Adults safeguarding

What to do if you are concerned about a vulnerable adult who is at risk of neglect or abuse in Northumberland.

Are you concerned about a vulnerable adult who is at risk of neglect or abuse in Northumberland? 

If so contact Onecall: 01670 536 400

If you have speech or hearing
difficulties you can use Relay UK.  
 
Contact us by dialling 018001 01670 536400. 

You can find more information about Relay UK here 

If you need medical advice and support immediately, but it’s not life threatening, call your GP or NHS 111.

You should always call 999 in an emergency - for example when someone’s life is at risk or someone is seriously injured or critically ill.
 

Safeguarding Adult referrals

To make a referral download and complete the Safeguarding Adults Enquiry Form. 

Safeguarding means protecting an adult’s right to live in safety, free from abuse and neglect.

 People and organisations work together to prevent and stop the risk of abuse or neglect.  

This ensures adults in our communities are kept safe. 
 
We need to make sure the person’s views, wishes, feelings and beliefs are a key part of deciding on any action.  
 
Safeguarding Adults is underpinned by The Care Act 2014 
 
An adult at risk is defined by The Care Act 2014 as a person who: 
  • Has needs for care and support (whether or not the authority is meeting any of those needs). 
  • Is experiencing, or at risk of, abuse or neglect.  
  • As a result of those needs is unable to protect himself or herself against the abuse or neglect or the risk of it. 
Anyone can raise a concern.  
 
If you or someone you know is being abused or neglected, please report it 
 

Contact safeguarding adults  

If you need any general advice or more information, please contact: 
 
The Safeguarding Adults Team via Onecall on 01670 536400   
 
If you are concerned that someone is at risk of, or experiencing, abuse or neglect please contact Onecall. 
Abuse may be a single act or repeated acts of suspected, disclosed or witnessed 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:

  • Physical abuse, including hitting, slapping, pushing, kicking, misuse of medication, restraint, or inappropriate sanctions.
  • Sexual abuse, including rape and sexual assault or sexual exploitation or acts to which the vulnerable adult has not consented, or could not consent or was pressured into consenting.
  • Psychological abuse, including emotional abuse, threats of harm or abandonment, deprivation of contact, humiliation, blaming, controlling, intimidation, coercion, harassment, verbal abuse, isolation or withdrawal from services or supportive networks.
  • Financial or material abuse, including theft, fraud, exploitation, pressure in connection with wills, property or inheritance or financial transactions, or the misuse or misappropriation of property, possessions or benefit.
  • Neglect and acts of omission, including ignoring medical or physical care needs, failure to provide access to appropriate health, social care or educational services, the withholding of the necessities of life, such as medication, adequate nutrition and heating.
  • Discriminatory abuse, including forms of harassment, slurs or similar treatment because of race, gender and gender identity, age, disability, sexual orientation or religion.
  • Organisational abuse, including everything from individual acts of very poor professional practice to pervasive ill treatment, gross misconduct and systemic failure across a service.
  • Domestic abuse, including psychological, physical, sexual, financial, emotional abuse and “honour” based violence.
  • Modern day slavery, encompasses slavery, human trafficking, forced labour and domestic servitude.
  • Self-neglect, this covers a wide range of behaviours, including neglecting to care for one’s personal hygiene, health or surroundings and includes behaviours such as hoarding.
  • Radicalisation, the abusive process whereby adults with care and support needs are radicalised.

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.

The Northumberland Safeguarding Adults Board is joined with the Children's Safeguarding Partnership.

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 aim is: 
  • to improve local safeguarding arrangements  
  • to ensure partners act to help and protect adults experiencing, or at risk of neglect and abuse.  
It does this by:   
  • Assuring itself that local safeguarding arrangements are in place.  
  • Assuring itself that safeguarding practice is person-centred and outcome focused.  
  • Working together to prevent abuse and neglect where possible.  
  • Making sure we act promptly and proportionately when abuse or neglect have occurred.  
  • Continuously improving safeguarding practice to enhance the quality of life of adults in Northumberland.  
  • Raising awareness in our communities of the need to safeguard adults at risk and promote their welfare.  
Under the Care Act 2014, the SAB has three core duties:  
  • Develop and publish a strategic plan. 
  • This sets out how we will meet our objectives and how our partner agencies will contribute.  
  • Publish an annual report detailing how effective their work has been.  
  • Commission Safeguarding Adults Reviews (SARs) for any cases which meet the criteria.  

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: 

  • When an adult, who needs care and support: 
    • dies as a result of abuse or neglect
    • is known to have experienced serious abuse or neglect  
    • Partner agencies could have worked more effectively to protect the adult.  
The aim is to learn lessons and make improvements. It is not about blaming individual people or organisations.  
 
A SAR can improve the way we work together to prevent and reduce abuse and neglect.  
 
If the SAR criteria has not been met, we are able to carry out a review if it would be beneficial.  
 
SARs and Learning Reviews highlight good practice and identify learning for the future.  
 
These are decisions made by the Safeguarding Adults Review Group 
 
Please see our 7-minute guide to Safeguarding Adult Reviews 


SAR referrals  

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.   

 

SAR Quality Markers

Please click here for the North East SAR Quality Marker checklist and guidance. 

Please click here for the National SAR Quality Markers guidance. 

 

SAR reports  

When we have completed a review we publish the findings and recommendations in a report. Action plans are then produced.   
 
The SAB monitors the implementation of these plans, supported by the SAR Group.  
 
The SAR report is then published. This is with the agreement of family members or appropriate others.  
 

Northumberland Safeguarding Adult Review Reports

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. 

Here you will find information about Safeguarding Adults campaigns and awareness raising.

'Tricky Friends' is a short animation originally developed by Norfolk Safeguarding Adults Board.
 
The aim is to help people with learning disabilities, children and young adults, understand: 
  • what good friendships are 
  • when they might be harmful 
  • what they can do 
This can be used by:  
  • carers 
  • family  
  • professionals  
  • organisations 
It is to raise awareness and help keep them safer while enjoying relationships.  

The following documents have been produced to assist professionals undertaking safeguarding adults work.

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. 
 

Templates for Safeguarding Adults Strategy, Planning and Review meetings are available below:  
 
Safeguarding Adults Strategy meeting agenda 
Safeguarding Adults Planning meeting agenda 
Safeguarding Adults Review meeting agenda  
Statement of Confidentiality  
Local policies, procedures and working practice information for professionals: 
Child to Parent Violence and Abuse Pathway 
Exploitation Strategy - Northumberland - 2020-2023 
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 
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 Exploitation Strategy 2020-2023 
Northumberland Modern Slavery, Trafficking and Exploitation Concept of Operations 
Northumberland Prevent Pathway 
Northumberland Prevent Referral form 
Northumberland Safeguarding Adults Falls Policy 
Northumberland Safeguarding Transitions Protocol 
 
Briefings and 7 minute briefings: 
CARE (Caring about Adversity, Resilience and Empowerment) 7 minute briefing 
Child to Parent Violence and Abuse 7 minute briefing 
Cuckooing briefing 
Discriminatory abuse/Hate/Mate crime 
Domestic Abuse Act 
Language briefing 
Newcastle JSCR 7 minute guide 
Making Safeguarding Personal 7 minute briefing 
Mental Capacity Act
Professional Curiosity 7 minute briefing 
Self-neglect briefing 
Transitional Safeguarding 
Trauma Informed Practice
 
Northumbria Missing Adults Protocol: 
Northumbria Missing Adults Protocol (February 2022) 
Northumbria Missing Adults Protocol Appendix 2 - Return Home Interview schedule 
Northumbria Missing Adults Protocol Appendix 3 - Herbert Protocol form 
Northumbria Missing Adults Protocol Appendix 4 - Winnie Protocol form 
 
Regional 7 x 7 Self-Neglect 7 minute briefings: 
Self-Neglect 7 minute briefing - Alcohol and Substance Misuse 
Self-Neglect 7 minute briefing - Engagement 
Self-Neglect 7 minute briefing - Hoarding 
Self-Neglect 7 minute briefing - Homelessness 
Self-Neglect 7 minute briefing - Overview 
Self-Neglect 7 minute briefing - Self-care 
Self-Neglect 7 minute briefing - Trauma 
 
National reports of interest 
Adult Safeguarding and Homelessness: A briefing on positive practice 
Adult Safeguarding and Homelessness: Experience-informed practice 
Alcohol Change UK (July 2019) - Learning from tragedies: an analysis of alcohol-related Safeguarding Adult Reviews published in 2017 
Alcohol Change UK (December 2020) - Safeguarding Vulnerable Dependent Drinkers 
Alcohol Change UK (September 2021) - How to use legal powers to safeguard highly vulnerable dependent drinkers 
Discriminatory Abuse: A briefing for practitioners 
LGA/ADASS Safeguarding Resources 
Pressure Ulcers and the Interface with a Safeguarding Enquiry (DHSC) 
Safeguarding adults in care homes NICE guidance 
Safeguarding people in closed environments 
Making decisions on the duty to carry out safeguarding enquiries 
Understanding what constitutes a safeguarding concern 
Scamwise: spotting, avoiding and reporting scams (Independent Age) 
SCIE: Safeguarding Adults - types and indicators of abuse 

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.  
  

MARAC - Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conference 

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. 

Tricky Friends' is a short animation originally developed by Norfolk Safeguarding Adults Board. The aim is to help people with learning disabilities, as well as children and young adults, understand what good friendships are, when they might be harmful, and what they can do. 
 
This can be used by carers, family, professionals and organisations, to raise awareness and help keep them safer while enjoying relationships.
During Safeguarding week, the Safeguarding partnership launched a new leaflet and a series of posters, aimed at the public and staff, to raise awareness of Safeguarding Adults, and when/how to report concerns. We would ask all agencies to promote the use of these resources. 
  
Please see links below to the digital resources. We also have a stock of these resources available for collection. Please contact the NCASP administrator to arrange this. 
 
Safeguarding Adults leaflet 
 
We also have a range of awareness raising posters 
Safeguarding Adults poster – Alison 
Safeguarding Adults poster – Tommy 
Safeguarding Adults poster – Margaret 
Safeguarding Adults poster – Alan 
Safeguarding Adults poster – Louise 
Safeguarding Adults poster - Peter 
Predatory Marriage - A Hidden Crime 
Locally and regionally, Covid-19 and the associated restrictions have been seen to impact upon the increasing number and complexity of safeguarding concerns involving self-neglect. Increases in the volume of safeguarding concerns, has also been accompanied by a high number of referrals relating to self-neglect considered by Safeguarding Adults Review (SAR) subgroups across the region. 
 
In response, members of the north east ADASS Safeguarding Adults Leads network have developed a series of seven 7-minute briefings aimed at professionals outlining all aspects of self-neglect, which will form part of toolkit to support and enhance local self-neglect guidance. These 7-minute guides have been launched and promoted across the SAB during this year. To support a regional campaign to raise awareness of self-neglect amongst the general public, a self-neglect animation has now been produced and launched during National Safeguarding Adults week. 
 
The 7 Regional 7 x 7 Self-Neglect 7 minute briefings can be found below: 
Overview 
Alcohol and Substance Misuse 
Engagement 
Hoarding 
Homelessness 
Self-care 
Trauma