Safeguarding Process and Decision

Section 42 Enquiries Local Authorities MUST make enquiries or cause others to do so if they reasonably believe an adult with care and support needs is being abused/or is at significant risk of abuse

Referral Process Referral received via ‘front door’ (Contact Centre) – initial screen Internal referral to Adult Safeguarding Team @ MASH for information share/lateral checks/consideration re crime/planning discussion MASH recommendation sent back to referrer via internal system

Categories of Abuse Physical abuse Modern slavery Domestic violence Discriminatory abuse Sexual abuse Neglect and acts of omission Psychological abuse Organisational abuse Financial or material abuse Self-neglect

Information received in the MASH When partner agencies identify information in relation to an adult who may be in need of social care support there are two main reasons to share information with Adult Services… Do they need support? Increased support? = Assessment of Need/ Review Are they being abused or at risk of abuse? = Safeguarding Concern

Purpose of the Enquiry Result of the Enquiry Establish the facts Protect the adult in accordance with their wishes Ascertain adult’s views and wishes Make decisions regarding follow up action Assess the adult’s need for protection and support Enable adult to achieve resolution and recovery Result of the Enquiry Feedback to Local Authority Measures may be recorded in a safeguarding plan Outcomes of interventions will be recorded

Who supports who? In Staffordshire, many of the social work functions have been commissioned out to other organisations: Staffordshire and Stoke on Trent Partnership Trust (SSOTP) (Services for Older people, physical disabilities, substance and alcohol misuse, sensory impairment) Shropshire and South Staffordshire Foundation Trust (Mental Health services in Central and South Staffs) North Staffordshire Combined Health Care (Mental Health services in North Staffs) Staffordshire County Council have retained social work functions for: Independent Futures (Learning disability) Safeguarding Teams (based in MASH and Staffordshire Police HQ)

Case Study 1 Case study 1 (you are a Manager of a Domiciliary Care provider) Steve is a 36 year man with an acquired brain injury. He has care at home 4 times a day. Recently family members have noticed that he has less food in the cupboard, certain items of sentiment are missing. Steve has communication issues but able to express his views and is unable to offer any explanation. He does not want to involve anyone else. Enquiries by the family to the carers have indicated no issues. The family raise it with you as manager of the Care Provider. What are your initial thoughts, what do you do? What do you think are the critical decision making points?

Case Study 2 Case 2: (you are working at Staffordshire County Council contact centre) The manager of a residential care home calls the contact centre and states that a staff member has been removed from medicine duties as a result of medication errors. It is said that during an audit it was discovered that 3 service users did not receive the medication required and signed for on the chart. This error was noticed after two days had past. Actions already taken: - Physical observations of service user implemented - GP has been consulted and visited and there are no adverse affects upon the service users - Pharmacy have been consulted - family have been informed - direct service user contact (capacity dependant) - relevant notifications to regulatory bodies (if applicable) - staff member has been removed from medication duties initially, internally review (look at training – when and by whom, process internally) What are your initial thoughts, what do you do? What do you think are the critical decision making points?

Case study 3 Case 3: (you are working in the Specialist Adult Safeguarding Team – SAST – based at the MASH) A housing officer has contacted the referral point and shared that he is concerned about Sandra. This has been passed to the MASH. Sandra is 76 years old, not known to services and he is concerned that her drinking has escalated of late. She has a history of heavy drinking stemming several decades. She lives alone and has limited family contacts. He has noticed of late that her house is becoming “more messy” and there are a few “new friends”. He is concerned that she is being abused. He has not raised the issue with her direct and she is not aware of this referral. What are your initial thoughts, what do you do? What do you think are the critical decision making points ?

How to make referrals Staffordshire Assessment requests: staffordshirecares@staffordshire.gov.uk 0300 111 8010 Safeguarding Concerns: vastaffordshire@staffordshire.gov.uk 0845 604 2719

Questions?