What to do if you are concerned about a vulnerable adult who is at risk of neglect or abuse in Northumberland.
To make a referral download and complete the Safeguarding Adults Enquiry Form.
People and organisations work together to prevent and stop the risk of abuse or neglect.
The Care Act 2014 identifies the following categories of abuse and neglect that should be included within Safeguarding Adult policy and procedures. It may be:
Abuse can happen anywhere - in a person's own home, a public place, care homes, hospitals, day centres or in the community. Anyone can neglect or abuse - family members, friends, neighbours, social workers, health staff, carers, volunteers and strangers. Stopping abuse or neglect is everyone’s responsibility and anyone can raise a concern.
If you are concerned that someone is at risk of, or experiencing, abuse or neglect please contact Onecall.
This forms the Northumberland Children and Adults Safeguarding Partnership (NCASP).
‘It is our vision to work together and provide added value across the safeguarding system, to improve practice and outcomes, and safeguard and promote the welfare of children, young people, adults and their families in our community.'
Click here for Northumberland Children and Adults Safeguarding Partnership information. If you have any enquiries relating to the Safeguarding Adults Partnership arrangements please email: ncasp@northumberland.gov.uk Please note that this is for further information about the Safeguarding Adults Partnership only. If you are concerned that someone is at risk of, or experiencing, abuse or neglect please contact Onecall.
The Care Act 2014 introduced a statutory requirement for each local authority to set up a Safeguarding Adults Board (SAB). The aim of an SAB is to make sure:
The first Annual Report since the introduction of our joint Children and Adults Safeguarding Partnership has now been published and can be viewed here. The partnership have agreed new Strategic Priorities which are outlined in our 2023-26 Strategic Plan which can be viewed here.
Section 44 of the Care Act 2014 places a duty on local Safeguarding Adults Boards to arrange a SAR:
The Safeguarding Adults Review Group considers all referrals for SARs. This multi-agency group advises the Safeguarding Adults Board whether a SAR should be held. It may advise other actions should be taken instead.
Any agency or a relative can make a referral to the safeguarding adults review group.
For information about SARs please click here to view the North of Tyne Safeguarding Adult Review Policy and Procedure 2023 Click here to make a referral to the Safeguarding Adults Review Committee.
Please click here for the North East SAR Quality Marker checklist and guidance. Please click here for the National SAR Quality Markers guidance.
In November 2019 the North Tyneside and Northumberland SAB published a Safeguarding Adults Review in relation to Leanne Patterson. Click here to view the report and accompanying statement. In December 2018 the North Tyneside and Northumberland SAB published a Safeguarding Adult Review in relation to Adult W. Click here to view the report and accompanying statement. In 2012 Northumberland SAB published a Safeguarding Adults Review in relation to Adult H. Please click here to access the National SAR library.
For Adult Social Care staff: If you are a member of adult social care staff and want to report a concern. Please complete a Request for a decision form, then submit to the safeguardingreferrals@northumberland.gov.uk. To report a crime: In an emergency, contact the police, phone: 999 If the person is not in immediate danger, contact the police, phone: 101
Safeguarding Adults multi-agency policy and procedures
Northumberland multi-agency Safeguarding Adults policy and procedures provide an overarching framework for Safeguarding Adults and sets out what actions staff and agencies should take to protect adults at risk of harm from abuse. Professionals should refer to the multi-agency safeguarding procedures and staff guidance to inform their actions when there is a concern about abuse or neglect. Click here to view the Northumberland Safeguarding Adults policy and procedures. Professionals may also consult the NSAB Safeguarding Adults Risk Threshold Tool to inform their decision making. Click here to view the NSAB Safeguarding Adults Risk Threshold Tool. A range of further practice guidance is also available to assist professionals, please see 'practice guidance' section below.
To find out more information on how to help if you believe someone you know is the victim of domestic abuse, please see the Domestic Abuse website.
A MARAC is a meeting where information is shared on the highest risk domestic abuse cases between representatives of local police, health, child protection, housing practitioners, Independent Domestic Violence Advisors (IDVAs) and other specialists from the statutory and voluntary sectors. A victim should be referred to the relevant MARAC if they are an adult (16+) who resides in the borough and are at high risk of domestic violence from their adult (16+) partner, ex-partner or family member, regardless of gender or sexuality. After sharing all relevant information, they have about a victim, the representatives construct a joint risk management plan that provides professional support to all those at risk and that reduces the risk of harm. The aim of the MARAC is to manage the risk to the adult victim but in doing this it will also consider other family members including any children involved and managing the behaviour of the perpetrator. Information shared at the MARAC is confidential and is only used for the purpose of reducing the risk of harm to those at risk.
At the heart of a MARAC is the working assumption that no single agency or individual can see the complete picture of the life of a victim, but all may have insights, knowledge and expertise that are crucial to their safety.
To make a referral to MARAC, please contact your Agency's designated MARAC lead. If you are not aware of who your MARAC lead is, please contact the Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub via OneCall. If you require further information or advice contact: Lesley Pyle Northumberland & North Tyneside Domestic Abuse & Sexual Violence Coordinator Email: lesley.pyle@northumberland.gov.uk
The single point of contact for Adult Social Care MARAC referrals is: safeguardingadults@northumberland.gov.uk Tel: 01670 536400
Useful links and information
Alcohol Concern Alcoholics Anonymous Action Fraud Care Act 2014 fact sheets Care Quality Commission Citizens Advice Bureau Domestic Abuse Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards at a glance - SCIE Dignity in Care Disclosure and Barring Service Drinkaware Equality and Human Rights Commission Forced Marriage Unit Frank Friends against scams Gamcare (gambling) Hope for Justice Hourglass Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner Karma Nirvana Mental Capacity Act 2005 MIND Modern Slavery helpline National Association for People Abused in Childhood National Domestic Abuse helpline National LGBT and Domestic abuse helpline National Referral Mechanism (NRM) National Working Group tackling CSE Northumberland Safeguarding Children Northumberland Safeguarding Children Board Procedures Rape Crisis Safer Northumberland Partnership Samaritans Shelter Social Care Institute for Excellence SORTED Northumberland Stop Loan Sharks Suzy Lamplugh Trust Suicide Prevention Network Respect: Men's Advice line Relate Telephone Preference Service Victim Support Womens Aid
On behalf of the Northumberland Children and Adult Safeguarding Partnership (NCASP), a range of multi-agency safeguarding adult and associated training is available.
If you work for Northumberland County Council and have a Learning Together account, please access safeguarding adults training via your personal log-in.
If you work for the private, voluntary & independent sector you can access safeguarding adult training via our on-line learning platform - Learning Together. If you already have an account, please use your log-in details. If you do not have an account and wish to apply, please contact learning and organisational development who will be able to assist with your registration. E-mail: learningandod@northumberland.gov.uk
Alternatively, you can also apply by contacting the social care training team who co-ordinate and manage the safeguarding adult training programme. Please e-mail: socialcaretraining@northumberland.gov.uk
For further information, advice and/or guidance about Safeguarding Adults and associated training please contact:
Leigh Waller, social care training team manager
Phone: 07580 309219 Email: leigh.waller@northumberland.gov.uk
Mental Capacity Act
The Mental Capacity Act (MCA) 2005 applies to everyone involved in the care, treatment and support of people aged 16 and over living in England and Wales who are unable to make all or some decisions for themselves. The MCA is designed to protect and restore power to those vulnerable people who lack capacity. The MCA provides the legal framework for making decisions on behalf of people who lack the mental capacity to make decisions themselves. For further information please see the Mental Capacity Fact sheet
Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards
The Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS)apply to vulnerable people in England and Wales, aged 18 or over, who have mental health needs (this includes dementia), who are in hospitals and care homes, and who do not have the mental ability to make decisions about their care or treatment. If they lack capacity, or are unable to make these decisions, then the law allows decisions to be made in their best interests. To meet the requirements for an assessment under the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards the following criteria must be met: 1. The person must lack capacity to consent to their care or treatment in the care home, hospital or other supported living arrangement. 2. The person is not free to leave. That means the person is not free to live where they want or with who they want. 3. The person is under continuous supervision and control. For example, do staff always need to be aware of where the person is, who they are with and make checks and take action if there is any doubt about this? If the above criteria are met, the local authority will undertake an assessment. This will be carried out by a best interests assessor and a specialist doctor, and will involve speaking to family or friends, or appointing an independent mental capacity advocate. The assessment will decide how long the authorisation will last (maximum 12 months), and when it will need to re-assessed. The person will be provided with a representative during the period of authorisation and has the right to challenge through the Court of Protection. If the above criteria are met and the person is being deprived of their liberty in any other living accommodation, then the local authority may need to apply to the Court of Protection to seek their authorisation. If so, then we would need to consult with the person, their carers, relatives and representatives. For further advice or information please contact: DoLS team Email: dolsnorthumberland@northumberland.gov.uk Phone: 01670 629 700 For further information relating to Mental Capacity and the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguarding please see this section of the Safeguarding Adults procedures.
Liberty Protection Safeguards
The Liberty Protection Safeguards (LPS) will replace the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) and will provide protection for people aged 16 and above who are or who need to be deprived of their liberty in order to enable their care or treatment and lack the mental capacity to consent to their arrangements. The timescale for implementation has not been confirmed. Click here to see Liberty Protection Safeguards - at a glance.
Related guidance
Supporting people living with dementia to be involved in adult safeguarding enquiries.
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