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Safeguarding Concern, making a safeguarding referral

Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility and any person who believes that someone is experiencing or is at risk of abuse and neglect can raise a concern with the Local Authority. There are several ways to report abuse.

The duty of staff and volunteers to raise safeguarding concerns:

Step 1:  Action required when made aware of abuse or neglect

There is a duty of care for all staff (professionals and volunteers) working with adults with care and support needs to report concerns which should be carried out in accordance with your own internal safeguarding procedures. 

Every organisation has a duty in law to refer any safeguarding concerns to the Adult Social Care Safeguarding Team at Darlington Borough Council. 

Concerns can be reported by anyone directly to the Adult Social Care Safeguarding Team (Darlington Borough Council) by telephoning 01325 406111.

Step 2: The decision to raise a concern

There are a number of considerations when deciding whether it is appropriate to raise a safeguarding concern.  Refer to the Practice Tool to aid decision making [PDF document].  This tool provides guidance on whether a concern should be submitted to the Local Authority or whether it is appropriate for it to be managed by the organisation. If a concern reaches the threshold for safeguarding, then it must be referred to the Local Authority within 24 hours.

Safeguarding responsibilities apply where an adult (aged 18 years or more) has care and support needs (regardless of whether the Local Authority is meeting any needs) and:

  • is experiencing, or is at risk of, abuse or neglect and
  • as a result of those needs is unable to protect himself or herself against the abuse or neglect or the risk of it

Practitioners have a legal duty (The Care Act 2014) to refer all safeguarding concerns to the Local Authority. 

Step 3: Gather Information

Gather information from the adult at risk and other relevant people and consult records to assess whether there is any information which is relevant to the concerns.  This will involve speaking directly to the individual.  Seek the views of the individual about what happened and what they would like to happen and seek consent to raise a safeguarding concern and share information.  Be aware that it is sometimes necessary to proceed without consent. (See Step 2: The decision to raise a concern: SCIE: Responding without consent [external link]).  

Step 4: Ensure Immediate Safety of Adult at Risk

There is a duty to ensure that the adult at risk is safe from further harm. This duty extends to considering the safety of other adults and children who may be at risk from harm arising from the same situation. 

All reasonable and practical steps must be taken to ensure that the adult at risk and any others who may be at risk do not come into contact with the person who has caused the harm.

Do not discuss the concern with the person alleged to have caused harm unless it is necessary to ensure the welfare of the adult at risk or others.

It may be necessary to inform the police (if a crime has taken place or is taking place) or seek medical attention in an emergency.

Where the person causing harm is an employee or volunteer the employer has statutory duties in responding to the allegation and in certain circumstances informing the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS). Refer to the DSP Managing Allegations Policy and Guidance [PDF document]. The Managing Allegations Procedures also apply when an individual acts in a way in their personal life and they are employed to work in either a paid or voluntary capacity with adults at risk and their actions would raise concerns about them working with adults at risk.

Emergency situations and contacting the Police:

If it is suspected that a criminal offence has or may have been committed or that a criminal offence may be committed and that an adult with care or support needs may be at risk of imminent harm, there is a duty to inform the police.

In an emergency situation the views of the individual should still be sought where possible, and the individual should be informed of the action which will be taken.  However, in certain situations it is sometimes necessary to take action without obtaining consent or where the individual has declined to give consent. See SCIE: responding without consent [link].

In the event that a criminal offence has recently occurred, and an immediate response is required to obtain immediate medical assistance, secure and preserve evidence or to prevent further harm call 999.
If the situation is non- urgent contact 101 and ask for Durham Constabulary.

Alternatively, contact the Adult Contact Team (Darlington Borough Council) on 01325 406111 or Minicom 01325 468504 or out of hours contact the Emergency Duty Team on 01642 524552 or Minicom 01642 602346.  Local out-of-hours teams within Social Care and Health operate out of normal working hours, at weekends and statutory holidays. Contact details can be found on the Darlington Safeguarding Partnership website: darlington-safeguarding-partnership.co.uk [link].

If a concern is reported to the Emergency Duty Team which indicates an immediate or urgent risk the officer will take any immediate steps necessary to protect the adult at risk including arranging emergency medical treatment, contacting the police and taking any other action to ensure their safety. 

When a situation is reported to the police it is important that wherever possible the person alleged to have caused harm is not questioned by anyone, so as not to undermine any future police investigation. Whilst the preservation of life and the welfare of an adult who may need immediate medical attention is the priority it is also important that forensic and other evidence is not contaminated. Evidence may be present even if you cannot see anything.

Whole Family Approach: Adult safeguarding concerns where children may be at risk

Everyone must be aware that in situations where there is a concern that an Adult at Risk is or could be being abused or neglected (including self-neglect) and there are children in the same household they too could be at risk.  This includes circumstances where a child is living in a household with an adult who self neglects.  In these circumstances reference should be made to the Darlington Safeguarding Partnership Child Protection Procedures [New Window]. What you need to know:

  • When making a referral it is helpful to have as much information about the children as possible to ensure that the right advice is given, and the appropriate actions are taken.
  • You must contact the Children's Initial Advice Team by calling 01325 406252.
  • Advice and support for professionals and members of the public can also be provided by a Social Worker by the Children's Initial Advice Team: see Darlington Safeguarding Partnership website [new window] for contact details.
  • On occasions where there are concerns about the immediate risk of harm the referring agency should act quickly and contact Children’s Initial Advice Team (and the police where necessary) by telephone.
  • A Continuum of Need Level Indicators [PDF Document] framework has been produced as a guide to help determine at what level or by what agency any additional needs can be met. This should only be used as a guide, any concerns should be discussed with the Children’s Initial Advice Team in the first instance.
  • Further advice on what to do if you are worried about a child is available on the Darlington Safeguarding Partnership website [New Window]

In these circumstances.  The Safeguarding Adults Team must ensure that all information is shared with the Children's Initial Advice Team (CIAT). See the Darlington Safeguarding Partnership website [new window] for contact details. 

Single agency case closure: inform other agencies involved with the adult: When single agencies close a case involving an adult with care and support needs this information should be communicated to all other agencies involved in the case. This includes cases across adult and children’s services where the service user is a parent.

Step 5: How to Make a Referral

Any person may report a concern to the Local Authority where they are concerned that an adult with care and support needs is experiencing or is at risk of abuse or neglect (including self-neglect).  
Telephone enquiries about a Safeguarding concern can be made by contacting the Safeguarding Adult Team on 01325 406111 or Minicom 01325 468504.

Members of the public can submit a concern verbally to the Adult Contact Team on the number above.
Organisations and professionals must complete the Safeguarding Concern form and submit the concern electronically to ssact@darlington.gov.uk

Safeguarding Adults Concern Form [word document]

If there is uncertainty as to whether a concern should be raised, or any other issues advice should be sought from the appropriate line manager or the Safeguarding Adults Team as above.

Out of hours advice can be sought from the Emergency Duty Team on 01642 524552 or Minicom 01642 602346. 

All contact details are available at Darlington Safeguarding Partnership website [link].

The accurate recording of actions and decisions is an important aspect of the safeguarding process. All decisions must be recorded and must include the rationale for the decision.

Where necessary the rationale for raising a concern without the consent of the individual must be recorded. 
Decisions regarding capacity assessments must be recorded.

Triage of concern: Decision made on concerns (24 hours on receipt of the concern). Decision making:

  • Persons outcomes
  • Information and advice
  • Domestic abuse tool 
  • Self neglect and hoarding toolkit 
  • Risk assessments (Coordinated Action Against Domestic Abuse - Caada, Domestic Abuse, Stalking and Honour-based Violence - DASH etc) 
  • Practice Tool for decision making

Providing further information if circumstances change for the individual, making further referrals for care act assessments of Safeguarding concerns.