Serious Incident Notifications (SIN) and Rapid Review Referrals

The documents below set out the statutory and local responsibilities of all safeguarding partners and relevant agencies in responding to serious safeguarding incidents involving children. It aligns with the Working together to Safeguard Children 2026 (Chapter 5) guidance and the National Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel - GOV.UK guidance, and reflects strengthened Working Together 2026 (WT26) expectations relating to anti‑racist practice, disproportionality analysis, inclusion, unborn children, multiple harms, and online harms. This guidance applies to all professionals and organisations involved in safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, including unborn children where concerns exist. The guidance provides professionals with a framework when undertaking or participating in Serious Incident Notifications, Rapid Reviews, and Child Safeguarding Practice Reviews.

This policy and Microsoft Form applies to all members of the Sunderland Safeguarding Children Partnership (SSCP), and all agencies working with children and families within Sunderland.

Members of the public are excluded from the SIN process, in line with Working Together 2026. Should a member of the public feel that a SIN should be submitted, they must do this through approaching the Local Authority/ Together for Children where the SIN request would be considered in line with the SIN criteria.

nb. professionals must read the SIN and CSPR guidance before completing a SIN referral