The following diagram highlights the different stages of a Safeguarding Adults (Section 42) Enquiry: Managing the different levels of harm In to manage the large volume of concerns which come under safeguarding adults policy and procedures, there is a need to differentiate between those concerns relating to low level harm/risk and those that are more serious. Whilst it is likely that concerns relating to low level harm/risk will not progress beyond an Initial Enquiry Stage, the concern will be recorded by the Local Authority and proportionate action taken to manage the risks that have been identified. This may include: provision of information or advice; referral to another or professional; assessment of care and support needs. The sharing of low level concerns helps the Local Authority to understand any emerging patterns or trends that may need to be taken into consideration when deciding whether safeguarding adults procedures need to continue. Using the safeguarding adults risk threshold tool The safeguarding adults risk threshold tool has been designed to consider both the vulnerability of the adult at risk, the seriousness of the abuse that is occurring, the impact of the abuse and the risk of it recurring. Regular, low level concerns can amount to a far higher level of concern which then requires more in-depth investigation or assessment under safeguarding adults procedures. Each local area has an escalation policy in place to aid professional judgement in these circumstances. This means that a specified number of safeguarding adults concerns reported to the Local Authority in a specified timeframe will result in further action under safeguarding adults procedures. Please refer to each area’s policy and procedure. The tool is not designed in way in further actions are determined by achieving a score or a specified number of ticks. It is there to provide guidance and key considerations for practitioners who are assessing and managing risk.
The following diagram highlights the different stages of a Safeguarding Adults (Section 42) Enquiry: Managing the different levels of harm In to manage the large volume of concerns which come under safeguarding adults policy and procedures, there is a need to differentiate between those concerns relating to low level harm/risk and those that are more serious. Whilst it is likely that concerns relating to low level harm/risk will not progress beyond an Initial Enquiry Stage, the concern will be recorded by the Local Authority and proportionate action taken to manage the risks that have been identified. This may include: provision of information or advice; referral to another or professional; assessment of care and support needs. The sharing of low level concerns helps the Local Authority to understand any emerging patterns or trends that may need to be taken into consideration when deciding whether safeguarding adults procedures need to continue. Using the safeguarding adults risk threshold tool The safeguarding adults risk threshold tool has been designed to consider both the vulnerability of the adult at risk, the seriousness of the abuse that is occurring, the impact of the abuse and the risk of it recurring. Regular, low level concerns can amount to a far higher level of concern which then requires more in-depth investigation or assessment under safeguarding adults procedures. Each local area has an escalation policy in place to aid professional judgement in these circumstances. This means that a specified number of safeguarding adults concerns reported to the Local Authority in a specified timeframe will result in further action under safeguarding adults procedures. Please refer to each area’s policy and procedure. The tool is not designed in way in further actions are determined by achieving a score or a specified number of ticks. It is there to provide guidance and key considerations for practitioners who are assessing and managing risk.
nsab_safeguarding_adults_risk_threshold_tool.docx