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5. THE CHILD PROTECTION COMMITTEE ( CPC) DECIDES TO PROCEED TO AN SIGNIFICANT CASE REVIEW ( SCR)
48. The CPC considers that the criteria at Section 2 have been met and is considering how the public interest is best served and also the interests of children in the area. This section guides the CPC on whether to hold an internal or an external SCR.
The CPC Decide to Undertake an Internal SCR
49. The CPC may be more likely to decide in favour of undertaking an SCR themselves where the circumstances of the case, based on the evidence of the Initial Case Review, suggests that any recommendations are likely to have mainly local impact.
50. In this case, the staffing resources for the SCR would probably be drawn mainly from within the CPC's members. An external specialist or consultant may also be used for some part of the process.
51. The CPC should notify the Chief Officers Group and all the agencies involved in the case that there will be an internal SCR, and that fact should then be recorded on the case files for that case and the cases of relevant adults.
52. The decision should be included in the statistics on SCRs (see Section 8, the Learning Cycle). Issues of confidentiality will need to be considered and resolved so that the case may be included in statistical returns and in the Annual Report. Good practice findings should be recorded and reported in Annual Reports.
The CPC Commissions an External SCR
53. The CPC agree it would not be appropriate or proportionate for them to lead the SCR, as the case may benefit from being considered and investigated by an external team. The criteria which may persuade a CPC to commission an external SCR include:
- There are likely to be national as well as local recommendations;
- Local recommendations are likely to be multi-agency rather than for a single agency;
- The case is already high profile, or is potentially likely to attract a lot of media attention;
- Councillors or MSPs or other elected members have voiced their concerns about services locally;
- The CPC is facing multiple reviews; and/or
- The child's family/carers or significant adults may have already have expressed concerns about the actions of the agencies.
54. Where an SCR is commissioned externally, it continues to be owned by the CPC.
55. The CPC should notify the Chief Officers Group and all the agencies involved in the case that there will be an externally-commissioned SCR, and that fact should then be recorded on the case files for that case and the cases of relevant adults.
56. The decision should be included in the statistics on SCRs, as set out in para 52.
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