What is a Single Unified Safeguarding Review (SUSR)?
In October 2024, Welsh Government published statutory guidance which implemented the Single Unified Safeguarding Review (SUSR) model across Wales. The model incorporates multiple review processes into one unified model, eliminating the need for families to take part in multiple processes and allowing services to identify learning sooner.
The SUSR model incorporates the following processes into one cohesive process:
- Adult Practice Reviews
- Child Practice Reviews
- Domestic Homicide Reviews
- Mental Health Homicide Reviews
Transition to SUSR
As can be seen, the SUSR model supersedes the Child and Adult Practice Review processes previously in place. As a result, any Child and Adult Practice Reviews which commenced prior to October 2024 will proceed to conclusion and publication, and any reviews commencing after October 2024 will take place as an SUSR.
Our dedicated webpages hosting published Child Practice Reviews and Adult Practice Reviews will remain live on our website, to share the learning available from these completed reviews in our region.
The SUSR Model
A core principle of the model is to learn from the experiences and perspectives of the individuals connected to the incident. This means engaging with victims and families, as well as with multi-agency practitioners across the services who supported them, to consider what actions can be taken to support improvements to future practice and service provision.
The new SUSR model is also supported by the development of the Wales Safeguarding Repository, which will host published reviews within an innovative, searchable platform. This provides a mechanism for the learning that flows from completed reviews to be more easily accessed by professionals, and for this learning to be captured and considered in future reviews undertaken, thus promoting the ongoing development of learning across Wales.
SUSRs are not investigations or inquiries, nor do they seek to appoint blame or culpability. Instead, the principle of learning is at the heart of the model, supporting those involved in the review to reflect together to identify actions that can lead to improvements to practice and therefore, better outcomes for children, adults at risk and victims of domestic abuse.
For more information about the SUSR model, please visit Welsh Government’s dedicated webpage https://www.gov.wales/single-unified-safeguarding-review-guidance