Welcome to April’s edition of the Safeguarding Champions Bulletin.
Please circulate the information in this bulletin within your organisation to help us to continue to raise awareness of Safeguarding Adults in Tees.
Safeguarding Adult Reviews
In November 2024, TSAB published the Susan SAR.
Susan had a stroke when she was 37 years old leaving her with physical disabilities and communication difficulties. Susan was a wheelchair user who was supported by her mother and other family members including her son. Susan’s son had a diagnosed illness that was well managed when he took his medication. Susan’s mother was also a huge support to Susan’s son, ensuring he took his medication and attended appointments. Susan’s son became mentally unwell, following the death of his grandmother. He seriously assaulted Susan causing significant facial injuries. Susan died 18 days later in hospital from unrelated physical health causes at the age of 58.
This Safeguarding Adult Review looks at how services worked together to support Susan and highlighted the following themes:
- Effective good practice
- Professional Curiosity
- Triage of Assessments
- Flagging of previous Safeguarding
Organisations are encouraged to review the SAR Report and Learning Briefing to consider and apply the learning to their own practice.
Please circulate this report appropriately amongst your networks.
Policies, Procedures and Guidance
TSAB has produced a dedicated resources webpage to support all practitioners in their understanding and duties under the Mental Capacity Act – https://www.tsab.org.uk/key-information/policies-strategies/mental-capacity-act-resources/
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 primary purpose of the MCA is to promote and safeguard decision-making within a legal framework. It does this in two ways:
- By empowering people to make decisions for themselves wherever possible, and by protecting people who lack capacity by providing a flexible framework that places individuals at the heart of the decision-making process
- By allowing people to plan ahead for a time in the future when they might lack the capacity.
Mental Capacity features in a number of local and national Safeguarding Adult Reviews including key learning and recommendations.
Anyone caring for or supporting a person who may lack capacity could be involved in assessing capacity, this should be time- and decision-specific. The MCA is designed to empower those in health and social care to carry out capacity assessments, rather than rely on expert testing by psychiatrists or psychologists – good professional training is key. However, in cases involving complex or major decisions, you may need to get a specialist opinion (such as a consultant psychiatrist or psychologist).
Anyone assessing someone’s capacity to make a decision will need to apply the test in the Act. It can be broken down into specific questions:
- Is the person unable to make the decision (with support if required)?
- If they are unable, is there an impairment or disturbance in the functioning of their mind or brain?
- Is the person’s inability to make the decision because of the impairment or disturbance?
Training Courses (dates are published throughout the year and can be booked via the TSAB website)
- Adult Safeguarding – Complex Cases
- Adult Safeguarding – Essential Legal Literacy
- Making Safeguarding Personal
- Safeguarding Adults Training for Managers of Services
- Safeguarding and Self-Neglect
- Safeguarding Vulnerable Dependent Drinkers
Do you know that we have a Safeguarding Adults Single Agency Policy Template available on our website for any organisation to download? This has been recently been refreshed and updated.
Formerly known as the Team Around the Individual (TATI) High Risk Adults Panel (HRAP) Documents have been recently refreshed and updated.
We have recently published Collaborative Working and Information Sharing between Professionals to Protect Adults Guidance.
This guide is aimed at supporting staff who may be required to make case by-case decisions about sharing information, by offering clarity on when and how information can be shared legally and professionally, in order to achieve improved outcomes for adults at risk of abuse and/or neglect.
A Spotlight on….
What is Organisational Abuse/Neglect?
Organisational abuse (sometimes referred to as institutional abuse) is neglect and poor care practice within an institution or specific care setting such as a hospital or care home or relating to care in a person’s own home. This can range from a one off incident to on-going ill-treatment; neglect might also occur as a result of the structure, policies, processes and practice in an organisation.
Visit TSAB’s webpage for further information
Service Spotlight
The Glowsticks Project is a newly launched charity founded by Rebecca Ibbotson. It’s dedicated to supporting children and young people from the ages 2-25 living with autism and ADHD offering a range of activities and groups. As a mother, carer, and person with both autism and ADHD, Rebecca understands the daily challenges this can bring – especially without the right support and opportunities. Her personal journey inspired her to create a space where young people can thrive, be seen and understood, without feeling lost or broken. Read more about Rebecca’s story at We Care You Care.
The café aims to provide meaningful volunteering and employment opportunities for young people affected by Autism, ADHD, and other co-existing conditions like a learning disability. Volunteers and paid staff will be trained in skills such as Barista work, First Aid, Food Hygiene and Health & Safety.
Unit 13 – 16 Dundas Shopping Centre (first floor) TS1 1HT Middlesbrough
Follow The Glowsticks Project on Facebook.
View TSAB’s webpage for more information to consider when working with Autistic Adults
Dates for the Diary
Listed below are details of recent and upcoming awareness campaigns. Follow us on Social Media @TeeswideSAB to keep up to date with resources and information we share as part of key campaigns. Email us at [email protected] to let us know how you get involved.
April is Autism Acceptance Month.
TSAB have a Working with Autistic Adults webpage. This page aims to raise awareness of autism and provide the starting blocks for those who may work with Autistic Adults, to support the provision of accessible and inclusive services. It includes practical steps for professionals to consider, as well as links to other websites and resources.
National Stalking Awareness Week led by the Suzy Lamplugh Trust, is a national campaign to raise awareness of Stalking. The Suzy Lamplugh Trust provide help and support in relation to Stalking, including a helpline: National Stalking Helpline: 0808 802 0300 and an online tool that can be used by an individual to better understand if they are being stalked and what support is available.
Stalking is classed as any behaviour from another person which is persistent, unwanted and harassing; anything that causes you any kind of fear or anxiety. Some examples can include; unwanted or malicious communications, unwanted attention, watching or following someone or loitering where the person frequents, monitoring usage of someone’s internet, email or other electronic communications, damaging a person’s property.
In the majority of stalking cases the victim will know the stalker (such as a partner or ex-partner for example), however there have been cases where the victim does not know the offender.
In some cases stalking can escalate to physical abuse. Stalking or harassment should be reported to the Police via 101 or 999 in an emergency.
For further information visit Suzy Lamplugh’s website. You can also download and share their resources, including a leaflet available in 11 languages.
Deaf Awareness Week is an annual event to raise awareness of the Deaf Community and to promote inclusivity.
TSAB have developed two Safeguarding Video’s that include a BSL interpreter.
What is Safeguarding?
What is Modern Slavery?
Visit TSAB’s Report Abuse webpage to find out how to report abuse or neglect to Police if you are deaf, hard of hearing or are speech impaired.
This year, Mental Health Awareness Week will take place from 12 to 18 May 2025.
The theme for 2025 is ‘Community’, Mental Health Awareness Week aims to celebrate the power and importance of community.
Dementia Action Week is an awareness raising campaign. Each year, Alzheimer’s Society works with individuals and organisations across the UK to encourage people to act on dementia.
This year they are focussing on diagnosis and educating audiences on the most common symptoms of dementia.
LGBT+ Domestic Violence Awareness Day was formed to highlight domestic, family and intimate partner violence and abuse occurring in LGBT+ communities, held annually on May 28th.
Carers Week is an annual campaign to raise awareness of caring, highlight the challenges unpaid carers face, and recognise the contribution they make to families and communities throughout the UK. It also helps people who don’t think of themselves as having caring responsibilities to identify as carers and access much-needed support. Carers Week is led by Carers UK with the support of a number of other charities. The theme for Carers Week 2025 is ‘Caring About Equality‘, calling for an equal society where carers are truly valued, recognised and supported.
The purpose of WEAAD is to provide an opportunity for communities around the world to promote a better understanding of abuse and neglect of older persons by raising awareness of the cultural, social, economic and demographic processes affecting elder abuse and neglect.
Learning Disability Week takes place annually during the third week of June. The theme this year is “Do you see me?” which is all about people with a learning disability being seen, heard and valued.
Training, Workbooks and Further Resources
Training Courses
New dates have been released up to July 2025.
To view and request a place on any of our upcoming training courses please visit our Training Courses and Events page.
E-Learning
The Adults & Children Safeguarding Partner Organisations across Hartlepool, Middlesbrough, Redcar and Cleveland and Stockton-on-Tees actively support the ‘Think Family’ approach and are committed to the continuous learning and development of all staff and volunteers working with vulnerable people: adults, children, young people and families.
Through our E-Leaning site you will be able to view, select and be given immediate access to a range of e-learning opportunities.
Workbooks
Workbooks are in the process of being phased out and will only be available on the TSAB website until 30th April 2025. We will still accept completed workbooks up until 31st May 2025 to allow staff to receive their certificates. If you or any member of your team have copies of the workbooks saved to your desktop please can you ensure that these are deleted.
The Health and Care Passport was developed by The North East and Cumbria Learning Disability Network for people with Learning Disabilities and may also be helpful for many other adults including those with dementia, cognitive impairments, communication needs and autistic people. It can be completed by the individual and the people that know them best.
It gives the person an opportunity to communicate the things that are important to them to help them get good care. This can then be shared with health and care staff to help them give better care to the person.
An easy read pack “What to do when you are coming in to hospital” is also available to support people with a learning disability, their families and or carers with practical information to support them when they are coming to hospital.
Further Information
Want to learn more about your role as a champion? Visit our dedicated Safeguarding Champions Area for further information.
Champions will receive our quarterly champion’s e-bulletins and TSAB Newsletters which include training opportunities and resources to read and share to help you to fulfil your role.
Safeguarding Champion Pledge
As a new Safeguarding Champion, we recommend that you complete the following:
- I have registered for e-learning and completed the Safeguarding Adults Level 1 course (or completed the equivalent training workbook)
- I have shared the links to e-learning and workbooks with colleagues
- I have printed, displayed and emailed the Safeguarding Adults Leaflets and Posters so that colleagues, service users and families know how to report abuse or neglect
- I have informed my colleagues that I am a Safeguarding Champion so that they know to contact me for advice regarding safeguarding matters
- I have followed @TeeswideSAB on social media to keep up to date with the latest safeguarding news.
Don’t forget that TSAB has a dedicated webpage hosting details of local and national services.
Can’t see your service/ another service on there and think it should be added? Please send the details to [email protected].
Do you have concerns that an adult is experiencing or is at risk of abuse or neglect?
Visit https://www.tsab.org.uk/report-abuse/ to find out how to report your concerns. The page hosts the TSAB Concern Form which should be completed and submitted to the relevant local adult social care service or alternatively you can contact them by using the contact numbers listed on the page.
As a reminder you should report abuse when:
- The adult has needs for care and support (whether or not the authority is meeting any of those needs)
- And is experiencing, or is at risk of, abuse or neglect