Interface between SARs and Coronial Processes – Best Practice Guidance

Interface between SARs and Coronial Processes Best Practice Guidance
This guidance has been developed by the National Safeguarding Adults Board
Manager Network in response to feedback from Safeguarding Adults Boards (SABs)
and learning from Safeguarding Adults Reviews (SARs) that the interface between
SARs and Coronial Processes can be difficult to navigate. Practice across the
country has been variable.

Legislation covering crossover of these two processes is limited, and so SABs and
Coroners do not have a standard approach to ensuring these parallel processes,
when running concurrently, can proceed as efficiently and effectively as possible. It
is essential that both SABs and Coroners are able to undertake their respective
statutory obligations without compromising those respective tasks or causing
distress to the family of the deceased.

This briefing contains an overview of legislative guidelines, good practice guidance,
helpful tools and templates, and examples of local protocols, and has been
developed to inform local working arrangements and support a joined-up approach.
This guidance is not intended to replace any legal requirements or local joint working
arrangements currently in place.

This guidance aims to help identify how, when, and why joint working might be
requested and/or required and helpful. The aim is to minimise delays in respective
statutory processes, as well as keeping one another informed regarding the
decision-making process. The aim is also to manage the expectations of the family
of the deceased.
This guidance can be used locally to:

• Provide clarity about roles and responsibilities
• Outline any legislative duties and areas of crossover
• Create a better understanding of each other’s processes
• Provide a starting point for developing a local protocol if you do not already
  have one
• Provide useful tools to assist communication
• Enhance positive joint working
• Reduce duplication
• Act as a ‘check’ of existing local protocols to see if any areas could be
  strengthened
• Inform a review of local protocols
  

This best practice guidance was informed by learning from Safeguarding Adults
Reviews and a National Survey sent to Safeguarding Adults Boards and
Safeguarding Adults Reviewers. We would like to acknowledge the valuable
contributions made by a small reference group of SAB Managers, Coroners,
Independent SAB Chairs and a legal representative.

The full guidance can be found here: National-SAB-Guidance-on-the-Interface-between-SARs-and-Coronial-Processes-September-2024.pdf

Useful links

• You can find more information on the NYSAB learning and published safeguarding adult reviews here on our website: NYSAB Learning
• Safeguarding Adults Reviews (SARs) – SCIE
• Parallel processes – SCIE