Safeguarding adult reviews

A safeguarding adult review (SAR) is carried out when an adult dies as a result of abuse or neglect, whether known or suspected, and there is concern that partner agencies could have worked more effectively to protect the person at risk.

A SAR may also be conducted when a person has not died but it is known or suspected that they have experienced serious abuse or neglect, sustained a potentially life threatening injury, serious sexual abuse or serious or permanent impairment of health or development.

All relevant board agencies should contribute to the review, sharing information and implementing and disseminating the lessons learnt.

The SAR brings together and analyses the findings from individual agencies involved, in order to make recommendations for future practice where this is necessary and also highlights good practice.

Derbyshire Safeguarding Adults Board (DSAB) has a SAR sub group which meets quarterly to discuss and make decisions regarding new referrals, oversees current reviews and ensures learning is implemented from Derbyshire reviews into multi-agency practice. The group also monitors reviews from other safeguarding adults boards to ensure any relevant learning for Derbyshire is distributed.

Attached to this page is a leaflet for families, friends and carers to help explain the SAR process.

Learning from multi agency reviews

Multi agency learning reviews take place where the criteria set in the Care Act for a safeguarding adult review to be undertaken is not met, but where it is felt that there may be valuable learning for a number of organisations about the way in which they work together to safeguard adults with care and support needs.

Summary reports and recommendations from completed DSAB multi agency learning reviews are attached to this page.

The DSAB SAR sub group is responsible for overseeing the implementation of recommendations and providing assurance to the Board that this has been achieved.

Statement for publication of SAR20A learning brief

Andy Searle, independent chair, Derbyshire Safeguarding Adults Board said:

“The Derbyshire Safeguarding Adults Board (DSAB) commissioned a Safeguarding Adult Review (SAR) in 2020 in accordance with the Care Act 2014. The SAR was in relation to the sad death of an adult we refer to as Thomas in the report.

“The SAR is now complete and in addition to a comprehensive report, it was agreed that a learning brief would be produced, outlining the background, findings, good practice and learning points. The learning brief is available on our website and should be used by practitioners and managers from all agencies as a learning resource to consider this case and cases of a similar nature. I would encourage you to discuss this SAR at team meetings, in training and in supervision.

“The SAR recommendations have been agreed by our Board and work is underway to ensure that the learning recommendations are implemented. The Board will monitor progress over the coming months.

“I would like to thank all those involved in the SAR process, especially the Independent Author and Thomas’ Mum, whose contributions to the review were much appreciated.

“Please take the time to review and reflect.”