Regional and national work
Regional organisational abuse good practice toolkit
During 2024/25 the final draft of the Organisational Abuse Good Practice toolkit was approved by the Northeast Association of Directors for Adult Social Services (ADASS) Safeguarding Network. The toolkit was developed by the Regional SAR Champions group. The document is not mandated nor a policy but moreover a means of sharing practice and tools available across adult social care colleagues and commissioners (including health) in the Northeast. It can be drawn upon to inform local practice and/or shape any changes to practice or policy. It's hoped that the guide will support a level of consistency across the region. The tool will be used by the GSAB Thematic Review panel as the basis on which to draft the Gateshead Organisational Abuse Framework.
Cross boundary SAR protocol
The SAR Champions Group are working on guidance for safeguarding business unit on Cross Boundary SARs. The Care Act 2014 states that Safeguarding Adults Boards (SABs) must arrange a Safeguarding Adult Review (SAR) when an adult with care and support needs in its area dies or is seriously harmed as a result of abuse or neglect, whether known or suspected, and there is concern that partner agencies could have worked together more effectively to protect the adult. There is growing recognition nationally that where a SAR involves more than one SAB (a cross-boundary SAR), the 'Host SAB' (where the adult has been seriously harmed or died), may not always be best placed to coordinate the SAR as the adult may not be known or have minimal involvement with services in its area. Therefore, the Host SAB may identify learning that is not wholly relevant or applicable to its partners and would be seeking assurance from agencies that are not within its partnership.
The final version of the protocol has now been approved by all regional SABs and will be used by Safeguarding Business Units to provide a consistent approach across the regional when undertaking cross boundary SARs.
National SAB guidance on the interface between SARs and coronial processes
The final version of the National SAB Guidance on the Interface between SARs and the Coronial Process was shared at the SAB Business Managers Network meeting in September 2024. The guidance was developed by business managers, led by the Nottingham City SAB Business Manager, there were over 28 SABs involved in the development of the document and coroners were consulted throughout. The aim of the document was to provide guidance for areas that had no guidance, to adopt in full or to adapt for their needs and for those SABs that have protocols to strengthen and refresh them. The document includes sections on what are SARs, the current legal guidance, best practice guidance, the GSAB will agree how to adopt the protocol, and reference the guidance in its own protocols.
Second national SAR analysis
The final reports and the executive summary from the second national analysis of Safeguarding Adult Reviews (SARs) in England have now been published and are available on the LGA Website as well as the GSAB Website. The analysis was undertaken in 2023 covering SARs completed between April 2019 and March 2023, which also covered the period of the Covid 19 pandemic.
The purpose of the analysis was to identify priorities for sector-led improvement as a result of learning from SARs, there are a total of 31 recommendations and the GSAB will be considering how it responds to these recommendations and gathers and monitors assurance that actions have been taken to address the recommendations.
The National SAB Managers Network have created a task and finish group to consider how to take forward the recommendations from the analysis, this will minimise duplication and maximise shared learning. The group have identified the recommendations, and the issues raised within the analysis which should be approached from a national perspective, and which should remain local.
North East SAR Champions Network - Achievements
Throughout 2024/25, the North East SAR Champions Network maintained its commitment to quarterly meetings, fostering collaboration and shared learning. During this period, champions actively contributed to a range of initiatives and addressed actions arising from both regional and national Safeguarding Adult Reviews (SARs), driving improvements in practice and outcomes.
- Cross Boundary SAR Guidance.
- Effectiveness of SAR Escalation Protocol raised nationally.
- National Survey to Business Managers regarding key questions around SARs, such as how timescales are captured.
- Discussed National SAR Analysis, interface between SARs/ Coronial Process and Ministerial Letter re Rough Sleeping.
- Regional offer to practitioners for some webinars during National Safeguarding Adults Week 2024.
- Speakers invited from RISE (Safeguarding in Sport) and North East Procurement Framework for Independent Reviewers.
