When safeguarding systems are tested by a serious incident or traumatic event, it’s vital to understand how well they worked in practice. Our Post-Incident and Trauma Review provides an independent, external assessment of how safeguarding systems were applied, how staff responded, and where improvements may be needed. This process helps organisations identify immediate actions to address gaps, strengthen practice, and ensure legal and regulatory compliance. It gives leaders clarity, confidence, and evidence they can use to support staff, reassure stakeholders, and demonstrate accountability. We work with schools, alternative provision, care settings, and organisations responsible for children, young people, and vulnerable adults.
What Is a Safeguarding Review?
A Post-Incident Review is a structured, independent examination of a safeguarding incident, serious concern, complaint, near-miss or regulatory issue. It focuses on understanding what happened, how decisions were made, and whether systems and safeguards operated as intended.
A Thematic Review looks across multiple incidents, concerns or data sets to identify patterns, trends and underlying systemic issues. This approach is particularly effective where there are repeated concerns, emerging risks, or a need for organisational assurance at board or trustee level.
Both types of review are proportionate, evidence-based and aligned with statutory guidance and regulatory expectations. Our approach reflects how regulators such as Ofsted and the CQC assess incidents in practice — prioritising learning, accountability and improvement rather than blame.
What Is Included
Critical Feedback
Each review is tailored to the nature and scale of the issue, but typically includes:
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Scope and terms of reference agreed with senior leaders or trustees
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Review of relevant policies and procedures, including whether they were fit for purpose at the time
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Analysis of decision-making and professional judgement during the incident or period under review
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Examination of reporting, escalation and response processes
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Review of safeguarding practice, supervision and management oversight
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Assessment of training, staff understanding and role clarity
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Scrutiny of records, chronologies and information sharing
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Consideration of risk assessment and risk management arrangements
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Alignment with statutory guidance and regulatory expectations
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Identification of strengths, weaknesses and missed opportunities for intervention
Where appropriate, reviews may also include anonymised staff input, case tracking, or comparison against recognised best practice.
What Happens After?
At the conclusion of the review, we provide:
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A clear, structured written report with defensible findings
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Practical, prioritised recommendations focused on reducing risk and strengthening systems
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An actionable improvement plan aligned to regulatory expectations
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Assurance for boards, trustees and senior leaders
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Support with inspection readiness, regulator engagement or internal governance reporting, where required
We can also provide follow-up support to help embed changes, update policies, strengthen safeguarding arrangements or review progress over time. Our aim is not simply to identify what led to the critical issue, but to help organisations move forward with confidence, clarity and improved safeguarding practice.