Safeguarding Adult Review Procedures (SAR)

In cases where it is believed that an adult at risk suffered a serious adverse consequence as a result of abuse or neglect and that there is concern that agencies did not work together effectively to protect the adult at risk then consideration must be given to the Darlington Safeguarding Partnership Safeguarding Adult Review (SAR) Protocol. 

The Protocol sets out the approach and procedure to be followed when a referral for a Safeguarding Adult Review (SAR) or a referral for a Learning Request is received by Darlington Safeguarding Partnership.
DSP Safeguarding Adult Review (SAR) Procedures [New Page].

Where any individual or agency believes there may have been circumstances where the threshold for holding a SAR has been met, they may refer a case to Darlington Safeguarding Partnership via the Safeguarding Partnership Business Manager to establish if there are important lessons for multi-agency work to be learnt from a case.

The Care Act 2014 and Care and Support Guidance created a statutory requirement for Safeguarding Adults Boards (in Darlington this refers to the Darlington Safeguarding Partnership) to consider a Safeguarding Adult Review (SAR) in the following circumstances:

The DSP must arrange a review of a case involving an adult in its area with care and support needs (whether or not the Local Authority has been meeting any of those needs) if:

1. there is reasonable cause for concern about how the Darlington Safeguarding Partnership members of it or other persons with relevant functions worked together to safeguard the adult AND
2. a) the adult has died, and the DSP knows or suspects that the death resulted from abuse or neglect (whether or not it knew about or suspected the abuse or neglect before the adult died) OR
3. b) the adult is still alive, and the DSP knows or suspects that the adult has 
   experienced serious abuse or neglect.

The DSP may also arrange for there to be a review of any other case involving an adult in its area with care and support needs (whether or not the local authority has been meeting any of those needs).  SARs may also be used to explore examples of good practice where this is likely to identify lessons that can be applied to future cases.

Each member of the DSP must co-operate with and contribute to the carrying out of a SAR to:
a)    identify lessons to be learnt from the adult’s case and
b)    applying those lessons in future cases