Safeguarding Adults in Norfolk

Helen ThackerHead of Service - Safeguarding

01603 729110

Dee BlakeySafeguarding Adults Practice Consultant01603 217620

Tracey HawkeSafeguarding Adults Practice Consultant01362 652126

Outline of session

• Interactive• Case example• Key points• What is safeguarding adults?• How to report a safeguarding incident• Support and training• Role and structure of the Safeguarding Adults

Board

Case example – DanielDaniel is a 38 year old man with learning disabilities. He lives in a Housing Association flat and has support from an advice worker, Gita, to manage his finances. Recently the housing department have received complaints about noise from Daniel’s neighbours. Gita, visits Daniel in the flat during the day. She notices that he has bruise on his right eye and that there are lots of empty alcohol containers lying about. Gita asks Daniel about the bruise and he says he fell over. She asks him about the cans and bottles and Daniel says that he has friends who come around in the evening and drink in his flat. Gita also notices that there is graffiti on the wall in the living room. She asks Daniel about this and Daniel says his friend did it. Gita asks about the friends and learns there are a number of young men who appear to have befriended Daniel. Daniel says one of them owes him £10.

What action should Gita take?

Case example – Daniel (continued)

Gita talks to Daniel about his ‘friends’ and explains they may just be wanting to use the flat and that it is not fair on Daniel and may be putting him at risk. She says she would like to contact social services about his concerns, and the police to see if they know the young men. She explains that she wants to make sure that Daniel is safe in his flat. Daniel is insistent that he has the right to make friends and he does not want the police or social services to be informed.

What should Gita do?

Case exampleGita carries out a Mental Capacity Act assessment. Daniel has an impairment – his learning disability – and as such, she is not sure that he can appreciate that he may be being exploited or whether he understands the possible risks or consequences.

Gita discusses the case with her manager and they take the decision that social services should be informed. Gita explains to Daniel why she has to raise a safeguarding alert with social services and explains what will happen next.

Key points• Care Act focus on wellbeing, prevention, early intervention,

information/advice• Mental capacity• Right to live independently/make own decisions vs risk• Independent Advocate if ‘substantial difficulty’• Hate Crime?• Self neglect?• Safeguarding enquiry (referral, strategy discussion, assessment)• Ensuring personalisation in safeguarding/feedback from the adult

with care and support needs• Feedback to referrer

What is Safeguarding Adults?Safeguarding duties apply to an adult who:

-Has needs for care and support (whether or not the local authority is meeting those needs) and;

-Is experiencing or at risk of abuse or neglect; and

-As a result of those care and support needs is unable to protect themselves from either the risk of, or the experience of abuse or neglect.

Care Act categories of abuse

Categories of abuse pre-Care Act•Physical•Psychological/emotional•Neglect/acts of omission•Financial/material•Sexual•Discriminatory•Institutional/organisational

Additional categories of abuse since Care Act implementation•Modern slavery•Domestic abuse•Self neglect

Norfolk Statistics08/09 – 512 referrals for a safeguarding assessment

09/10 – 903 referrals for a safeguarding assessment

10/11 –1364 referrals for a safeguarding assessment

11/12 – 1568 referrals for a safeguarding assessment

12/13 – 2044 referrals for a safeguarding assessment

13/14 – 2683 referrals for a safeguarding assessment

14/15 – 2931 referrals for a safeguarding assessment

Reporting a safeguarding incident• Ring 0344 800 8020• Referrers checklistInformal discussion could take place with one of your locality Safeguarding Adults Practice

Consultants:

• Wendy Masters (MASH)

• Toby Thouless (MASH) 

• Jerry Crehan (MASH)  

• Dee Blakey (Norwich) 

• Rebecca (Becky) Booth (Eastern) 

• John Mosedale (Northern)

• Bill LeCompte (Mon, Tues & alternate Weds) (Southern)

• Pippa Claxton (Thurs, Fri & alternate Weds) (Southern) 

• Tracey Hawke (Tues, Weds,Thurs, Fri) (Western)

Support and training

Support and training (continued)norfolksafeguardingadultsboard.info

Good practice guide to making a safeguarding referral

http://www.norfolksafeguardingadultsboard.info/professionals/training/

http://www.stthomastraining.co.uk/norfolk

Basic awareness

Safeguarding knowhow for provider managers

https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/disclosure-and-barring-service

Thank you for listening

Any questions?