An evaluation of the case management review process in Northern Ireland

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An evaluation of the case management review process in Northern Ireland

Including a scoping exercise of adverse incident reporting and alternative investigative systems

By Anne Lazenbatt, John Devaney and Lisa Bunting (January 2009)

An evaluation of the case management review process in Northern Ireland (PDF, 395KB) is a research report from Queen's Belfast University and the NSPCC.

This study was funded by the Northern Ireland Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety (DHSSPS). It considers the case management review (CMR) processes in Northern Ireland. Case management reviews investigate the learning to be gained from reflecting upon child deaths or serious adverse incidents involving child abuse or neglect. These are known as serious case reviews (SCRs) in England and Wales.

The literature review highlights the key adverse incident systems and processes in operation both nationally and internationally and their respective advantages and disadvantages. It presents an overview of theoretical models such as root cause analysis and systems theory, and how these might be applied to new case management review processes.

The evaluation uses the Delphi technique (a group process used to survey and collect the opinions of experts) to collate the views of those directly involved in the CMR process and other professionals with specialist knowledge. The main strengths and weaknesses of the CMR process are identified and the key themes are presented with recommendations for an improved process.

Full report

An evaluation of the case management review process in Northern Ireland (PDF, 395KB)