Safeguarding Reviews
Single Unified Safeguarding Review
The Single Unified Safeguarding Review (SUSR) is a single review process incorporating all reviews in Wales. The SUSR eliminates the need for families to take part in several reviews. This will reduce the trauma and allow learning to be identified and acted upon sooner.
The criteria for conducting an SUSR is set out in the Singled Unified Safeguarding Review Statutory Guidance, 2024 and needs to meet one of the following:
- Adult Practice Review
- Child Practice Review
- Domestic Homicide Review
- Mental Health Homicide Review
- Offensive Weapons Homicide Review
The SUSR brings agencies and individuals connected to the incident together to:
- build a greater understanding of what happened during an incident and why
- improve the understanding of the impact of the actions of organisations
- look into whether different actions may have resulted in different outcomes for the child or adult at risk
- identify any learning opportunities for the future
- provide a clear action plan on how to improve service provision
An overview and introduction to the SUSR process is provided here.
Child and Adult Practice Reviews
The criteria for child and adult practice reviews are set out in Regulation 4 of the Safeguarding Boards (Functions and Procedures) Wales Regulations 2015, which states that child/adult practice reviews must be undertaken where abuse or neglect of a child or adult is known or suspected and the child/adult has:
- Died; or
- Sustained potentially life threatening injury; or
- Sustained serious and permanent impairment of health or development
There are two forms of review – concise and extended. The type of review undertaken will depend upon the circumstances of the case.
If the criteria for a Practice Review is met, then a recommendation to hold a review is made to the Cardiff and Vale Safeguarding Board Chairs.
Ultimately, the decision as to whether the case meets the above criteria rests with the Board Chair(s), as advised by the Case Review Group.
The following statutory guidance sets out how practice reviews are conducted:
Help for practitioners
For more information on Practice Reviews, and support when carrying them out please read our Practice Review Toolkit.
To make a referral please use the SUSR Referral Form.
Published reviews
Review Reports published by the Cardiff and Vale Safeguarding Children’s Board will be available to download below:
Published reports are kept on the website for a minimum of 12 weeks. You can request copies of previous published reports by contacting the Business Unit.
SUSR Films
Awareness For All
Single Unified Safeguarding Reviews: Awareness for All (6mins)
Learning Events
Single Unified Safeguarding Reviews: Learning Events (6mins)
Senior Leaders
Single Unified Safeguarding Reviews: An Introduction for Senior Leaders (5mins)
