ILLUSTRATIVE FOCUSED SERVICE-REVIEW OUTLINE
Devol Legal
https://devol-legal.com/sample-deliverables

ILLUSTRATIVE ONLY
This is a contents outline to adapt when defining a review. It contains no client findings, evidence or outcomes. Agree the question, methods, limits and deliverables before the review begins.

REVIEW TITLE: [Title]
COMMISSIONING LEAD: [Name / role]
AUTHOR / REVIEWER: [Name / role]
VERSION AND DATE: [Version / date]
INTENDED READERS: [Audience]

1. QUESTION AND AGREED SCOPE
- What question is the review intended to answer?
- What services, topics and reporting period are included?
- What work is excluded?
- What decisions will the review inform?
- What outputs, review points and handover have been agreed?

2. METHODS AND MATERIAL REVIEWED
- Documents and datasets reviewed: [List / evidence index]
- Discussions or engagement undertaken: [Scope, participants by role, dates]
- Other agreed methods: [Description]
- Period covered: [Dates]
- How material was selected and checked: [Approach]

3. EVIDENCE, ASSUMPTIONS AND LIMITATIONS
- Sources and their currency: [Description]
- Gaps or material not available: [Description]
- Assumptions used: [Description]
- Statements that could not be verified: [Description]
- Effect of these limits on the findings: [Explanation]

4. CURRENT ARRANGEMENTS
- Service purpose and operating context: [Description]
- Responsibilities and decision arrangements: [Description]
- Relevant policies, agreements and procedures: [Index]
- Available performance and financial information: [Sources]

5. FINDINGS
For each finding record:
- Finding: [Concise statement]
- Evidence: [Source and location]
- Interpretation: [Reasoning and limitations]
- Questions remaining: [Unresolved matters]

6. OPTIONS AND IMPLICATIONS
For each realistic option record:
- Option: [Description]
- Intended contribution: [Link to the question / outcome]
- Resources and assumptions: [Description]
- Trade-offs and dependencies: [Description]
- Further advice or evidence needed: [Description]

7. RECOMMENDED NEXT STEPS
- Proposed action and reason: [Description]
- Priority and sequencing: [Explanation]
- Proposed owner: [Name / role, to be confirmed]
- Milestone or review point: [Date / event]
- Information needed to review progress: [Description]

8. DECISIONS AND IMPLEMENTATION
- Decision required: [Description]
- Decision owner and route: [To be confirmed]
- Implementation responsibilities: [Description]
- Open questions and dependencies: [List]
- Review and handover arrangements: [Description]

9. SUPPORTING MATERIAL
- Evidence index and document references
- Relevant data summaries and their limitations
- Agreed appendices
- Record of material questions still unresolved

METHODS AND LIMITS
A document review does not establish facts that have not been checked. Keep missing evidence visible and distinguish findings from assumptions, options and recommendations. The methods and level of detail should be proportionate to the agreed question.

USEFUL NEXT STEPS
Commissioning pack: https://devol-legal.com/commissioning-pack
Project Brief Builder: https://devol-legal.com/project-brief-builder
How to instruct: https://devol-legal.com/how-to-instruct-us
Contact: info@devol-legal.com | 020 8150 9869

This outline is a planning aid, not advice on a particular matter.