Qualification: NCFE CACHE Level 3 Diploma for the Early Years Educator
Unit: Unit 2.2: Understand legislation relating to the safeguarding, protection and welfare of children
Learning outcome: Understand the purpose of serious case reviews
Assessment criteria: Explain why serious case reviews are required
Serious case reviews (SCRs) are required in England and Wales whenever a child dies or is seriously harmed, and there is reason to believe that agencies could have done more to protect them. They are conducted by local Safeguarding Children Boards (SCBs)
The purpose of an SCR is to learn lessons from what happened to help improve future practice. SCRs examine how well different agencies worked together to safeguard and promote the welfare of the child, as well as identify any missed opportunities to intervene.
SCRs are not intended to apportion blame but rather to focus on improving future practice. The findings of an SCR are therefore made public to share lessons learned with other professionals who work with children.