Source: The Child Safeguarding Review Panel and Sage Open Access published on this website Wednesday 10 April 2024 by Jill Powell
The Child Safeguarding Review Panel recommend those involved in safeguarding practice read a fascinating research article about the different (and sometimes competing) functions of safeguarding reviews. It will, they are sure, prompt good thinking and reflection on our approaches to such reviews.
"The multiple and competing functions of local reviews of serious child abuse cases in England" by Jonathan Dickens, Laura Cook, Jeanette Cossar, Cynthia Okpokriri, Julie Taylor and Joanna Garstang has been published by Critical Social Policy, an academic journal available on Sage Open Access.
Dickens et al highlight the various influences and factors that can shape safeguarding reviews.
They suggest that, whilst the stated purpose of local reviews is to improve practice, there are other
"covert functions:
to dissipate public outrage,
deflect attention from underlying causes,
and distort understandings of the work by making it seem straightforward".
They encourage that the article is read in full, it provides us all with some good, healthy challenge and should prompt reflection on how we approach safeguarding reviews.
