1. Introduction
1.1 Adult safeguarding is the process of protecting vulnerable adults from neglect, abuse or exploitation. The Care Act 2014 introduced this as a statutory duty for local authorities, with three main strands:
- A duty for a local authority to carry out enquiries (or cause others to) where it suspects an adult is at risk of abuse or neglect.
- A requirement for all areas to establish a Safeguarding Adults Board (SAB)
- SABs to carry out safeguarding adult reviews (SARs)
- The ability for SABs to require information sharing from other partners to support SARs or other functions.
1.2 The Act sets out clear expectations of partner organisations in contact with vulnerable adults who are or may be at risk of abuse or neglect. This includes housing organisations and staff.
1.3 This policy outlines Housing Services role within the safeguarding framework set out in legislation and guidance and overseen in Manchester by the Manchester Safeguarding Partnership (MSP).
1.4 Adult safeguarding is built of six key principles (balancing safety from/prevention of harm with an adult’s capacity to choose and control their behaviour)
- Empowerment – supporting adults to take decisions and informed consent
- Prevention – taking action before harm occurs
- Proportionality – taking the least intrusive appropriate response
- Protection – support and representation
- Partnership – services working with communities
- Accountability – and transparency
1.5 Housing Services will actively work to safeguard those adults in need who are our residents or who live in our properties, and will adopt a multi-agency approach, working openly and proactively with other agencies as necessary to share information so that vulnerable adults are protected from abuse, exploitation and neglect.
1.6 Effective safeguarding is not something we see as an ‘’add-on’’, but rather is embedded in our ways of working, especially in relation to staff who have contact with residents. It can be a complex and sensitive issue to address, so it is important that there are clear mechanisms for staff to raise their concerns, robust recording and follow-up processes and support for staff.
1.7 Housing Services recognise that some residents, due to their vulnerabilities, struggle to properly maintain their tenancies. This may result in untidy gardens, unkempt properties or hoarding. Housing Services will take all reasonable steps to secure for these people appropriate support to manage their tenancies. Housing Services has a more detailed policy and procedure on hoarding and self-neglect, which should be read in conjunction with this policy.
1.8 Housing Services has an internal procedure for dealing with safeguarding matters which is provided to employees. All relevant referral forms are included within the procedure.
1.9 Housing Services will ensure that all staff who come into contact with children and vulnerable adults as part of their day-to-day role are vetted via the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS). All certificates will be reviewed every 3 years.
1.10 Housing Services will refer any member of staff (after appropriate investigation) to the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) where they have:
- Been cautioned or convicted for a relevant offence
- Engaged in relevant conduct in relation to children and/or vulnerable adults (i.e. action or inaction that has harmed a child or vulnerable adult or put them at risk of harm)
1.11 Housing Services recognises the importance of confidentiality and will ensure that any information shared regarding a vulnerable adult will be done so in line with the Data Protection Act 2018, the Human Rights Act 1998 and General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR) 2018, although this will not be at the expense of leaving a vulnerable person at risk. Housing Services has a dedicated Data Protection Policy and will ensure that all staff are aware of and adhere to the policy in relation to safeguarding adults.
1.12 We will ensure the safeguarding adult policy is available to residents and the wider community. The latest version of the policy will be available on the website, and hard copies made available upon request if necessary.
2. Purpose of Policy
2.1 All staff who come into contact with adults who fit the criteria in their everyday work have a responsibility to:
- Safeguard and promote the welfare of vulnerable people.
- Be able to recognise situations where adults with care and support needs are being abused or exploited by others or are suffering from neglect.
- Be aware of indicators of domestic violence and harassment.
- Recognise signs indicating that a tenant is unable to properly manage their tenancy due care or support needs.
2.2 Staff who deal directly with residents will receive training and guidance on working with vulnerable people. Housing Services will ensure that appropriate information and advice is also provided to our repair contractors and will ensure that our Independent Living Officers (ILOs) receive specific training in relation to older people.
2.3 Housing Services will ensure that all staff are aware of the safeguarding adult procedure and understand their individual responsibilities in their role and as a Housing Services employee in relation to safeguarding adults. Housing Services will ensure that all staff are effectively following the procedure whenever a potential safeguarding adult concern is identified.
2.4 We understand the importance of partnership working. Where suspected abuse, exploitation or neglect is identified, we will ensure that staff liaise with the appropriate agency or agencies to ensure that the most appropriate form of support is sought. Housing Services will assist with this wherever possible, by providing support and advice where appropriate, attending multi-agency meetings as and when required and working closely with all agencies to support vulnerable adults.
2.5 We will wherever possible look towards early intervention to support vulnerable adults and will refer those adults to the Multi-Agency Prevention and Support (MAPs). Maps are a multi-agency prevention and support forum that take place in the local neighbourhoods. They bring together services to share information and identify actions to support individuals experiencing multiple disadvantage who would benefit from early help and prevention
2.6 Where Housing Services identify issues with regards to tenancy management, appropriate support will be sought from outside agencies and staff will work closely with them and the tenant in attempting to address the situation.
2.7 We will make sure that we take the views of vulnerable adults into account and balance these against their rights and need to be safeguarded and our need to ensure that tenancies are appropriately managed. This may include in some instances taking legal action to ensure that tenancy conditions are being complied with and other tenants’ rights (including to quiet enjoyment of their homes) are being protected.
2.8 We are committed to the Greater Manchester Housing Providers Care Leavers pledge which recognises Care Leavers as a protected characteristic. We provide specific support to all care leavers up to the age of 25 and recognise that older care needers may have additional needs and vulnerabilities and will offer support as and when needed.
2.9 We work closely with the Manchester Community Safety Partnership and Greater Manchester Police in responding to reports of criminal exploitation or home takeover, also known as cuckooing. Victims of cuckooing are often targeted by perpetrators because they are vulnerable. Having their home taken over and used for criminality can have a devastating impact on already vulnerable individuals and can be made worse by fear that they will not be believed or treated as a victim. We will treat each victim as a safeguarding concern, whilst looking to work with partners to deal with the perpetrators.
2.10 In safeguarding vulnerable adults, Housing Services will always refer to relevant guidance issued by the Government and/or Manchester Safeguarding Partnership. We will make sure that staff are sufficiently well-supported to implement the policy and will consider learning from reviews and identify other opportunities to improve the way things are done. We will make sure that learning is incorporated into our day-to-day practices.
3. Responsibility
3.1 Overall responsibility for the policy is with the Head of ASB & Support (including linking into and supporting multi-agency partnership and problem-solving arrangements and making sure that learning from reviews is incorporated into our day-to-day practices). The Housing Support Team Manager has responsibility for operational safeguarding.
3.2 The Housing Support Manager has day-to-day responsibility for overseeing individual cases and making sure that these are regularly reviewed, appropriately progressed and escalated within Housing Services or with partner agencies where necessary.
3.3 An annual overview report, detailing safeguarding activity during the year, will be provided to Housing Advisory Board. Housing Services has a Board Safeguarding Champion, appointed annually.
3.4 Each year the Manchester Safeguarding Partnership (MSP) requires Housing Services to carry out a self-assessment on its safeguarding practices to monitor their effectiveness and report back to the MSP. The Head of Neighbourhood Services with lead responsibility for safeguarding at Housing Services completes this as well as attending peer review sessions to ensure that our policy and procedures remain relevant and up to date and to improve the way we do things.
4. Allegations against staff
4.1 We have clear procedures in place for dealing with allegations made against members of staff where concerns are raised regarding safeguarding adults. We will ensure a full investigation is carried out into such allegations, including the provision of precautionary suspension of members of staff if appropriate.
4.2 Housing Services will follow the disciplinary procedure following any investigation if necessary. Housing Services has a zero tolerance policy in relation to all forms of abuse, and appropriate action will be taken against any member of staff found to have been responsible for abuse, neglect or exploitative behaviour.
4.3 We will investigate malicious or unfounded allegations against members of staff, including close liaison with Manchester Safeguarding Partnership. Consideration will be given to a change of duties or location to protect a member of staff from further allegations. This will involve close communication with the member of staff concerned, their line manager as well as Human Resources.
5. Service standards
5.1 Housing Services service standards in relation to safeguarding adults are set out below:
- We will identify any potential safeguarding and/or support concerns whenever we are in contact with residents and families, with all staff being professionally curious during any interaction.
- We understand that importance of early intervention and aim to identify any potential concerns at the earliest possible stage, signpost to suitable services including Early Help for Children and/or Adults and other suitable services.
- All staff will be appropriately trained in safeguarding and have regular refreshers as well as attend annual safeguarding briefings.
- All potential safeguarding concerns will be logged on our housing management system and triaged to ensure appropriate actions are completed in a timely manner.
- Any ongoing safeguarding concerns will be referred to the Housing Support Team and a case opened to document actions taken to resolve the matter.
- We aim to find an appropriate resolution and engage necessary agencies in order for appropriate support to be provided within 12 weeks.
- We will ensure that any housing concerns that may be contributing to a safeguarding concern (e.g. repairs inc. damp & mould, rent arrears, overcrowding & rehousing) are addressed within appropriate timescales.
- We will maintain regular contact with residents where there is a safeguarding concern, as well as advocating for them and coordinate appropriate support from agencies as required on a case-by-case.
- Where necessary we will escalate concerns through established escalation routes.
6. References
6.1 The duty to safeguarding adults is underpinned in legislation. Key legislation relating to safeguarding adults includes, but is not limited to:
- Care Act 2014
- Care and Support Statutory Guidance 2016
- Human Rights Act 1998
- Mental Capacity Act 2005
- Safeguarding Vulnerable People Act 2006
- Modern Slavery Act 2015
- Counter Terrorism & Security Act 2015
- Data Protection Act 2018 (as amended)
- General Data Protection Regulations 2018
- Public Disclosures Act 1998
- Awaab’s Law 2025
6.2 To ensure Housing Services complies with current legislation and practice relating to safeguarding adults, this policy is linked to the Manchester Safeguarding Partnership (www.manchestersafeguardingpartnership.co.uk).
6.3 We actively contribute towards any Manchester Safeguarding Partnership audits in relation to specific safeguarding areas as well as any Safeguarding Adult Reviews (SARs).
7. Linked documents
7.1 Documents linked to this policy include:
- Safeguarding adult procedure
- Safeguarding children policy and procedure
- Data protection policy
- Disciplinary policy
- ASB policy & procedure
- Hoarding policy & procedure
- Self-Neglect policy & procedure inc. MSP Self-Neglect Toolkit
- Domestic abuse policy & procedure
8. Review Process
8.1 This policy will be reviewed every two years along with the accompanying procedure, or in line with any relevant legislative changes, revised guidance or learning from reviews if sooner
