Safeguarding adult review (SAR) referrals
Any agency or professional can make a referral if it meets the criteria for a safeguarding adult review (SAR).
Ensure you understand the purpose of a SAR.
When to make a SAR referral
Consider the criteria
- If the person is alive, has there been serious abuse or neglect?
- Did or does the person have care and support needs?
- Has there been a concluded enquiry by an agency, like adult social care, the police or health?
- Could there be learning to improve multi-agency working?
Discuss with your supervisor, manager or safeguarding lead
Discuss whether a referral is appropriate.
Can you evidence all sections and meet the criteria on the SAR referral form?
Consider contacting your Safeguarding Adults Board for advice.
Make a SAR referral
Complete this form including as much information as possible:
State:
- which enquiry was completed - for example, Serious incident, Root cause analysis, Section 42 Safeguarding enquiry, criminal investigation.
- by which agency (such as, police, health or social care)
- what the outcome was
Email the completed form to your Safeguarding Adults Board, listed on the form.
Help to make a SAR referral
For guidance on making a referral, see Appendix C of the Sussex SAR protocol.
What happens next
The Safeguarding Adults Board considers referrals in line with the Sussex SAR protocol.
The SAR subgroup then:
- review referrals
- consider the criteria
- make a recommendation to the SAB's independent chair
The independent chair makes the final decision.
