This page contains an overview of the terms ‘safeguarding’ and ‘adults at risk'. It also contains information on how and when to report a case and how to do it.
Safeguarding children and young people at risk of abuse or neglect is a priority for all agencies in Northumberland. Some vulnerable children and young people may be particularly at risk, due to isolation, increased use of technology, domestic abuse, and other forms of abuse. It is important that everyone is aware of these risks and knows how to reduce or report them.
If you or a family member are self-isolating or shielding, it is important that you are aware of the increased risks at this time, and who you can contact for support:
If you are struggling and need support you can click here to contact Northumberland Communities Together (Telephone: 01670 620 015)
If you are not sure about an offer of help, do not answer the door; ask the person to leave their details and talk to someone you trust
If you require any general advice or more information please contact: Safeguarding Adults Team 01670 622 683 (team administrator)
Please note that this is for general advice only.
If you are concerned that someone is at risk of, or experiencing, abuse or neglect please contact Onecall. If your query relates to the Safeguarding Adults Board please contact Karen Wright, Senior Manager Safeguarding Adults.
The Care Act 2014 stipulates that Safeguarding Adult Boards must publish a strategic plan and annual report. The SAB has produced an Annual report which provides an overview of its work and achievements over the last year. Click here to view the latest Annual Report. The SAB has also produced a strategic plan which explains how its vision and priorities will be delivered over the next year. Click here to view the latest Strategic Plan. The SAB has an Information Sharing Agreement in place to ensure that information is shared safely, securely and appropriately for the purposes of safeguarding adults at risk. Please click here to view the Northumberland and North Tyneside Information Sharing Agreement document.
Safeguarding adults practice can be improved by identifying what is helping and what is hindering safeguarding work, in order to tackle barriers to good practice, and protect adults from harm. Section 44 of the Care Act 2014 places a duty on local Safeguarding Adults Boards to arrange a SAR: When an adult, with needs for care and support, (whether or not the local authority was meeting any of those needs) in its area dies as a result of abuse or neglect, whether known or suspected, and there is concern that partner agencies could have worked more effectively to protect the adult or If an adult in its area has not died, but the SAB knows or suspects that the adult has experienced serious abuse or neglect and there is concern that partner agencies could have worked more effectively to protect the adult The purpose of a SAR is to promote effective learning and improvement action to prevent future deaths or serious harm occurring again. This may be where a case can provide useful insights into the way organisations are working together to prevent and reduce abuse and neglect of adults. There may be circumstances where the SAR criteria have not been fully met but it is felt that a review of the case would be beneficial. SAR's and Learning Reviews can also be used to explore examples of good practice where it is likely that lessons can be applied to future cases. These are decisions made by the Safeguarding Adults Review Committee.
The Safeguarding Adults Review Committee considers all referrals for SARs. The group makes recommendations to the Safeguarding Adults Board on whether a SAR should be held, or if other actions should be taken to respond to the issues identified. Any agency can make a referral to the Safeguarding Adults Review Committee. For further information regarding SARs please click here to view the North of Tyne Safeguarding Adult Review Policy and Procedure 2018 (Updated 2020) Please click here for the North East SAR Quality Marker checklist and guidance.
Please click here to make a referral to the Safeguarding Adults Review Committee. Please click here to make a referral for a case discussion or sharing of learning/intelligence.
SAR findings and recommendations are reported to the SAB and action plans are produced. The SAB then monitors the implementation of these plans, supported by the Safeguarding Adults Review Committee. The SAR report is then published, which is agreed with the family members or appropriate others.
Safeguarding Adult Review Reports:
In November 2019 the North Tyneside and Northumberland SAB published a Safeguarding Adults Review in relation to Leanne Patterson from Blyth. 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.
As we now move into a new phase of the response to the pandemic, there has been much discussion about the possible increase in adult safeguarding concerns that may come to partners’ attention. It is suspected there may be many potential cases from the pandemic where a person has died which will give the SAB critical learning to help improve adult safeguarding. The position statement sets out how, to enable the best learning possible and to avoid duplication in relation to COVID-19 related SAR referrals, the SAB will meet its statutory duty to conduct a SAR for cases where the criteria is met. PLEASE NOTE: the Safeguarding Adults Board is the only body that can commission a Safeguarding Adult Review. A SAR is a multi-agency process which seeks to determine what relevant agencies and individuals involved could have done differently that could have prevented harm or a death from taking place. The purpose of a SAR is to promote effective learning and improvement to improve services and prevent abuse and neglect in the future. It is NOT to apportion blame. Click here to see the Position Statement All stakeholders and partners are asked to share this statement with their staff, contacts and networks.
Local policies, procedures and working practice information for professionals: Child to Parent Violence and Abuse Pathway Exploitation Strategy - Northumberland - 2020-2023 Female Genital Mutilation procedure Northumberland 10 Steps procedures NSAB Safeguarding Adults Risk Threshold Tool North of Tyne Modern Day Slavery guidance North of Tyne Safeguarding Adults Review Policy and Procedures North of Tyne Self-Neglect guidance North of Tyne Organisational Abuse Enquiries guidance North Tyneside and Northumberand Joint Safeguarding Policy Northumbria Missing Adults Protocol (November 2020) Northumbria Missing Adults Protocol Appendix 3 - Herbert Protocol form Northumbria Missing Adults Protocol Appendix 4 - Winnie Protocol form Information guide: adolescent to parent violence and abuse (APVA) Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking Briefing Modern Day Slavery and Human Trafficking Guidance Northumbria Police Partnership Intelligence form Northumbria Police Submitting Intelligence Briefing (27.03.19) Northumberland Modern Slavery, Trafficking and Exploitation Concept of Operations Northumberland Prevent Pathway Northumberland Prevent Referral form Northumberland Safeguarding Transitions Protocol Briefings and 7 minute guides: Child to Parent Violence and Abuse 7 minute briefing Cuckooing briefing Language briefing Newcastle JSCR 7 minute guide Professional Curiosity 7 minute briefing Self-neglect briefing National reports of interest Pressure Ulcers and the Interface with a Safeguarding Enquiry (DHSC) Alcohol UK (July 2019) - Learning from tragedies: an analysis of alcohol-related Safeguarding Adult Reviews published in 2017
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 Tel: 01670 622 724 Email: lesley.pyle@northumberland.gov.uk For more information, please refer to: Risk Indicator Checklist NCC Domestic Abuse Process flowchart Northumberland Domestic Violence and Abuse and Sexual Violence Strategy 2018 - 2021 Northumberland MARAC Protocol 2019
The single point of contact for Adult Social Care MARAC referrals is: Safeguarding Adults Team Tel: 01670 622 683 (team administrator)
Northumberland and North Tyneside are joining in a nationwide conversation to raise awareness about safeguarding adults, as part of National Safeguarding Adults week.
The national awareness week, which takes place from Monday 16 November until Sunday 22 November 2020, aims to remind people the vital role they play in helping prevent abuse by spotting the signs, and the actions that should be taken if they are concerned about someone.
Paula Mead, Chair of the Safeguarding Adults Board said: “Everyone has the right to be treated with dignity and respect and be able to enjoy a sustained quality of life and improved wellbeing.
The Safeguarding Adults Board is committed to raising awareness of individual’s human rights, their capacity for independence, and ensure that they are protected from abuse, neglect, discrimination or poor treatment and that their carers too are kept safe.
By working in partnership, we can achieve positive outcomes in the welfare and protection of all those at risk of harm from abuse and National Safeguarding Adults week shows how collaboratively we can help those in need.”
National Safeguarding Week reminds us that by working together we can begin to help those where we live and work feel supported and feel that someone is always there, but also help residents to spot the signs where that help is needed that has not yet been recognised. Safeguarding is already a widely discussed topic, but what does it really mean to people in our communities? As part of the week, both authorities will come together to share resources and information around safeguarding and wellbeing, criminal exploitation, abuse, and the safe places within our communities. Please see here for North Tyneside and Northumberland's plan outlining the key themes and resources to be promoted during the week. For more information and to access resources click here. Supporting resources for the Safeguarding week themes can also be accessed below:
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