What is a Practitioner Information Gathering Event?
The Care Act 2014 introduced the requirement for a Safeguarding Adult Review to be undertaken by the relevant Safeguarding Adult Partnership Board in the event of a serious incident or the death of an adult and abuse or neglect is known or suspected. For further information for the criteria of a SAR and the SAR process please visit: https://safeguardingcambspeterborough.org.uk/adults-board/cpsabprocedures/guidance-on-safeguarding-adult-reviews/
The Children Act 2004 (as amended by the Child and Social Work Act 2017) makes the requirement for Child Safeguarding Practice Review to be undertaken by the relevant Safeguarding Children Partnership Board in the event where a child has died or seriously harmed, and abuse or neglect is known or suspected. For further information for the criteria of a CSPR and the CSPR process please visit: https://www.safeguardingcambspeterborough.org.uk/children-board/professionals/procedures/csprguidance/
Such cases are often very sad and can be worrying for those practitioners who were involved in the case This briefing has been prepared to help explain the role of practitioner’s event in the review process. It is important that practitioners seek the support of their agency (if needed) in preparing and de briefing from these sessions.
As part of a Review, the panel or the reviewer may recommend that a practitioner information gathering event is held. Front-line practitioners who had involvement with the child or adult and their family will be invited to attend. Agencies will be responsible for identifying their key staff who are invited to attend the event.
The key aim of the practitioner information gathering event is to collaborate with the practitioners from the different agencies who knew the child or adult and their family. The event is designed to provide practitioners with the time and safe space to reflect on their involvement with the person, professional practice and decision making. The information gained at the event enables the reviewer to understand in greater depth the context that practitioners were working in and whether there are any lessons that can be learnt to improve practice and good practice that can be identified and shared.
It is important to stress that the review process is not to apportion blame. The process is designed to try and understand what happened and the wide range of factors that affected the way people responded to the circumstances of the case at the time. It is also there to identify good practice.
The Practitioner Information Gathering Event will:
- Hear first-hand accounts of involvement with the child or adult and their family.
- Provide an opportunity to ensure the accuracy of the case ‘story’.
- Provide an opportunity to consider and analyse interventions in a safe, reflective environment.
- Consider the context within which practitioners were working at the time.
- Explore what information, activity or circumstances might have influenced decision making.
- Consider recommendations for the Review.
- Provide an opportunity for practitioners to shape future policy and practice.
The Practitioner Information gathering Event will not:
- Attempt to apportion blame.
- Single out individual practitioners.
- Be critical of specific agencies.
The event is usually facilitated by the independent reviewer appointed to undertake the review which has been commissioned by Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Safeguarding Adults and Children Partnership Board (CPSACPB); and the event will be facilitated and supported by members of the Independent Safeguarding Partnership Service.
Contact details for the Independent Safeguarding Partnership Service including the name of the Independent Reviewer will be provided for your reference should you be invited to a Practitioner Information gathering Event.
For further information on the work of the Board visit our website https://safeguardingcambspeterborough.org.uk
Contact Details for CPSACPB Independent Safeguarding Partnership Service Team Email address – safeguardingboards@cambridgeshire.gov.uk Telephone number (Direct line) – 01733 863744