Learning together to safeguard children: developing a multi-agency systems approach for case reviews

• Developments in engineering and health indicate the potential benefits of using a ‘systems approach’ to understanding frontline practice in order to improve the quality and safety of service provision.
• This guide presents an adapted systems model for multi-agency safeguarding and child protection work.
• It is an innovative approach that requires a respectful approach towards the practice experience of street-level workers and their managers.
• It involves moving beyond the basic facts of a case chronology and appreciating the differing views that different workers had at the time.
• The aim is to identify underlying patterns of factors in the work environment that support good practice or create unsafe conditions in which poor practice is more likely.
• This kind of organisational learning is vital to improving the quality of services provision and needs to be applied to ordinary work, not just to tragedies.

The first pilots of the SCIE model have just completed in the North West of England. Initial findings are very encouraging.  A report on this experience is available now. SCIE is collaborating with three other areas to conduct further pilots in order to develop, implement and evaluate the Learning together model.

Colleagues interested in being actively involved should contact Sheila Fish, Senior Research Analyst at SCIE - email sheila.fish@scie.org.uk, tel 020 7089 7110.

Findings from the pilots in north west England are now available.