National Guidance for Child Protection Committees for Conducting a Significant Case Review

Annex 3

Person specification for lead reviewer

The skills and qualities required for the lead reviewer, both internal and external, include:

Leading and directing

• Consider practice experience required for person chairing review - this may differ depending on the particular circumstances of the case
• Responsible for ensuring the required skills and experiences of the Review Team are made available
• Role of body/person setting terms of reference and providing progress reports
• Should have no preconceived views of the case/outcome
• Quality - ability to set out ground rules

Knowledge

• Should have a broad knowledge of protecting children, particularly in a Scottish context.

Analytical skills

• Those chairing/leading reviews must have the ability to interpret and analyse complex multi-agency processes and information.
• Know where, and from whom, to get specific information or expertise
• Logical thinking and ability to map out review process
• Need to understand the context in which services are delivered
• Ability to identify and manage competing interests in an SCR (for example, professional; political, organisation; public, media)

Person qualities

• Those conducting reviews need to be open minded, fair, a good listener and a logical thinker.
• Experience of practice at various levels across an organisation
• A blend of confidence and humility (to be prepared to learn)
• Need to understand professional backgrounds of those involved and be a multi-agency team player

Skills for undertaking the review

• Approachable
• Knowledge of child development and skills in communicating with children and young people
• Risk assessment/management
• Ability to challenge constructively
• Open mindedness/fairness
• Good listener
• Fair person
• Logical thinking
• Emotional intelligence
• The interviewing of significant witnesses takes time and must be undertaken with perseverance and with sensitivity
• Consider practice experience for those undertaking review - this may differ depending on circumstances of the case being reviewed