Statutory Reviews

Types of Review

Statutory safeguarding reviews are a critical mechanism for learning from serious incidents and driving system improvement. Beyond the File provides independent chairs and authors across all the principal review types:

Domestic Abuse Related Death Reviews (DARDRs)

Domestic Homicide Reviews are statutory reviews commissioned under Section 9 of the Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Act 2004. They examine the circumstances surrounding a death caused by domestic abuse, with a focus on identifying lessons for agencies and improving local responses. Both Kirsty and Becca hold Home Office certified DARDR Chair training and can chair and author these reviews individually or jointly.

Safeguarding Adult Reviews (SARs)

Safeguarding Adult Reviews are conducted under Section 44 of the Care Act 2014 where an adult with care and support needs has died or experienced serious harm, and there is concern about how agencies worked together. Kirsty is SCIE SAR Reviewer accredited. Both practitioners are accredited SILP reviewers, providing a flexible approach to methodology.

Child Safeguarding Practice Reviews (CSPRs)

Child Safeguarding Practice Reviews are commissioned by Safeguarding Children Partnerships where a child has been seriously harmed or has died, and abuse or neglect is known or suspected. Beyond the File brings experience in contributing to and authoring these reviews with the same rigour and person centred approach applied to all our work.

Our Approach

Beyond the File adopts a trauma-informed approach and compassionate leadership style to independent review work, enabling sensitive engagement with families, practitioners and agencies. We place significant value on capturing a sense of the person at the centre of every review — beyond being a service user or a victim of abuse.

Our reports focus on how issues of intersectionality and identity create unique experiences of, and barriers to, accessing services, alongside the practitioner experience of working with that person or family within the system. These elements provide much richer learning but are not always captured in records — which is why it is so important to look "beyond the file".

We convert learning into practical, achievable recommendations supported by SMART action plans with clear outcome measures where impact can be demonstrated. We appreciate the balance between maintaining independence and working collaboratively with panels as experts in the local system to ensure every commissioned review is high quality, impactful and value for money.

Our Specialisms

With complementary backgrounds in mental health nursing and social work, Beyond the File brings specialist knowledge across:

• Mental health
• All-age safeguarding (adults and children)
• Mental capacity
• Public protection
• Domestic abuse
• Criminal justice

Accreditations

• Home Office certified DARDR Chairs (both Kirsty and Becca)
• SCIE SAR Reviewer accredited (Kirsty)
• SILP (Significant Incident Learning Process) accredited (both Kirsty and Becca)

Kirsty and Becca can jointly chair and author reviews, or conduct them individually depending on your requirements.