SAB guidance and protocols
Adult death protocol and referral form
Follow this protocol when there is:
- an unexpected adult death, and
- abuse or neglect by a third party may have directly contributed to the death.
The protocol ensures key agencies come together promptly to assess risk and share information.
Referral form
Adult death protocol referral form
Email the form to the relevant Multi-agency Safeguarding Hub listed on the referral form.
Adult death learning briefing
Adult death protocol - learning briefing
A concise guide for practitioners and managers.
(New) Safeguarding Adults Moving out of Area Guidance
This guidance is designed to support professionals across Sussex working with adults who move across local authority areas. This guidance is hosted by BHSAB and ESSAB.
Safeguarding Adults Moving Out Of Area Guidance [523.2 KB] [pdf]
Safeguarding adult reviews (SARs)
Safeguarding adults thresholds guidance
Safeguarding adults thresholds guidance
The three Sussex SABs produced this guide. It explains when to report safeguarding concerns and how to respond to reports.
It provides a framework for multi-agency partners to help:
- manage risk
- identify whether abuse and neglect is taking place
- know when they should refer a safeguarding concern to the local authority
- decide when to consider alternative actions.
Self-neglect
Self-neglect practice guidance
This guidance provides staff with practice guidance when working with adults who are self-neglecting.
Local Government Association (LGA) guidance
Guidance to ensure consistent multi-agency practice when reporting and recording safeguarding concerns.
Understanding what constitutes a safeguarding concern | LGA
Guidance on whether a reported concern requires an enquiry under section 42 of the Care Act 2014.
Making decisions on the duty to carry out safeguarding adults enquiries | LGA
Domestic and financial abuse
Domestic abuse
Multi-agency domestic abuse guidance [156.5 KB] [docx]
Designed for professionals working with adults affected by domestic abuse. This guidance explains how to respond to abuse and safeguard adults and children.
Domestic abuse related death reviews (DARDRs)
Reviews into deaths from domestic abuse | Safe in East Sussex
A domestic abuse-related death review (DARDR) takes place if someone aged over 16 has:
- died due to violence, abuse or neglect; and
- the perpetrator is a household member, relative or intimate partner
They were previously called domestic homicide reviews.
Financial abuse
Use this multi-agency guidance and screening tool to respond to financial abuse:
Multi-agency guidance - financial abuse [142.3 KB] [docx]
Financial abuse screening tool [52.8 KB] [docx]
Hoarding
The first part of the framework provides practitioners with general guidance around hoarding behaviour; recognising the different types of hoarding behaviour and the causes and nature behind it, key elements around working with hoarding behaviour, key points in relation to the relevant legislation and a flowchart. This section supports practitioners to have a consistent and joined up approach to assessing risk and supporting people, use best practice in engaging individuals in the process and support a preventative multi-agency approach that reduces the need for compulsory intervention.
Responding to Hoarding Behaviour Framework - Practitioner Guidance - Part 1
The second part of the framework contains a range of practical resources for use to support professionals working with adults who are displaying hoarding behaviour. It includes suggested approaches, questions, and tools to promote a multi-agency approach that enables positive change whilst keeping the person’s rights and wishes at the centre of all interventions.
Responding to Hoarding Behaviour Framework - Practitioner Resources - Part 2
The third part of the framework has a range of contact information for both pan-Sussex and national organisations, that can be contacted as part of a multi-agency approach or for advice and guidance when hoarding behaviour is identified. Following on from this are links to further reading and services regarding hoarding behaviour. In the final part is expanded details of the specific legislation referred to in Part 1 that may need to be considered when severe hoarding behaviour and significant risk is identified.
Responding to Hoarding Behaviour Framework - Further Contacts - Part 3
Incidents of harm between adults in a provider setting
Responding to incidents of harm between adults in a provider setting [725.3 KB] [docx]
Advice on how to deal with abusive or harmful behaviour in a service. It includes:
- provider responsibilities
- actions to support and protect both the adult at risk and the person thought to cause the risk
- preventing incidents between adults at risk
- when to raise a safeguarding concern and report a possible crime
- how the Local Authority respond to a report of a safeguarding concern
Mental capacity
Policy and procedures
Mental capacity multi-agency policy and procedures [207.4 KB] [docx]
This is a guide to the Mental Capacity Act (MCA). It explains how agencies should apply the MCA in East Sussex.
Mental capacity toolkit
Mental capacity toolkit | Bournemouth University
Use this toolkit when working with people with limited, fluctuating or absent decision-making capacity.
Modern slavery
Multi-agency guidance
Multi-agency modern slavery guidance [100.9 KB] [docx]
The Care Act 2014 includes modern slavery as a type of abuse, as well as a serious crime. This guide helps to:
- raise awareness of modern slavery and human trafficking
- recognise modern slavery and have the confidence to report suspected cases.
Use the guide alongside your own procedures and the Sussex safeguarding adults policy and procedures.
Podcast
Modern slavery podcast | YouTube
Our 7-minute podcast covers modern slavery in East Sussex and how to report it.
Multi-agency working
Escalation and resolution
Sussex safeguarding adults escalation and resolution protocol
This process is used to resolve disagreements between agencies or professionals in relation to adult safeguarding.
Information sharing
Sussex information sharing guide and protocol
This sets out how the Sussex SAB’s partner agencies should share information to safeguard adults. It has guidance on record keeping and information sharing in safeguarding meetings and discussions.
Information sharing - Learning briefing
This briefing includes an overview, practice questions and links to resources.
Partnership protocol
Partnership protocol 2024 to 26 [728.6 KB] [docx]
This sets out the commitment across the strategic partnership boards in East Sussex:
- Safeguarding Adults Board
- Safeguarding Children Partnership
- Safer Communities Partnership
- Children and Young Peoples Trust
- Health and Wellbeing Board
These partnerships are working together to:
- ensure that safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility
- to keep people in East Sussex safe from harm and abuse
- improve health and wellbeing.
Transition to adulthood
Multi-agency transition to adulthood protocol | Safeguarding Children Partnership
This protocol covers the transition of vulnerable young people into adulthood. It helps to ensure that all professionals are clear about their role and responsibilities.
