What Happens if I Ask for Help

When you or somebody else raises a concern about an adult with care and support needs who is at risk of abuse, this is known as raising a safeguarding concern. Anybody can raise a safeguarding concern, for example you might raise a concern yourself, a carer might raise a concern, or a professional working with adults with care and support needs or somebody who thinks they have been abused.  Anyone can raise a concern by contacting adult social care First Response Team on 01925 443322. Outside of office hours ring us on 01925 444400 If you think a crime has been committed, ring the police on 101 If you believe you or the adult is at immediate risk of harm, call 999

What happens first?

When Adult Social Care receive a safeguarding concern they will make an immediate decision – are you in immediate danger? If the think you are, they will take immediate action to safeguard you with your agreement. If they think you are in immediate danger and they think you do not have capacity to understand the situation they will take action that they consider to be in your 'Best Interest' and which is the least restrictive option to safeguard you. If they think you are NOT in immediate danger they will talk to you or meet with other professionals to decide how to proceed. Someone will be identified to keep you informed of what they are doing and why. This is likely to be a Social Worker.

What are Safeguarding Meetings?

Adult Social Care may hold one or more safeguarding meetings.  You will always be invited to safeguarding meetings about you and you can bring someone with you for support.  If you do not want to attend or cannot attend, someone can go on your behalf to represent your views - such as an advocate; or they will talk with you before the meeting so your views can be heard.  They will always tell you what was discussed and what will happen next.

The first safeguarding meeting will decide if an enquiry is needed.

What happens if an enquiry is needed?

Warrington Borough Council, the Police, Health staff or the care provider may be asked to carry out an enquiry.

A person will be identified to lead the enquiry and they will always talk to you wherever they can.  They can arrange for you to be supported by an advocate.  An advocate will listen to you, provide information and explain options, assist you to reach your own decisions and support or represent you in expressing your views.  The independent advocate should always support the adult at risks views whether or not they agree with those views.

They may also talk to anyone else who can help with the enquiry so we can find out what happened. This may be members of the adult at risks family or employed staff.

They may also want to see care records.

What happens at the end of an enquiry?

When the enquiry is finished in most cases they will organise a final safeguarding meeting.

You will always be invited to safeguarding meetings about you and you can bring someone with you to help support you.  If you do not want to attend or cannot attend, someone can go on your behalf to represent your views - such as an advocate; or they will talk to them before the meeting so your views can be heard.  You will always be told afterwards what was discussed and what will happen next.

At this meeting they will discuss what has happened and what needs to happen next.  If they think you are safe they will take no more action and the case will be closed as a safeguarding issue.  If you are still at risk of abuse we will talk about what can be done to prevent the abuse. They do this by putting a Safeguarding Plan in place.

They record all our actions on their computer system.

What might happen to the person who is causing you harm?

If this person is important to you, they will, if possible, try to help keep your relationship with them. They can offer services, advice and information to support you.

If you don't want to see them anymore, they can help make this possible.  If the person is an employed staff member they will not be allowed to contact you whilst the investigation takes place.  The person who is abusing you may be arrested by the police who might prosecute them.

What is a Safeguarding Plan? 

If they consider you are still at risk of abuse we will put a safeguarding plan in place. This plan will identify what can be done to prevent the abuse or reduce the possibility for further abuse.

They will identify someone to make sure the plan is put into action. They will review the plan on a regular basis with you and any other people involved in the safeguarding plan.

What happens afterwards?

After all the above has happened they will ask you if they are satisfied with the end result of what people did to try and keep you safe, how satisfied you are with how people dealt with your concern throughout and did you feel safer now because of the help from people dealing with your concern? We hope you will be able to tell us what your experience was, so we can review our procedures and make improvements if necessary.

How long will the process take?

Some Safeguarding Adults enquiries can be completed quite quickly, but others can be very lengthy and complex. You will be kept informed as the enquiry progresses. If you have any questions or concerns, at any time, you can talk to your social worker.