Publication of MSCB Serious Case Review

Learning Lessons from Serious Case Reviews
The Manchester Safeguarding Children Board (MSCB) partners are clear about their responsibilities to learn from experience and improve their services as a result.

Findings from Serious Case Reviews (SCRs) are an essential part of this process and provide us with an opportunity to reflect and learn.

On the 20th August 2018 the MSCB published a SCR in relation to Child M1 & Child M2.

This report can be viewed on our Serious Case Reviews resource where in due course, practitioners will also find a learning pack in relation to this case. A SCR learning event will be held on 31st October.

The learning and good practice that emerges from SCRs and other reviews is shared at a national and local level to maximise the opportunities for learning. Themes emerging here in Manchester are reflected across the country and vice versa.

“This is a very sad case where a baby and young child had been subjected to serious harm.

There are important lessons arising out of the children’s experiences and the importance of hearing the ‘voice of the child’ which are relevant for all services going forward.

This review highlights the complexities of over optimism on the part of professionals and of working with adults who will not engage with practitioners.”

This Serious Case Review has also identified learning for all agencies in relation to the process for looked after children placed at home and use of the escalation process.

The MSCB has accepted all the recommendations in the report and is working with a range of partners to ensure learning is embedded. It should be emphasised that safeguarding is not the sole preserve of one partner and every agency has its part to play in keeping children safe.”

Julia Stephens-Row, Independent Chair of Manchester Safeguarding Children Board
August 2018