Adult safeguarding information for professionals and volunteers

Referral forms

• Adult safeguarding concern form
• Human trafficking victims referral and assessment form
• Notification of potential victim of modern slavery form
• South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue home safety check
• Health and wellbeing coach referrals (Barnsley Healthcare Federation)
• Vulnerable adults multi-agency panel referral

Request a safeguarding adults review (SAR)

Safeguarding boards have a duty under the Care Act to consider a review if a person dies or is seriously harmed as a result of abuse, or if abuse is suspected. Reviews are considered when organisations haven't worked together to keep the person safe.

Safeguarding adults reviews (SARs) are a learning process which aim to improve practice. The referral form is in the protocol at appendix 3.

Download the Appendix 3 form.

If you want to discuss a possible referral, contact the board manager by email at: catherine@barnsley.gov.uk.

Guidance

• Safeguarding adults review protocol
• Interface between SARs and Coronial Processes
• Barnsley SAR sign off form

Types of abuse

• What abuse is, types of abuse, and how to recognise it

Safeguarding policies and guidance

Polices and procedures

• Care Act
• Mental Capacity Act (easy read version)
• Achieving best evidence - helping adults and children to get access to the criminal justice system
• South Yorkshire safeguarding adults procedures
• Protocol for concerns about a person in a position of trust (PiPoT)
• Inter-partnership joint working protocol
• Fabricated illnesses, induced illnesses and safeguarding adults policy
• Was not brought policy
• Good practice in medication
• Escalation policy for professional disagreements
• South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust Single Point of Access video
• Vulnerable adults panel terms of reference

Guidance

• Exit points from the safeguarding adults journey
• Guidance to assist workers to complete an effective safeguarding adults face-to-face conversation
• Guidance for completion of the adult social care concern form
• Guidance for safeguarding managers to sign off high quality S42 enquiries (individual and organisational)
• Guidance to support the completion of the adult social care/safeguarding/self neglect and hoarding concern form
• Professionals guide: supporting people affected by stalking
• Safeguarding - an aide memoire
• Sexual safety
• Wilful neglect guidance
• Exploitation risk assessment checklist
• A guide to supporting people experiencing co-occurring alcohol use and self-harm issues
• Professional curiosity
• Decision support guidance 2024 to 2026
• Group around the person (GAP) guidance

How to guides

• Safeguarding face to face conversation template
• How to complete a safeguarding concern form
• Report for an individual S42 enquiry (external organisation)
• Guidance for external agencies when producing an organisation S42 enquiry report

Domestic abuse, stalking and harassment

• Domestic abuse information
• Barnsley Council domestic abuse strategy
• Guidance on honour-based violence
• Domestic abuse, stalking, harassment and honour-based abuse (DASH) risk assessment
• IDAS - support to victims of domestic abuse and training for workers and volunteers
• Older people and domestic abuse (SafeLives)
• Age UK: older people and domestic abuse
• Domestic abuse - South Yorkshire Police

Financial abuse and scams

• Scams and how to stay safe online

Organisational abuse

• Organisational abuse policy

Mental capacity

• Mental Capacity Act toolkit - what practitioners need to know
• Mental Capacity Act (easy read version)
• Decision making for mental capacity - NICE guidance
• Mental Capacity Act at a glance - SCIE
• NHS guide to the Mental Capacity Act
• Mental Capacity Act toolkit - BMA guidance
• Barnsley adult social care guidance
• Mental Capacity Act code of practice
• Learning from a Safeguarding Adults Review - Richard's story
• Relevant information for different categories of decisions

Modern slavery guidance

• Modern slavery referral pathway
• Modern slavery definitions and indicators
• Modern slavery NRM process guide
• Modern slavery statutory duties and powers
• Notification of potential victim of modern slavery form
• Local policy modern slavery statement
• Modern slavery information and reporting tool
• How to identify and support modern slavery victims
• Establishing modern slavery risk assessment and due diligence in adult social care

Self neglect and hoarding

• Self neglect and hoarding meeting template
• Malnutrition - signs and symptoms

Find out more about a multi-agency approach to self neglect in the following video.

South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue offer a Home Safety Check to people who are thought to be at risk of fire. During a visit, firefighters or community safety staff will advise on how to reduce the risk of having a fire. It will also help plan a bedtime routine, what to do in the event of a fire and what to do if trapped by a fire. They'll also fit free smoke alarms if a home is without one and explain how to keep them working.

For someone who has a hoarding disorder, the main risk is that if a fire does occur, the possessions may block their escape routes and will add to the fire loading and spread. Where these extra risks are identified our Community Safety team will give tailored advice to the adult and speak to the key professionals helping them. This will help them make the changes to reduce the risk and/or to address any risk to others.

To request a safety visit from South Yorkshire Fire you can complete a short online form or contact the hot line on 0114 2532314. If you qualify for a visit, a member of our team will be in touch to arrange this. You will find some useful safety tips on the South Yorkshire Fire website.

Policy and flow charts

• Self neglect and hoarding policy 
• Self neglect and hoarding policy summary
• Self neglect and hoarding flow chart

Tools to rate risk

• Self neglect risk matrix scoring tool
• Hoarding risk matrix scoring tool
• Self neglecting and hoarding risk tool

Closing self neglect/hoarding cases when risk remains

Managers must be asked to approve closure of self neglect and hording cases when risks remain. This should be recorded either in the adults record or using a specific form. Several organisations have produced forms. For details, please contact the board manager.

Resources

• Self-neglect at a glance
• Self-neglect research findings
• Self-neglect and hoarding postcard
• Hoarding referral/ice-breaker sheet
• Hoarding UK - support for hoarders and local support groups
• Cloud’s End CIC - resources to help hoarders
• Help for Hoarders - support and advice for hoarders and their families.
• NHS hoarding support
• OCD UK - information about obsessive compulsive disorder
• Association of Professional Declutterers and Organisers (UK) - support for members of the professional organising and de-cluttering industry
• Self-neglect at a glance (SCIE)
• Working with people who self-neglect (Research in Practice)
• Self-neglect workbook (LGA)
• D'Clutter poem

How to get help/make a referral

If you think you know someone who could be living with self-neglect or hoarding, or has a build-up of rubbish or household waste at their property you can contact us by:

• emailing: safer@barnsley.gov.uk 
• calling 01226 773555

You can report an issue anonymously, or give us the details so we can put the right support in place.

Berneslai Homes tenants

Berneslai Homes can give support to people living in council housing and offer a range of specialist, tailored ways to help residents successfully maintain their tenancies and enjoy where they live. Find out about hoarding support from Berneslai Homes or how to contact Berneslai Homes.

Adult social care

Adult social care may have a duty to provide help to the adult and their family. You can contact them by:

• emailing: socialservices@barnsley.gov.uk
• calling 01226 773300

Alternatives to safeguarding 

Read our guide on alternative sources of support for safeguarding. 

Local contacts

Training

We offer free safeguarding adults training to people working with adults across Barnsley. This includes online e-learning modules and courses delivered virtually or in person.

Visit out safeguarding adults training page for details of the courses and how to book a place.

Information for people we're safeguarding

Advocacy

• Rethink North Advocacy Hub

Making safeguarding personal

• Making safeguarding personal - SCIE guidance
• Making safeguarding personal toolkit - LGA
• Making safeguarding personal outcomes framework - LGA

Leaflets and posters

If you need paper copies of these resources, please email safeguardingadultsservice@barnsley.gov.uk. You'll need to collect these from Westgate Plaza.

• Keeping adults safe from harm and neglect (leaflet)
• Make safeguarding personal (leaflet)
• Self-neglect and hoarding postcard
• Safeguarding adults and children is everybody’s business (leaflet)

Making a complaint

The Local Government Ombudsman has agreed a policy with the directors of Adult Social Care. It details how to make a complaint about Safeguarding Adults Boards.

Our Customer Resolution Team are in charge of managing customer complaints, compliments and comments for all of our council services. This includes the Safeguarding Adults Board.

If you'd like to make a complaint about the Safeguarding Adults Board, or about any other council service, find out how to make a complaint.