Summary of safeguarding responsibilities Raising a Concern & Initial Enquiries Main Activities Responsibility Target Timescales: (Organisations Only) Raising A Concern (Section A) An adult with care and support needs is experiencing, or is at risk of, abuse or neglect: Inform the Safeguarding Concerns Manager (organisations only) Gather information Evaluate risk Take actions to safeguard the adult (and or other adults/children) Establish wishes and desired outcomes of the adult at risk Where required assess mental capacity and act in ‘best interests’ Record issues and actions Any person: The adult at risk, members of the public, friends, family. Safeguarding Concerns Manager Any staff in an emergency Raising a Concern: Immediately where urgent and serious Or Within same working day RISK ASSESSMENT AND SAFEGUARDING PLANNING Decisions Whether to raise a Safeguarding Concern Whether a crime needs to be reported Whether emergency services are required (ambulance, police) to keep a person safe. Notify regulator applicable) Record actions and decisions Safeguarding Concerns Manager (in an organisation) Raising a Concern: Immediately where urgent and serious Or Within same working day Initial Enquiries (Section B) Hold discussion with individual or representative Consider need for representation / independent advocate Establish wishes and desired outcomes of the adult at risk Confirm causes for concern Gather information Evaluate risk Agree action to be taken Take immediate actions to safeguard the adult (and or other adults/children) Report to police if required Social Worker/Care Manager/ ASC Manager/ Safeguarding Coordinator/ DASM At the earliest opportunity, keeping the adult at risk/ representative and other relevant parties informed of progress Decisions Decide if the person is an ‘adult at risk’ within the safeguarding policy. Decide if further actions or enquiries are required within this procedure: Risk Management Response (Section C) or Formal Enquiry Response (Section D) Record actions and decisions Notify the Person Raising the Concern of the decision ASC Manager/ Safeguarding Coordinator/ DASM At the earliest opportunity, keeping the at risk/ representative and other relevant parties informed of progress Target timescales are not performance indicators: the time taken to respond to issues of abuse and neglect depend on a range of factors, including the needs of the adult at risk, the nature, seriousness and complexity of the concern, but they provide useful targets that are achievable in many cases. Safeguarding Response Option: Risk Management Response
Main Activities Responsibility Target Timescales: (Organisations Only) Risk Management Response (Section C) A Risk Management Response is an alternative response to a Formal Enquiry. It should be considered where there is no Formal Enquiry required, but there are actions needed to safeguard the adult at risk or others. There is no prescribed list of these actions, they may include: Assessment of care and support Carers assessment Unscheduled review of care and support Mediation Multi-agency risk assessment Social work intervention Family Group Conferences DASM interventions (where Formal Enquiry not being undertaken) Commissioning actions Contracts enforcement actions Service, quality assurance actions Serious incident processes The response will reflect the desired outcomes of the adult at risk, and the nature of the assessed risk to the individual and or others. However, the following activities will remain central to each and every response: Consider need for representation/ independent advocate Work towards the wishes and desired outcomes of the adult at risk Evaluate risk Take actions to safeguard the (and or other adults/children) Where required assess mental capacity and act in ‘best interests’ Record issues and actions Social Worker/Care Manager/ASC Manager/DASM working with partner agencies, including service providers As required by the circumstances, in particular the nature and seriousness of the assessed risk. RISK ASSESSMENT AND SAFEGUARDING PLANNING Review Actions Evaluate whether the actions are addressing the risk, promoting wellbeing and responding to the desired outcomes of the adult at risk. Social Worker/ Care Manager/ ASC Manager/ DASM working with partners As required by the circumstances, in particular the nature and seriousness of the assessed risk. Decisions Further enquiries required Further actions required to safeguarding the adult at risk Further actions required to safeguard others Social Worker/ Care Manager/ ASC Manager/ DASM working with partner agencies
Target timescales are not performance indicators: the time to respond to issues of abuse and neglect depend on a range of factors, including the needs of the adult at risk, the nature, seriousness and complexity of the concern, but they provide useful targets that are achievable in many cases. Safeguarding Response Option: Formal Enquiry Main Activities Responsibility Target Timescales: (Organisations Only) Strategy Discussion/ Meeting (Section D) Gather information Evaluate risk Confirm causes for concern Work towards the wishes and desired outcomes of the adult at risk Agree actions with the adult at risk Where required assess mental capacity and act in ‘best interests’ Consider need for representation/advocacy Safeguarding Coordinator with relevant partner agencies and the adult at risk as appropriate Within five working days of the Initial Enquiry being completed RISK ASSESSMENT AND SAFEGUARDING PLANNING Decisions Confirm that Formal Enquiries are required Plan a Formal Enquiry Coordinate agencies’ involvement Agree interim Safeguarding Plan If Formal Enquiries not required, consider the need for a Risk Management Response Record actions and decisions Safeguarding Coordinator/ DASM Within five working days of the Initial Enquiry being completed Formal Enquiry out Formal Enquiries as agreed in Strategy Discussion/Meeting Consider need for representation/advocacy Review risk and safeguarding planning arrangements as required. Produce a Formal Enquiry report Partner agencies contribute Safeguarding enquiry officer produces enquiry report Report submitted to Case Conference Chair 7 working days before a Case Conference Decisions all relevant issues have been addressed through the enquiries Check any findings and recommendations are evidence based Ensure fair process followed to all concerned; all relevant considered Safeguarding Coordinator/ DASM Report submitted to Case Conference Chair 7 working days before a Case Conference Meeting Case Conference Consider need for representation/advocacy Receive Formal Enquiry report Evaluate findings Evaluate risk Work towards the wishes and desired outcomes of the adult at risk required assess mental capacity and act in ‘best interests’ Case Conference Safeguarding Coordinator/ DASM Within 8 weeks* from safeguarding Strategy Discussion/ Meeting * To be achieved earlier where possible Decisions Determine occurrence of abuse Agree further actions required Agree Safeguarding Plan Agree review arrangements if required Case Conference Chair/DASM/ Safeguarding Coordinator/ Within 8 from safeguarding Strategy Discussion/ Meeting Review Review risk and Safeguarding Plan Work towards the wishes and desired outcomes of the adult at risk Case Conference Safeguarding Coordinator Within 3 months of Case Conference or as agreed