LSCP Serious Incident Review Group - SIRG (Formerly CIG)

Chair: D/Chief Inspector Investigations Andrew McCourt, Merseyside Police

The Serious Incident Review Group (SIRG) is responsible for undertaking and establishing the need for a Local Child Safeguarding Practice Review (LCSPR) or any other review, ensuring that actions, based on recommendations from reviews, are implemented. In addition the Serious Incident Review Group work with the LSCP Learning, Practice & Workforce Development Group towards ensuring that the lessons are learned and any required changes to practice are implemented.

The Group has responsibility for monitoring the quality of work, commissioned by LSCP, from independent consultants including authors of overview reports and chairs of the review process.

The SIRG has responsibility for monitoring implementation of single agency action plans. Multi agency action plans are monitored by the LSCP Scrutiny, Audit and Review Group (SARG).

The SIRG contributes to the LSCP annual report.
The Standing SIRG meets once a month.

Membership

  • Merseyside Police (Chair)
  • Legal Services, Liverpool
  • Designated Nurse, Cheshire and Merseyside ICB
  • Children’s Centre Coordinator
  • CDOP Manager
  • Designated Doctor
  • Head of Targeted Services
  • Head of Service, Safeguarding 
  • Service Manager, Quality Assurance & Safeguarding, Children’s Services.
  • LSCP Training & Workforce Development Coordinator
  • LSCP Education Engagement Officer
  • Children's Advice & Support Service (CASS)
  • Probation 
  • Head teacher, LASH Representative
  • Early Help Partnership Manager
  • SEND Partnership Manager

Rapid Review Panel Core Membership: (other members will be invited to join as required)

  • DCI Merseyside Police (Chair)
  • Designated Nurse Safeguarding Children, Cheshire and Merseyside ICB.
  • Head of Service, Safeguarding 
  • Service Manager, Quality Assurance & Safeguarding, Children’s Services.
  • Early Help Partnership Manager 
  • Legal Services
  • LSCP Partnership Education Engagement Officer
  • LSCP Training & Workforce Development Coordinator

Referring Cases to the Liverpool Safeguarding Children Partnership

All agencies and professionals in the LSCP partnership can refer cases to be considered for a multi-agency learning review. Before a referral is made the professional should discuss the case with their safeguarding lead. Professionals can also consult about potential referrals and who your safeguarding lead is with the LSCP Safeguarding Manager.

Referrals are made using the Case Referral Form (available below). Completed Forms should be emailed to:

infoLSCP@liverpool.gov.uk

LSCP SIRG referral form 2024

Safeguarding Practice Review Panel

On the 29th June 2018 the National Panel for Serious Case Reviews was replaced by the new National Child Safeguarding Review Panel.

The Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel is responsible for commissioning and supervising reviewers for national child safeguarding practice reviews – these replaced Serious Case Reviews as new safeguarding arrangements were implemented.

The purpose of a national child safeguarding practice review is to identify any improvements that should be made by safeguarding partners or others to safeguard and promote the welfare of children.

Duty on Local Authorities

Local authorities will be required, under their statutory duty, to notify the Panel of incidents where they know or suspect that a child has been abused or neglected and:

  1. the child dies or is seriously harmed in the local authority’s area; or
  2. while normally resident in the local authority’s area, the child dies or is seriously harmed outside England.

These notifications should be made within five working days of the local authority becoming aware of the incident following the correct notification processes.

The local authority should also report the incident, within the same five working days, to the relevant LSCP.