Safeguarding adult reviews (SARs)
SAR criteria
The Care Act 2014 sets out the criteria for a safeguarding adult review (SAR).
Each Safeguarding Adults Board (SAB) must arrange a SAR when it suspects or knows that an adult has:
- died because of abuse or neglect; or
- experienced serious abuse or neglect which has resulted in permanent harm, reduced capacity or quality of life
and
- there is concern that partner agencies could have worked more effectively to protect the adult.
Purpose of a SAR
A SAR promotes learning, improves practice and reduces the risk of future deaths or harm.
It reviews:
- how effective the safeguarding procedures are
- what is working well
- how professionals and agencies can work together better
- any service improvement or development needs for agencies.
It should not:
- be a primary investigation process
- re-investigate a safeguarding incident
- apportion blame
- substitute for a complaints process.
The findings from SARs inform action plans, to improve services and reduce the risks of future harm. This supports continuous development and good practice.