Guidance Nine - Safeguarding assessment strategy
| The timescale for the Safeguarding Assessment Strategy is: Within five working days dependent on the level of risk |
Introduction
A Safeguarding Assessment Strategy Discussion is a meeting or series of telephone conversations or emails which aims to; gather all of the relevant information relating to a Safeguarding Assessment, deciding who is best placed to undertake the Safeguarding Adults Investigation.
The strategy also needs to consider which other investigations need to be undertaken with the aim of:
- safeguarding the vulnerable adult
- concluding whether abuse took place or not
- finding out who perpetrated the abuse.
When should a Safeguarding Assessment Strategy Discussion/Meeting be held?
A strategy discussion should be convened by the Safeguarding Manager within the timescale and dependent on the level of risk. This should happen when:
- A decision is made by Adult Social Care that the allegation of abuse should be put into the multi agency context and that a Safeguarding Adults Assessment is required;
- Or, when a decision is made that a Safeguarding Adults Assessment is not required but a discussion or meeting would benefit the safety and wellbeing of service users.
| Sometimes, it may be more appropriate to hold a series of telephone discussions or contact via email rather than hold a meeting. Whichever process the Safeguarding Manager chooses to use, outcomes and actions should be fully documented. |
What is the purpose of a Strategy Discussion/Meeting?
A strategy discussion should take place to:
- Discuss which types of investigations need to be undertaken;Agree tasks and timings for each stage of the investigation;
- Plan jointly who will carry out each investigation;
- Ensure effective multi-agency work by involving people from key agencies;
- Facilitate the sharing of information between agencies;
- Reach a shared view about how serious the alleged abuse may be.
- Health Professionals
- Police
- Commission for Social Care Inspection
- Healthcare Commission
- Placing Authority
- Service Provider
- Placing Authority
- Legal Services
- Contracting Department
- Department of Work and Pensions
Who should be invited to contribute to a Strategy Discussion?
The Safeguarding Manager should ensure that all the relevant people are included within the Strategy Discussion. Consideration should be given to inviting contribution from:
Consideration should be given as to the most appropriate time to instruct an IMCA in Safeguarding Adults Assessments [or to include the vulnerable adult or their carer or advocate]. This will depend on the decisions to be made and the risks to those involved. In some cases it will be appropriate to involve one or more of the above at the Strategy Discussion stage. This would need to happen for cases where the wishes/decisions made by the individual would have a significant impact on the investigative process or where immediate actions need to be taken to safeguard the individual prior to further investigation taking place. Adapted from; Policy Statement, Criteria for the use of IMCAs in Safeguarding Adults Cases, (2007) DH. See Appendix 10. |
Content of the Strategy Meeting
The following is a standard agenda for Strategy Discussions/Meetings held under the Nottingham and Nottinghamshire Safeguarding Adults Multi Agency Policy, Procedure and Guidance. It should be used by the Safeguarding Manager to ensure that all of the relevant points are discussed and recorded. In addition to this, Appendix Three - Safeguarding Assessment Strategy Report Pro Forma should be completed as a record of the meeting:
1. Introductions, Apologies and Non-Attendees
2. Statement by Chairperson (Safeguarding Manager):
- Reason for Meeting
- Sharing of information
- Summary of how the meeting will be managed.
3. Details, background of the person who may have suffered abuse, context of the alleged incident. Exploration of capacity/consent/intimidation.
4. What are the views if known of the vulnerable adult involved?
- Has he/she given permission to involve other agencies.
- Is there a need to share information without the consent of the vulnerable adult?
5. Family and/or household structure/ living arrangements/support package.
6. Are there any special measures required in relation to race, culture, language, gender, age or disability?
7. Details of the allegation/incident.
8. Details and relevant information available regarding the person against whom the allegation has been made, including details of alleged perpetrator’s own family if relevant.
9. What action has already been taken? Who is aware? Have the Police already conducted an interview with the alleged victim?
10. Consider any investigations and action that may be necessary using Guidance 10 – Investigations as Part of the Assessment
11. Action Plan
Decide:
The current level of risk - is there a need to take action to ensure the immediate safety of adult/others including children (See ‘other factors’ below).
- Whether a single or joint agency investigation is required
- If a Safeguarding Adults Investigation is required and which Staff are most appropriate to conduct this
- Should a worker who is known to the adult undertake the safeguarding adults investigation or a ‘neutral’ worker do this?
- Which other investigations are required from the list of investigations in the guidance
- Should tasks be shared?
- Timing of interviews (may require separate planning meeting)
- If a supporter, as described in Guidance twenty four, Achieving Best Evidence is required, when the police are undertaking a criminal investigation as part of the Safeguarding Assessment.
- Who should be interviewed?
- Whether a video interview will be undertaken – if so, by whom / who should be present.
- Whether a medical examination or assessment is required
- How can vulnerable adults and or family or carers be involved? How does their current level of distress affect their involvement? In what ways can they contribute to decision making? What practical assistance would facilitate the adult’s involvement?
- Is there a need for independent legal advice, advocacy, independent support or an IMCA (Independent Mental Capacity Advocate)?
- If an Intermediary is required.
12. Information
- Consider what information should be given to the person against whom the allegation is made and by whom
- What feedback should be given to the alerter and the person who first raised the concerns (if different), who will do this and how?
- What feedback should be given to the referrer, who will do this and how?
13. Clarify Agency roles in relation to:
- Support to the person who is alleged to have been abused
- Safeguarding Adults Investigation
- Other investigations required
- Liaison
- Appropriate support to the alleged perpetrator. (If a vulnerable adult a separate meeting will be required to consider their needs, see Guidance Fifteen - Vulnerable Adults as Perpetrators of Abuse).
14. Consider wider needs of the person who is alleged to have suffered abuse and how they have been affected by these events and any further actions arising.
15. Consider whether Senior Managers/Public Relations Officer or Financial Service need to be informed or involved. If involvement is considered necessary establish what contribution is required and who will be responsible for contacting them.
16. Create action plan with tasks allocated to individuals. Set and record dates for work to be completed. The person responsible for the role of Safeguarding Manager should ensure the tasks are completed.
17. Set date for further strategy meeting or Safeguarding Plan Meeting.
18. Actively determine the distribution of the minutes (including to the regulatory body if appropriate, see Role of CSCI and Healthcare Commission).
Others Factors for Consideration
Safeguarding Children
The safety of others should also be considered. If a child or young person is thought to be at risk or you have concerns, you should contact the relevant Children’s Duty Team for where the child lives.
Where the allegation relates to historical abuse that happened when the vulnerable adult was a child, it should also be dealt with under Child Protection Procedures in the same way as a contemporary concern and a referral should be made to Children’s Social Care.
Domestic Violence
At times, there is a clear interface between domestic violence and safeguarding adults. If a vulnerable adult is subject to domestic violence then this Policy and Procedure should be followed. If the alleged victim is not a ‘vulnerable adult’ as described in this document, you should follow your own agencies policy and procedures relating to Domestic Violence.
Violence to Staff
Consideration should be given to staff safety when carrying out an investigation as part of the Safeguarding Assessment. The relevant organisations’ Violence to Staff policy and procedure should be followed where it is felt this may be a concern. This should also be followed where there is an allegation of abuse towards a member of staff.
Supporting People Services
At times, there is a clear interface between adults receiving a Supporting People Service and Safeguarding Adults. If abuse is alleged or suspected in relation to a Supporting People service user then this Policy and Procedure should be followed and a referral made to Adult Social Care and Health. Alongside this referral, the provider should consider any other action, as outlined in this guidance, to ensure the service user is safe. The Adult Social Care Team will decide what actions are required in relation to Safeguarding Adults and other interventions as appropriate. If Adult Social Care does not consider a Safeguarding Adults Assessment is required, the Supporting People service provider will need to consider whether any further support, advice and information is required or available to the individual.
Pressure Sores
The procedure for dealing with neglect and acts of omission is the same as any other type of abuse. However, when pressure ulcers are present, a specialist assessment by a Qualified Nurse will help to determine if the cause of such an injury is a result of neglect. This should be decided and agreed at the Safeguarding Strategy Discussion. If it is decided that a specialist assessment is required, Appendix Thirteen - Pressure Ulcer Pro Forma should be used by the Qualified Nurse who is carrying out the specialist assessment.
Financial Abuse
The procedure for dealing with financial abuse is the same as any other type of abuse. However, in addition, the following should be considered as part of the Safeguarding Assessment Strategy:
- Whether the advice (or involvement if appropriate) of the Internal Audit section of your organisation is required – if the alleged perpetrator is an employee of the organisation, it would usually be the Internal Audit Team’s responsibility to interview them.
- If the problem relates to an inappropriate agent or appointee, then the Department for Work & Pensions should be contacted. The local office should investigate any concern raised by professionals (or family or friends) concerned with the vulnerable adult who may be a victim of abuse in these circumstances. If the agent or appointee is not fulfilling their role correctly, then arrangements can be changed.
- Banks and Building Societies are often in a difficult position when asked to provide information in relation to an allegation of abuse. They have a duty to protect the confidentiality of their customer but also wish to protect a customer from possible fraud. The experience locally is that Banks and Building Societies do as much as they can to assist. It is obviously easier for them to provide information if given written authority by the customer and if the Police are investigating a possible fraud.
- Banks and Building Societies tend to operate different policies in relation to third party mandates. If there are concerns about abuse or difficulties in operating a bank mandate, the manager of the Bank or Building Society should be contacted for advice.
- If there are concerns about a Deputy or Lasting Power of Attorney abusing their position, the Office of Public Guardianship should be contacted, who will have a significant role to play.
- Vulnerable people are often targets for rogue traders and distraction burglaries. The work carried out by these traders is invariably overpriced. The consumer usually has no opportunity for redress and many are too frightened to complain. There is a high incidence of re-victimisation and there is also evidence that points to strong links between these cold-callers and the criminals who carry out distraction burglaries.
In addition to following these procedures it is essential that the local Trading Standards Office are informed of concerns of this nature.
It is worth noting that the Police do have set procedures to deal with distraction burglaries. In view of this it is important they are notified immediately if a distraction burglary comes to light.