Safeguarding Adult Reviews (SARs)

A Safeguarding Board has a statutory duty to consider and to undertake a Section 44 Safeguarding Adult Review when:

• An adult dies as a result of abuse or neglect, whether known or suspected, and there is concern that partner agencies could have worked more effectively to protect the adult OR
• An adult is still alive but has experienced serious neglect or abuse and there is concern that partner agencies could have worked more effectively to protect the adult.

A Safeguarding Adult Review is undertaken, and a SAR Report compiled and generally authored by a commissioned independent person, who has been identified as having the necessary specialist skills and knowledge, pertaining to the characteristics of the SAR.  

All involved agencies make active contributions to the review, resulting in production of a Report. 

The content of the Report contains Recommendations for consideration by Sefton Safeguarding Adults Partner Board Members.  Once accepted the Recommendations are converted into a multi-agency Action Plan which is implemented and monitored by the Board and the relevant Subgroup to ensure improvements are made and learning is embedded.

The purpose of having an SAR is not to reinvestigate or to apportion blame. It is an opportunity to derive learning for all agencies involved and to make positive changes to practices in the future.

Merseyside Safeguarding Adults Review Group (known as MSARG)

Sefton Safeguarding Adults Partnership Board forms part of a Merseyside Safeguarding Adults Review Subgroup along with other Merseyside Local Authorities. This enables a standardised SAR process across Merseyside, admin to support this group is provided by Wirral Safeguarding Adults Board. 

Referral

When considering a referral into SAR, you may wish to first raise a safeguarding concern, to ensure you have addressed the incident with the local authority.

To make a referral for consideration by the Merseyside SAR group, please complete this referral form found here and email it to SAR@Wirral.gov.uk

Safeguarding Adult Reviews (SARs) Documents: 

• SAR Booklet - Information for Families and Friends
• Sefton SAPB & MSARG SAR Procedure

Safeguarding Adult Reviews (SARs):

Please note the following documents are published SARs from Safeguarding Adults Boards across the UK

• Lewisham SAB Eileen Dean SAR Report / Lewisham SAB SAR 7 Min Briefing - Eileen Dean
• Safeguarding Adults Review on Whorlton Hall - Psychological and physical abuse of people living at Whorlton Hall
• Teeside SAB SAR Report  / Teeside SAB - Molly SAR Briefing - Adult Exploitation 
• Blackpool SAB SAR Report - Jessica - 24 year old with Down Syndrome / SAR Jessica Learning Brief
• Adult P - published February 2024 | Norfolk Safeguarding Adults Board