Body to monitor ‘near misses’ urged

Social care should have the equivalent of the health organisation
that monitors incidents where service users narrowly avoid
harm.

In a report on managing risk in children’s services, the Social
Care Institute for Excellence, which promotes good practice in the
profession, says there are “few opportunities” for organisations in
the sector to learn from near misses.

However, the report says the establishment of a reporting system
for incidents in the health service, through the National Patient
Safety Agency, has encouraged health professionals to raise
concerns, and recommends a “parallel” organisation in social care
to “promote an open and fair culture”.

The study also suggests that children’s services pilot the
reporting of critical incidents and the development of a
professional network for referral and assessment workers to promote
good practice.

Managing Risk and Minimising Mistakes in Services to Children
and Families is available from www.scie.org.uk