Stage 5: Agree Outcome Decision from the Enquiry

The final review of outcomes take place when all actions have been undertaken and enquiries have concluded. There will be a need to agree the final outcome of any investigation or enquiries that have been carried out, confirm allegation(s) or otherwise, evaluate risk, establish whether outcomes have been achieved, including the Adult’s desired outcome, and whether risk has been reduced to an acceptable level.

It will be necessary to establish whether there is a need for longer term safeguarding arrangements to be in place. This could include continued liaison with the Adult and/or their representative and/or a long term safeguarding plan with clear professional responsibility and accountability. The safeguarding plan and any responsibility for monitoring and review will be agreed and clearly communicated to any agency/partner or individual who has been identified as responsible for the ongoing management, monitoring or review arrangements.

Any need for feedback should be agreed, and the most appropriate person for the circumstances should be allocated the responsibility.

Where a need for an additional summary is required or information confirming the position and responsibilities are required, this will be determined at this stage. This may be separate from a Safeguarding Plan. It may be that this is required but that a Safeguarding Plan is not.

Safeguarding Plan

A Safeguarding Plan and review could happen at any stage of the safeguarding process and is for actions that directly manage the risk to the Adult(s) concerned.

One of the key aims of the Safeguarding Plan is to detail agreed actions to safeguard the individual, identify people responsible for carrying out the actions, timescales, monitoring and review arrangements. The Plan may identify (dependent upon the circumstances individual to the situation):

• The need for an assessment of mental capacity of the Adult(s) named on the SAC form
• The need for further assessment of risk(s) and to whom
• The need to implement safeguarding strategies for the Adult and any others identified. This may include invoking certain procedures, such as disciplinary procedures to suspend a member of staff
• The need to seek further information or clarification from other professionals
• The need to provide additional support, or fuller assessments by health and social are agencies (e.g. needs assessment under the Care Act)
• The need for Police involvement
• A plan to meet any needs arising from any protected characteristics of any alleged victims, perpetrators or witnesses, including special measures in achieving best evidence
• A plan to meet any needs arising from potential harassment or intimidation of any alleged victims, witnesses or whistleblowers
• The need to coordinate between different strands if the assessment, for example, any criminal or disciplinary action, or investigation of a complaint, so that they complement and inform each other, do not interfere with each other and do not result in any gaps
• An agreed communication strategy during the safeguarding process
• The appropriate method of feedback to the person(s) who submitted the SAC form and who would be best placed to undertake this
• A way of ensuring ongoing communication with the Adult(s) and others concerned, including family members, and who will undertake this
• The need to agree a method to manage any media interest
• That there may be a need to separately consider the needs of an alleged perpetrator
• The need for referral for consideration under MARAC (multi-agency risk assessment conference) of any risk posed by perpetrators in cases of domestic abuse, MAPPA (multi-agency public protection arrangements) of any relevant alleged perpetrator meeting (MAPPA guidance can be sought from Northumbria Police MAPPA Unit), Prevent for any individuals identified as being at risk of radicalisation or potentially dangerous persons (PDP) criteria

The Safeguarding Plan should adhere to the following principles:

• Ensuring the safety and wellbeing of the Adult
• The principles of Making Safeguarding Personal. The Adult should experience the safeguarding process as empowering and supportive
• Action is planned to minimise risks to victims, witnesses and whistle-blowers, and in appropriate circumstances the alleged perpetrator
• Information is shared fully between participating agencies, but is shared within the boundaries of confidentiality and with regard to the principles guiding information sharing
• All actions should have agreed timescales for completion and be designated to named individuals
• Any actions identified are done so with the intention of minimal interruption to the services being provided to the individual, or a group of people, during the safeguarding process

Where a Safeguarding Plan is required, a lead professional will be identified to coordinate this. This action may be identified as necessary through meetings or other communications.

Responsibility of the Safeguarding Plan lead will be to:

• Ensure continued and appropriate involvement of relevant professionals/Adult in respect of actions, roles and support
• Ensure the Safeguarding Plan is known to all relevant organisations and applied in day-to-day work with individuals concerned
• Monitor and review the Plan or ensure arrangements are in place to do so
• Advise the Safeguarding Adults Team of the first review date, with information linked to whether outcomes continue to be achieved

Review of the Safeguarding Plan

There should be an agreed and recorded timescale for the review of the effectiveness of the Safeguarding Plan. The first review should ideally be within 6 weeks and monitored appropriately until case closure or outcomes have been achieved. There will be no need to continue with the safeguarding review process if the adult is no longer at risk or subject to ongoing risk, and if all outcomes have been confirmed.