Serious Incident Reviews

The Care Inspectorate assumed responsibility for the oversight of learning from serious incident reviews when it was established in 2011. The function is underpinned by the Care Inspectorate’s statutory duties under the Public Service Reform (Scotland) Act 2010. The national guidance for serious incident reviews was developed in partnership with the Scottish Government and Social Work Scotland. The guidance outlines what is expected of local authorities when a serious incident comes to their attention.

The reporting of serious incidents currently pertains to people who have received a final disposal from court following conviction. This includes people made subject to the various requirements of a community payback order or a drug treatment and testing order. It also relates to everyone released from custody subject to statutory social work supervision. Guidance on the management and delivery of these orders and licences is contained within a variety of national outcomes and standards - Scottish Government collection of justice social work guidance.

When a serious incident occurs the local authority should notify the Care Inspectorate within five working days. The Care Inspectorate provides a quality assurance role in Serious Incident Reviews, by looking at how reviews have been conducted and whether these have been carried out in a robust and meaningful way. The Serious Incident Review guidance with appendixes to submit a notification and review can be found here.

If there are any queries in the meantime please contact us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Please submit the relevant forms/reports through secure email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

The notification and review templates can be found here:

The main contact for this work is:

Mike Hendry, Strategic Inspector

Mobile 07388 709834