Case reviews still focused on changing frontline practice, not tackling systemic issues, report finds

Reviews into abuse-related deaths or serious harm of children remain focused on changing frontline practice, rather than addressing systemic issues, a report has found. Fourteen years after Professor Eileen Munro called for a shift to a systemic approach to reviews, they continue to focus on what happened, rather than how and why harm to children occurred, said the report. As a result, local child safeguarding practice reviews (LCSPRs) tend to recommend training for practitioners, updates to practice tools and procedural changes, rather than address underlying practice conditions related to harms to children, it added. The report, commissioned by the Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel, also found that some practitioners associated the process with blame and that there was sometimes little therapeutic support or follow-up for those taking part in reviews. Read more.