Multi Agency Case File Audits

Dudley Safeguarding People Partnership (DSPP) has a duty to evaluate multi-agency working through case file audits which involves professionals from across the children’s workforce, and in turn, identify themes and trends in order to share learning and recommendations for improvement regarding the quality of practice and service provision.

Multi-Agency Case File Audits (MACFAs) will look at and scrutinise multi-agency practice from a random selection of cases to assess the quality of practice and lessons to be learned in terms of both multi-agency and multi-disciplinary practice. The following will underpin the MACFA process:

Focus on multi-agency and multi-disciplinary interventions and have a clear focus and clearly defined terms of reference
An expectation that all agencies commit to the MACFA procedures
Focus on current practice, considering interventions that have occurred within the last 12 months
Consider interventions that are within the remit and work of local agencies

Include a focus on the welfare of the child, other children living in the household, timeliness, communication and engagement with families or other significant adults

The intention of the MACFA process is to carry out audits in a spirit of appreciative inquiry to “shine a light on what is working well in organisations and potentially engage all stakeholders in building conditions for best practice” (Bellinger and Elliot, 2011)

MACFAs provide opportunities:

For each agency to audit their own practice
To create a culture of constructive challenge
To share expertise
Identify elements of good practice
To ensure identified areas for improvements are followed up
To ensure lessons from audits inform and enhance frontline practice

2020/21

MACFA Learning Briefing – Child Criminal Exploitation (September 2020)

2021/22

2022/23

MACFA Learning Briefing – Domestic Abuse (June 2022)

The Multi-Agency Audit process in Dudley was updated during 2022/23, further information will be published when available.