Policy and practice guidance
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Gateshead Safeguarding Adults Board Policy Statement
Living a life that is free from neglect and abuse is a fundamental right of every person.
The Care Act 2014 has enshrined in law the principles of Safeguarding Adults, which will not only ensure that the most vulnerable members of society are afforded appropriate support and protection, but will also help them to live as independently as possible, for as long as possible.
In Gateshead, we have a history of strong and effective safeguarding adult partnership arrangements. The Gateshead Safeguarding Adults Board remains committed to ensuring that our Multi-Agency Policy and Procedures are fully embedded and remain fit for purpose. The Board have worked hard to ensure that they are Care Act compliant and have demonstrated via internal and independent scrutiny that we deliver quality services.
A corner stone of the Care Act is the general responsibility placed on all local authorities to promote wellbeing. Significantly, the Care Act emphasises the importance of beginning with the assumption that the individual is best placed to judge their own wellbeing. The rights of the individual to be heard throughout the safeguarding adults process are a critical element of the drive towards Making Safeguarding Personal - ensuring that safeguarding adults is person-led and outcome focussed.
When abuse or neglect occurs, it must to be dealt with swiftly, effectively and proportionately. The Care Act also introduces a general principle that there should be cooperation between public organisations and all those concerned in the care and support of and the provision of health and health-related needs of their local population. Safeguarding is Everyone's Responsibility.
The prevention of abuse and neglect must be a key priority for all agencies. Everyone should work together to ensure that practice is carried out with dignity, respect, compassion and choice. The prevention of abuse and neglect relies on developing and maintaining a culture where poor practice can be challenged and addressed and that the needs and rights of the Adult are always considered and promoted.
All organisations should produce their own single agency safeguarding policies and procedures that should be followed if they become aware that an adult has experienced, or is at risk of experiencing, abuse or neglect. The responsibilities of all staff, volunteers and organisations, include ensuring that:
- All staff and volunteers know when to report concerns to managers and know how raise concerns with the local authority where appropriate.
- All staff and volunteers are made aware of their respective organisation's whistleblowing policy and are given information on when and how this policy can be used.
- the organisation, its staff and volunteers work in partnership with other agencies to meet the safeguarding needs of the Adults.
- Information is shared between agencies in accordance with information sharing policies and protocols.
- The organisation keeps its own records in relation to safeguarding concerns, actions taken, and any outcomes.
- Senior representatives of the organisation support the Safeguarding Adults process including attendance and participation at professional meetings and planning meetings as required
- Decisions are reached in line with the principles of Mental Capacity Act 2005 and the associated Code of Practice.
Multi-agency policies and practice guidance
The guidance is currently under review any questions or queries should be directed to [email protected]
Support to develop single agency policies and practice guidance
Policy guidance
The Safeguarding Adults Board have produced guidance for partner organisations who are developing their single agency safeguarding adult policy and procedures. The guidance provides recommended content and a suggested structure for safeguarding adult policy and procedures.
Each organisation is different and therefore will need to use this document to create a policy and procedure that will accurately reflect the needs of their organisation, their staff members and service users and their families.
Support for developing single agency policy and procedures (PDF, 487 KB)(opens new window)
Policy and Procedure assessment
If partner agencies would like to assess the effectiveness of their policy and procedures, the Adult Safeguarding Improvement Tool can be adapted to support a self assessment process.
Adult Safeguarding Improvement Tool (PDF, 300 KB)(opens new window)
Information Sharing
Effective sharing of information between practitioners and local organisations is essential for early identification of need, assessment and service provision to safeguard adults with needs for care and support. Safeguarding Adult Reviews have consistently highlighted that missed opportunities to record, understand the significance of and share information in a timely manner can have serious consequences for the safety and welfare of adults at risk.
In the Second SAR National Analysis which was undertaken by the LGA in 2024, and considers the learning from SARs which are undertaken nationally that there were multiple examples of poor communication and information sharing between agencies and it was clear that poor information-sharing and communication led to a lack of openness, transparency and trust that could severely affect onward collaboration.
The GDPR and Data Protection Act 2018 do not prevent, or limit, the sharing of information for the purposes of keeping adults at risk safe.
It is essential that collaborative working and good information sharing is established throughout agencies, at all levels, which is then embedded through effective safeguarding practice.
The Gateshead SAB's Joint Information Sharing Protocol (PDF, 782 KB) has been developed (with GSCP) to address information sharing both at strategic level and operational level within the arenas of Safeguarding Children and Adult Safeguarding. It is intended that agencies with the potential to be involved in safeguarding investigations will sign up to the use of this protocol.
This protocol is agreed with the purpose of ensuring compliance with the Data Protection Act 2018 and the UK General Data Protection Regulations (UK GDPR) and the Human Rights Act 1998.
The seven golden rules to sharing information
Sharing of information between practitioners and organisations is essential for effective identification, assessment, risk management and service provision. Early sharing of information is the key to providing effective early help where there are emerging problems.
The GDPR and Data Protection Act 2018 do not prevent, or limit, the sharing of information for the purposes of keeping children and young people safe. Fears about sharing information cannot be allowed to stand in the way of the need to promote the welfare and protect the safety of children and adults.
| 1 | Remember that the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR), Data Protection Act 2018 and human rights law are not barriers to justified information sharing, but provide a framework to ensure that personal information about living individuals is shared appropriately. |
| 2 | Be open and honest with the individual (and/or their family where appropriate) from the outset about why, what, how and with whom information will, or could be shared, and seek their agreement, unless it is unsafe or inappropriate to do so. |
| 3 | Seek advice from other practitioners, or your information governance lead, if you are in any doubt about sharing the information concerned, without disclosing the identity of the individual where possible. |
| 4 | Where possible, share information with consent, and where possible, respect the wishes of those who do not consent to having their information shared. Under the GDPR and Data Protection Act 2018 you may share information without consent if, in your judgement, there is a lawful basis to do so, such as where safety may be at risk. You will need to base your judgement on the facts of the case. When you are sharing or requesting personal information from someone, be clear of the basis upon which you are doing so. Where you do not have consent, be mindful that an individual might not expect information to be shared. |
| 5 | Consider safety and well-being: base your information sharing decisions on considerations of the safety and well-being of the individual and others who may be affected by their actions. |
| 6 | Necessary, proportionate, relevant, adequate, accurate, timely and secure: ensure that the information you share is necessary for the purpose for which you are sharing it, is shared only with those individuals who need to have it, is accurate and up-to-date, is shared in a timely fashion, and is shared securely (see principles). |
| 7 | Keep a record of your decision and the reasons for it - whether it is to share information or not. If you decide to share, then record what you have shared, with whom and for what purpose. |
See the Information Sharing Flowchart (PDF, 112 KB) to help you decide if, and when to share. If the decision is taken to share, you should consider how best to effectively share the information.
You can download a copy of The 7 Golden Rules to Sharing Information (PDF, 178 KB) document for reference.
Gateshead Local Safeguarding Adults Board Please note that this is for further information about the Safeguarding Adults Board only. If you are concerned that someone is at risk of, or experiencing, abuse or neglect please contact Adult Social CareContact us
First Floor
Civic Centre
NE8 1HH
