Learning from Adult Practice Reviews (APRs)

Abstract

Adult Practice Reviews (APRs) provide a vital opportunity to learn from cases where adults at risk have experienced significant harm or death, identifying systemic strengths and weaknesses within safeguarding practice.

Commissioned by the National Independent Safeguarding Board (NISB) Wales, this 2025 thematic review analysed 25 APRs covering incidents from 2016–2022, with the aim of informing the new Single Unified Safeguarding Review (SUSR) process introduced in October 2024. The thematic review identified recurring challenges across Wales, including fragmented multi-agency coordination, limited use of advocacy, inconsistent consideration of mental capacity, and variable documentation of adults’ lived experiences and wishes. Examples of good practice were evident, such as the consistent use of advocacy services, person-centred “This is Me” documentation and innovative local inter-agency collaboration mechanisms.

This presentation will share findings from the thematic review, explore the implications for policy and practice in Wales and outline how learning from APRs must shape the implementation of the SUSR process. It offers a call to action for embedding systemic, person-centred and accountable approaches to adult safeguarding.

Biographies

Prof Michelle McManus is Professor of Safeguarding and Violence Prevention at Manchester Metropolitan University. She has led major national and international research on safeguarding, exploitation and violence reduction, working closely with government, police, and safeguarding boards to influence policy and practice. Her work focuses on actionable recommendations, workforce development and embedding the voices of those experiencing these systems.

Dr Emma Ball is a Senior Research Associate in Safeguarding and Violence Prevention at Manchester Metropolitan University. She has worked on and led qualitative analysis on national projects across England and Wales researching effectiveness of multi-agency safeguarding. She has led of the development of the 5-Domain National Multi-agency Safeguarding Performance Framework in Wales, the Collective Safeguarding Responsibility Model: 12cs and The Recommendation iFramework and as a former social worker and practitioner, she is passionate about improving outcomes for those within the safeguarding system.