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Child Safeguarding Practice Review Background

Education and Skills

The Children and Social Work Act (2017) and Working Together to Safeguard Children (2023) guidance introduced a new legal framework in respect of local safeguarding arrangements for children.

Responsibility for how a system learns lessons from serious child safeguarding incidents now rests at a national level with the Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel and at a local level with the Safeguarding Partners (KBSP).

This means that Serious Case Reviews have been replaced by Local Child Safeguarding Practice Reviews (CSPRs) as learning reviews conducted in cases where abuse or neglect of a child is known or suspected, and the child has died or been seriously harmed.

The purpose of a Child Safeguarding Practice Review is to establish whether there are lessons to be learnt from the incident about the way in local professionals and organisations work together to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and to identify clearly what those lessons are, how they will be acted on, and what is expected to change as a result, and therefore, improve inter-agency working and better safeguard and promote the welfare of children.

What is a Child Safeguarding Practice Review?

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Child Safeguarding Practice Review Background

Education and Skills

A thematic child safeguarding practice review into serious youth violence in Bristol was commissioned in Bristol in response to the tragic deaths of Max, Mason and Darrian, and the serious harm suffered by a fourth young person, which occurred within three weeks of each other in early 2024.

This review recognises that the harm caused by serious youth violence extends far beyond those immediately affected, impacting whole communities and generations whose perceptions of safety and well-being are deeply altered.

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Publication, recommendations and next steps

The report focuses on strategic responses and partnership working rather than individual children or practitioners.

Practitioners across the partnership were involved in the review process through focus groups.

This review is not about individual children or the events that led to the tragic loss of life. It is about us, as a partnership, learning from what these tragedies tell us about serious violence in Bristol, particularly where harm is experienced outside of the home.

We welcome the recommendations in this report and have made determined progress together to implement improvements

An action plan is in place, developed using the review’s recommendations and the voices of families. This includes the adoption of a partnership Harm Outside the Home Strategy with a multi-agency team dedicated to supporting those impacted by harm outside of the home.

Education and Skills

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Publication, recommendations and next steps

We continue to work with schools and other partners to support all young people to engage successfully in education and to share evidence-based practice to educate young people about serious youth violence.

There is a plan in place to publish the report next week.

The full report, key messages and action plan will be available on the KBSP website.

There is likely to be increased media and possibly social media interest, and this may impact young people, staff and our communities.

Once the report is published, we will arrange follow up sessions to enable more detailed information sharing, opportunity for questions and consideration of any further support.

Education and Skills

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Emotional support and Wellbeing

Anticipate emotional responses: children may feel anxious, triggered, or confused by the themes in the CSPR.

Provide access to trusted adults and safe spaces for pupils to talk.

Ensure DSL’s, counsellors/pastoral staff are briefed and available to support any children who are identified as being at risk of increased anxiety.

Have a plan in place to manage speculation and rumour amongst the children and the wider community.

Education and Skills

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Communication – Families, Pupil Voice and Participation

Consider preparing a communication for staff, pupils, and parents once the CSPR is published.

Think about how you will manage and respond to possible media interest.

Involve pupils in shaping responses to the CSPR findings:

Through school councils, focus groups, or anonymous surveys.

By co-designing safety initiatives or peer mentoring schemes.

Validate their experiences and ideas as part of the safeguarding culture.

Education and Skills

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Safeguarding and Referral Pathways

Ensure pupils know how and where to seek help—inside and outside school.

Review and communicate referral pathways for concerns about violence, exploitation, or mental health.

Strengthen links with external agencies (e.g. CAMHS, youth services, police).

You can find resources on our webpages Topical Safeguarding Resource Bank

Education and Skills

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