When a child dies or is seriously injured and abuse or neglect is known or suspected to be a factor, the statutory partners are required to undertake a Rapid Review.  The Rapid Review aims to:-

• Gather the facts about the case, as far as they can be readily established at the time
• Discuss whether there is any immediate action needed to ensure children’s safety and share any learning appropriately
• Consider the potential for identifying improvements to safeguard and promote the welfare of children
• Decide what steps they should take next, including whether or not to undertake a child safeguarding practice review 

The purpose of reviews is to identify where system and practice improvements can be made to further strengthen safeguarding arrangements.  Understanding whether there are systemic issues, and whether and how policy and practice need to change, is critical to the system being dynamic and self-improving.  Reviews should seek to prevent or reduce the risk of recurrence of similar incidents. They are not conducted to hold individuals, organisations or agencies to account, as there are other processes for that purpose.

Any agency or individual can make notify the statutory partners if they believe the threshold for a Rapid Review has been met.  The Case Review Practice Guidance contained on this page details the process.   

We are also encouraging agencies and individuals (practitioners, children or their families) to let us know where multi-agency practice has worked well and led to children being safer.  The Case Review Practice Guidance also details the notification process for a ‘Learn from Success’ review.

Although the statutory partners are not responsible for Child Death Overview Panel, we have included local guidance in this section.

If you are unsure whether a notification for a review should be made you can contact the partnership on:

Shona Green
Safeguarding Board Officer
Bolton Safeguarding Children Partnership

Room 1.36
Castle Hill Centre
Castleton Street
Bolton
BL2 2JW

Telephone 01204 337964
Email boltonsafeguardingchildren@bolton.gov.uk