5.8 What are the stages of managing a serious safeguarding case?

Read about the seven stages of the case management cycle that are listed alphabetically below. Then look at the diagram that follows and decide where in the cycle each stage should go.

• Appeal process – an opportunity for interested parties to challenge the decision and/or sanction imposed, in line with your organisation’s rules.
• Decision-making and sanctions – the organisation takes action to apply appropriate sanctions and to safeguard children and vulnerable adults. The Safeguarding Lead provides support and advice on safeguarding issues.
• Internal investigation (after, or in the absence of an external investigation) – to gather all relevant information and inform next steps.
• Learning – it is always important to reflect on learning from cases – and use this to strengthen your policies and procedures, and to raise awareness in your organisation.
• Raising awareness about safeguarding – so everyone knows what a concern is, and how to report.
• Reporting – Safeguarding Lead receives report and clarifies the facts, nature, and seriousness of the concern – and whose jurisdiction applies. Initial actions agreed in the interest of potential victims (with the case management group if needed) – including external referral, internal investigation, and victim support.
• Risk assessment – this is an ongoing process that should inform every step of the case management process, based on available information. It should help you identify and manage safeguarding risks during the investigation – for example, through the provisional suspension of the alleged abuser – and also help you improve future processes.

Each stage is represented by a small tile. Drag each tile onto the diagram in the correct order. We have provided the first stage to get you started.

You will also notice that one stage is central to the process and you should think about which stage this is.