Manchester Safeguarding Standard

The Manchester Safeguarding Partnership expects all providers and commissioners of services for adults at risk and children to adhere to this agreed minimum Manchester Safeguarding Standard.

Please note this Standard is currently under review –  contact the Business Unit for more information.

We will quality assure against this standard using a number of tools including:

• annual self assessment for all MSP member agencies and other key stakeholders
• single agency audit information
• quality review of the Multi Agency Risk Assessment Conference (MARAC)
• multi agency audit information (Section 11 and Adult’s quality assurance statement)
• individual organisation’s inspections/declarations and audits
• adult case review recommendations – evidence of practice improvement
• child case review recommendations – evidence of practice improvement
• Domestic Homicide Review recommendations – evidence of practice improvement
• Child Death Overview Panel recommendations – Annual Report.

 OBJECTIVES

1. Safeguarding practice for both adults at risk and children and young people will:
   • reflect best practice nationally;
   • incorporate learning from Safeguarding Adult Reviews, Serious Case Reviews, Domestic Homicide Reviews and other reviews;
   • be regularly audited and evaluated;
   • be informed by MSAB and MSCB policies and procedures;
   • ensure that the safety of children and young people is always prioritised by practitioners working with adults at risk, particularly where domestic abuse, mental health or drug and alcohol abuse are known to be a factor;
   • ensure that the safety of adults at risk is considered by practitioners working with children and young people.

2. The MSAB and MSCB can be assured of the effectiveness of safeguarding practice across Manchester and identify where there are issues that need addressing, using their authority to ensure this happens where needed as is set out in the Care Act 2014 and Working Together to Safeguard Children 2015.

3. Commissioners apply a consistent safeguarding standard to their commissioning activity.

4. Individual Organisations monitor and assess the effectiveness of their safeguarding practice across Manchester and identify and address where there are any issues. Self assessments and single agency audits will be required as part of the Performance Management Framework for each Board.

5. Managers feel confident and competent in their roles and responsibilities.

6. Individual practitioners receive appropriate training and support to allow them to practise in a competent and confident manner.

OUTCOME
By adopting this standard across providers and commissioners of services in Manchester, the MSAB and MSCB will be assured that the quality of multi-agency practice with adults and children and young people is regularly assessed and monitored; this will also ensure that processes are in place to improve the effectiveness of safeguarding arrangements for adults and children in the city within the context of the individual, the family and the community.

THE STANDARD

1. Children, young people and adults at risk are at the centre of practice

• Services are accessible, well publicised, ensure confidentiality and are available in an environment that is sensitive to the needs of adults at risk and children.
• All services and settings take account of the views of children, young people, and adult service users, in the decisions about and delivery of services.
• All services ensure that racial heritage, language, religious beliefs, sexuality, gender and disability are taken into account – for example by the use of interpreters or by making adjustments to enable access for disabled people.
• All services take into account the service user’s wishes and feelings and balance this against their rights and need to be safeguarded, noting that the Care Act increases the circumstances in which advocates need to be commissioned.
• All adult services consider whether there are risks to children or young people from adults perpetrating domestic abuse; with mental health problems; misusing drugs and alcohol; or at risk of homelessness.
• All children’s services to consider whether adults are at risk or if children or young people might pose a risk to other children or adults.

2. Safeguarding Lead

• Each organisation has an identified lead person for safeguarding adults at risk and children and young people. This person should be suitably trained and skilled to carry out this role on behalf of their organisation.
• Each organisation should have a named lead person responsible for online safety (formerly e-safety).
• Every service/project that works with service users should identify a suitable experienced and knowledgeable safeguarding link person.

3. Safer Staffing

• Each organisation/service operates safe recruitment practices, including DBS checks and adherence to regulations where appropriate, with robust systems for checking references, employment gaps and a signed declaration of criminal convictions.
• Compliance with MSAB and MSCB procedures for managing allegations against people who work with children, young people and at risk adults, where service users fall into that category.
• Each organisation incorporates into their induction, training and supervision of staff the Keeping Children Safe 2015 guidance, which has a clear focus on safer practice.
• Where the service users are adults each organisation adheres to CQC National Minimum standards and regulatory requirements in relation to protecting service users from abuse, as identified in Statutory guidance to support local authorities implement the Care Act 2014 which sets out what is expected in relation to protection, robust procedures and whistle blowing.
• Each organisation has a clear zero tolerance of abuse against staff policy, which is well publicised to service users and members of the public.

4. Policies and Procedures

• Each organisation has safeguarding policies and procedures that are compliant with MSAB and/or MSCB safeguarding procedures; staff are trained at induction and are fully aware of the referral processes for concerns about children and young people to MASH (multi agency safeguarding hub) and safeguarding alerts for adults at risk.
• Each organisation working with adults at risk has clear procedures on the implementation and management of Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards in line with the code of practice to supplement the Mental Capacity Act 2005 code of practice.
• Each organisation takes account of national and local guidance to safeguard service users and their children. This is particularly relevant where there is domestic abuse, child sexual exploitation, forced marriage, FGM, trafficking, substance misuse, homelessness or mental health issues.
• Each organisation has safeguarding policies to ensure that where services are withdrawn due to none compliance, steps are taken to safeguard service users and their children.

5. Training

• Each organisation ensures that all staff complete MSAB and MSCB approved safeguarding training and development commensurate with their roles and responsibilities.
• All staff to have an understanding of their roles and responsibilities, and those of other professionals and organisations in relation to the safeguarding of adults at risk, children and young people.
• In accordance with previous SCR recommendations – each organisation must ensure that staff who provide front line support or oversight, access appropriate Domestic Abuse training.
• Each organisation to collate evidence and be able to report to the Boards the proportion of eligible staff that are up to date with safeguarding training.
• Refresher safeguarding training should be provided every 3 years (CQC regulatory requirement).

6. Performance and Practice

Organisations should have safeguarding quality assurance systems and processes in place and be able to assess performance and practice in relation to the following areas, which have been informed by learning from Safeguarding Adult Reviews, Serious Case Reviews and Domestic Homicide and other forms of review.

• Assessment – multi-agency; of a good standard; completed to time; recorded accurately; taking the multi-agency history into account; prioritising the safeguarding of children and adults at risk; based on a careful assessment of risk; not being over optimistic; and ensuring that the focus is not just on the adult when there are children or young people involved and that appropriate immediate and extended family members are consulted, particularly absent fathers. When assessing the needs of vulnerable adults, assessors should consider the mental capacity of those involved and whether independent support needs to be provided.
• Recognition and response – including making requests for additional support to other agencies such as those providing services in relation to: children’s social care, Advocacy, No Recourse to Public Funds (NRPF), homelessness team, Independent Domestic Violence Advisors (IDVA) etc. Procedures are in place to allow advice on complex issues or where concerns may have to be escalated. Staff awareness on how to make a safeguarding adult alert in line with MSAB multi-agency policy and Manchester City Council Safeguarding Procedures.
• Referrals – including quality checks against the MSCB standard for inter-agency contacts where children are involved. Action taken where there is a concern that an adult is being abused, appropriate information sharing and timescales met.
• Early Help Assessments – complete an Early Help Assessment in line with current thresholds before putting in a referral to MASH.
• Monitoring points of referral – including information about referrals to and from the organisation and subsequent action following these referrals.
• Case planning – multi agency contribution to case planning which is monitored, quality assured and subject to audit.
• Monitoring and reporting on workload/ caseload size/complexity – ensure quality of service, capacity to respond to emergencies and ability to manage risk effectively and action taken to mitigate; report to MSAB and MSCB when caseloads exceed capacity and safe working practice.
• Monitoring quality, frequency and effectiveness of supervision – ensure supervision is available to all staff who come into contact with service users to ensure access to advice and support that enables them to manage the complexity of safeguarding practice as well as to hold them accountable for their work.
• Record keeping – ensure that all staff are appropriately trained to maintain accurate electronic records of their involvement which are clear, accessible comprehensive and contemporaneous. Records meet organisational standards and enable compliance with MSCB procedures to safeguard children and MSAB procedures to safeguard adults at risk.
• Demonstrable learning from Safeguarding Adult Reviews /Serious Case Reviews/ cases that have given rise to concern/ Domestic Homicide Reviews/ national research – organisations must evidence changes to practice and improved outcomes for children, young people and adults at risk in line with recommendations of Safeguarding Adults Reviews, Serious Case Reviews and Domestic Homicide and other forms of review, endorsed by MSAB and MSCB. Safeguarding training should take account of emerging messages from both national and local reviews.

7. Information sharing

Each organisation adopts and implements the recognised Information Sharing Guidance, formally adopted by Manchester Children’s Trust Arrangements, the MSAB and the MSCB.

Managers are conversant with the Government guidance: Information sharing Advice for practitioners providing safeguarding services to children, young people, parents and carers (2015)

Each organisation refers to the local agreed MARAC information sharing protocol and appropriately shares information to protect adults and their children at high risk of domestic violence.

8. Links to the MSAB and MSCB

• Each organisation and/or service will fully co-operate with the MSAB and MSCB, particularly around Safeguarding Adults Reviews and Serious Case Reviews, as required; and maintain involvement with the MSAB and MSCB and their subgroups commensurate with their agency/organisation’s roles and responsibilities.
• Each organisation will ensure that staff remain up to date with any safeguarding developments published by the MSAB and MSCB and/or direct communications from the MSAB and MSCB.

9. Risk Management

• Each organisation is able to assess and identify the level of risk to the service users they are responsible for.
• Risk assessment and management plans to be based on a detailed assessment of the risk to the individual and their children from neglect, domestic abuse, mental ill-health, misuse of drugs and alcohol, poverty or homelessness.
• All member agencies of MSAB and MSCB must inform the Board if vacancy levels in any service area are potentially compromising the effective implementation of safeguarding policies.
• Recognise when immediate action is necessary to protect the safety of children, young people or adults at risk and be aware of MSAB and MSCB policies and procedures that outline the action to be taken.
• Where ongoing risk is recognised, multi-agency plans are agreed and implemented to prevent further abuse and decrease the risk with appropriate referrals made, including referral to MARAC if very high risk domestic abuse is identified.

Download the Standard:

MSCB MSAB Safeguarding Standard (Published June 2017)