Îʶ¦ÓéÀÖ

In 2018, there was an academic review by Professor Amanda Robinson from Cardiff University and a Îʶ¦ÓéÀÖpractitioner review by Liane James on:

• Domestic Homicide Reviews (DHR)
• Adult Practice Reviews (APR)
• Mental Health Homicide Reviews (MHHR)
• Child Practice Reviews (CPR)

The academic review made recommendations concerning:

• legislation
• governance
• policy
• process
• a central repository
• a national library
• learning and training

Both reviews highlighted the need for co-ordination, collaboration, communication and governance to be improved when conducting safeguarding reviews in Wales. The work exposed the complexity of devolved and non-devolved bodies undertaking reviews, in isolation and in some cases without Îʶ¦ÓéÀÖknowledge or involvement, this created a chaotic review landscape in Wales.

Recommendations were made and accepted by Îʶ¦ÓéÀÖ Ministers to have a Single Unified Safeguarding Review (SUSR) process, with a sole body providing overarching governance linked into a central repository to facilitate pan-Wales learning and training. Complementing this was the need for a process that could escalate exceptional issues, including potential changes to policy or issues that involve both devolved and non-devolved functions, at an inter-ministerial level to influence, support and guide this unique process and outcomes.

The board is the overarching body bringing together the devolved and non-devolved aspects of safeguarding under 1 governance model. The purpose of the board is set out in the 4 areas below.

Leadership

Within the area of leadership, the purpose of the board is to:

• provide a national forum to assist the prevention, management of and learning from safeguarding reviews in Wales
• encourage the development and implementation of a consistent approach across Wales with key partners
• consider any potential changes that Îʶ¦ÓéÀÖmay have to make in terms of statutory responsibilities linked to legislation, guidance, policy or resource allocations, as a result of action plans and recommendations emerging from SUSRs

Process

Within the area of process, the purpose of the board is to:

• have a strategic oversight of the number of current safeguarding reviews (including DHRs) and the emerging national issues, patterns and common learning themes, which require a pan-Wales or UK response
• ensure there is a focus on learning by the appropriate agencies, on outcomes from completed reviews, and that there are mechanisms in place to deliver against those outcomes
• receive and act upon escalated issues from regions which cannot be solved at that level and require a pan-Wales or UK response, including potential changes to existing policies and legislation

Holding and generating information

Within the area of holding and generating information, the purpose of the board is to:

• receive key themes identified by the Îʶ¦ÓéÀÖ Safeguarding Repository and any relevant learning
• receive monitoring reports on how the learning arising from the information obtained from the repository is put into practice

Wider learning opportunities

Within the area of wider learning opportunities, the purpose of the board is to:

• encourage the exploration of safeguarding opportunities from an international perspective and identify and share best practice

Membership of the board was agreed at the inaugural meeting and will be reviewed on an annual basis or when changes in ministerial responsibilities are made. Membership includes:

• Minister for Children and Social Care (chair)
• Cabinet Secretary for Education
• Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Îʶ¦ÓéÀÖ Language
• Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care
• Cabinet Secretary for Housing and Local Government
• Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Trefnydd and Chief
• Minister for Mental Health and Wellbeing
• ministers as appropriate for relevant issues
• directors-general as appropriate for relevant issues
• chair of the National Independent Safeguarding Board
• chair of a Regional Safeguarding Board
• chair of the Police and Crime Commissioners Group in Wales
• Îʶ¦ÓéÀÖ Police and Crime Commissioner Lead on SUSR
• chair of the SUSR strategy group
• senior representative from the Wales Safeguarding Repository
• Chief Constable chair of the all Wales policing board
• Chief Executive NHS Wales
• Chief Executive representative on behalf of local authorities (through the Society of Local Authority Chief Executives)
• chair of Public Health Wales
• Chief Executive Îʶ¦ÓéÀÖ Woman’s Aid
• Chief Executive BAWSO (Black Association of Women Step Out)
• National Advisor for VAWDASV (Violence Against Women, Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence), Îʶ¦ÓéÀÖ Government
• representative of the SUSR victim and family reference group
• head of the Wales Safer Communities Board
• Domestic Abuse Commissioner for England and Wales
• Children’s Commissioner for Wales
• Older Person’s Commissioner for Wales
• chair of the Offensive Weapons Homicide Review Oversight Board
• third sector representative
• senior Home Office representative
• Senior Coroner (leadership judge for Wales)
• Chief Crown Prosecutor for Wales
• HM Prison and Probation Service, Regional Probation Director
• Leader of the Îʶ¦ÓéÀÖ Local Government Association (as appropriate for specific agenda items)

Secretariat

Secretariat support will be provided by Îʶ¦ÓéÀÖSocial Services and Integration Directorate.

Frequency of meetings and timescales

Meetings will normally be held every 6 months and will be conducted remotely using Microsoft Teams or physically in Îʶ¦ÓéÀÖoffices as well as other venues across Wales as required. Agenda items should be submitted no later than 2 weeks prior to each meeting, whilst allowing for urgent and emergency matters to be tabled later.