Publication and dissemination

SAR Quality Marker 14

Publication and dissemination activities are timely and publicise the key systemic risks identified through the SAR, as well as features supporting high reliability of single and multi-agency working relevant to safeguarding. Compelling and engaging means of circulating the findings are used, adapted as necessary for different operational and strategic audiences. Decisions about what, when, how and for how long to publish and disseminate findings are made with sensitive consideration of the wishes and impact on the person, family and other families; professionals who participated are kept informed and supported as needed. Publication and dissemination foster active responsibility and public accountability for addressing barriers identified to good practice or progressing improvement work.

Questions to consider for:

Open Those ultimately accountable; Safeguarding Adult Board members and Chair
1. Are genuine efforts being made to publish the SAR report as soon as possible and are any delays justified?
2. Have the wishes of and impact on the person, their family members and other families affected by the issues raised by this SAR been taken into account in all plans, and are they being supported well?
3. Are you satisfied that dissemination plans engage all the right audiences given the learning of this SAR, in compelling and engaging ways?
4. Do publication and dissemination plans reflect clearly and confidently the statutory functions and duties of the SAB?
5. Are you assured that any legal issues which may arise from publication have been identified and plans put in place to manage these?
6. Does the communications plan secure the right level of engagement from senior leaders of all relevant partners, regionally and nationally? Has active engagement with the media been considered?
Open Those with delegated responsibility; the SAR subgroup or similar
1. Is the report as anonymized as possible so that no individual can be identified through the contents, unless it has been explicitly agreed with the person themselves of their relevant family members to identify them?
2. Has the Final Draft Report been checked to identify any risk of legal challenge? For example, containing libellous content, conveying any civil or criminal liability, referencing law breaking or breach of professional standards which has not been already managed.
3. Have any potential points of disputes or litigation been identified? If so, have you alerted the accountable bodies and formulated a plan to manage this?
4. Do you need to alert the appropriate Legal departments?
5. Have you drawn up a media strategy and communications plan which considers the timing of publication, prepares press statements in advance and advises interested parties, including Chief Officers and Boards of organisations involved, of imminent publication?
6. Are the professionals directly involved being informed of the contents of the report, of the schedule for publication and being given appropriate support?
7. When will the family have the report and are they being given appropriate support regarding its publication?
8. Are all those who have a responsibility in addressing issues raised in the SAR, included in dissemination plans? Has adequate consideration been given to disseminating ‘up’ to strategic leads in relevant organisations locally, regionally and nationally?
9. Have the additional products and mediums and activities needed from this SAR for different audiences been discussed and agreed? Do they add up to a compelling and engaging means of circulating the findings?
10. Is the learning being made as accessible as possible to all relevant audiences through the range of products and extent of dissemination and engagement plans? How well are they designed to foster active responsibility for addressing systemic issues identified in the SAR?
Open Those conducting the review; Independent Reviewers
1. Are you satisfied that any questions or concerns raised have been addressed and that there are no risks of legal challenge that have not yet been identified?
2. Are you satisfied that your report does not contain libellous material and that any third-party information has been verified or the third party been given a right to comment?
3. Where a living person is identified, have you given duties under the Data Protection Act (DPA) 2018 very careful consideration?
4. Have you had the opportunity to influence and/or comment on any additional products to check they accurately reflect the findings of the SAR report?
Open Those providing practical support; SAB Business Managers/Unit
1. Is legal advice necessary to inform decisions about publication?
2. Have relevant champions, forums and/or networks been identified that can support dissemination to the range of different audiences?