What is a Safeguarding Adult Review (SAR)?
A SAR is held when an adult at risk dies, or experiences serious neglect or abuse, and there is concern that partner agencies could have worked more effectively to protect them.
The aim of a SAR is to carry out a multi-agency review which seeks to determine what relevant agencies and individuals involved could have done differently that could have prevented harm or a death from taking place.
The purpose is not to apportion blame. It is to promote effective learning and improvement to prevent future deaths or serious harm occurring again, and for agencies to work together towards positive outcomes for the adult and/or family involved.
SARs are commissioned when:
- there is reasonable cause for concern about how MSP members or other agencies providing services, worked together to safeguard an adult; and
- the adult has died, and the MSP 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
- the adult is still alive, and the MSP knows or suspects that the adult has experienced serious abuse or neglect.
How is a SAR carried out?
Each SAR is written by an independent person who has specialist skills and knowledge. All the agencies involved contribute to the review and a group of senior managers make sure improvements are made. Information is collected by all agencies called an Individual Management Review (IMR). It includes a chronology, a review of recorded information and interviews with key people involved.
It is essential that adults and their families are made aware that a Safeguarding Adult Review is taking place and that they are offered the opportunity to contribute to the review process. Early discussions will be needed with the adult, family and carers or friends (identified as appropriate by the Review Panel) and they should be informed of concerns and that a SAR is underway.
The completed IMRs are given to the Adult Practice Review Panel (APRP) and the independent author, who uses them and any further inquiries they decide to make, to produce a draft report, including recommendations on actions or changes needed. To find out more about the Adult Practice Review Panel visit our ‘who we are’ page.
The finished report is approved by the APRP and then published on our website.
For further information on the screening process and the SAR criteria please download our SAR Screening Process 7 minute briefing:
SAR Screening 7 minute briefing
The GM SAR Guidance details the arrangements by which a Safeguarding Adults Board (SAB) will conduct case reviews. It highlights the statutory duties, overall process for running a Safeguarding Adults Review (SAR), and how the SABs will commission such work. You can download it here:
Learning from Reviews
The report is published and made available to the public on our website alongside learning resources to support the review. The report includes recommendations which are implemented through the Manchester Safeguarding Partnership. Information is shared through our bulletin, Adult multi-agency Fora and is often included in our multi-agency training.
SAR Referral Process
If an individual or agency feels a case should be referred for a SAR they should complete the MSP SAR Referral Form and partner agencies are asked to contribute any information they may have about the case. This is then screened by the Adult Practice Review Panel to determine if it meets the criteria.
If you have any queries please contact the MSP Business Unit.
COMPLETED FORMS SHOULD BE SENT TO THE MSP INBOX: manchestersafeguardingpartnership@manchester.gov.uk
Published SARs
Below is a list of SARs published by MSP. Click the link to download:
SAR Keith (Oct 2023)
SAR Keith Report (Published Oct 2023)
SAR Rayyan
SAR Gayle (June 2022)
SAR Gayle Report (Published June 2022)
Carer’s Thematic Review (Jan 2022)
MSP Carer’s Thematic Review (Published Jan 2022)
Self Neglect Thematic Review
MSP Self Neglect Thematic Review (Published September 2021)
MSP Self Neglect Guidance 2022-2025
MSP Carers Assessment Information
SAR Johnny (Feb 2021)
SAR Johnny Report (Published Feb 2021)
Distressed Behaviour 7 minute briefing
SAR Olia and Baby W (January 2021)
SAR Olia and Baby W Report (Published Jan 2021)