there clarity about why the person, family members and/or friends are being involved in the SAR in terms of statutory requirements, methodological data needs and the principles of Making Safeguarding Personal?
  2. Is there absolute clarity about the role/ identity from which any family member or friend is contributing, and the implications, especially where the person is still alive, for what information can be shared with whom and where consent is required?

  1. How is sufficient continuity of communication with the individual and family members going to be sustained? For example, who will be the specific point of contact with the person and/or family members?
  2. Are there adequate arrangements to support the person and/or members of their family and network through the process, including providing advocacy or another specialist support service where needed?
  3. Have arrangements adequately considered relevant accessibility issues and the need for any reasonable adjustments?

Downloads

Safeguarding Adult Review Quality Markers – Comprehensive checklist tool – March 2022 Safeguarding Adults Review Quality Markers handbook (to be used in conjunction with the comprehensive checklist)