The following is a suggested guide for information required when raising a concern. Refer to safeguarding adult contact points detailed in appendix 6.
Where possible, the Person Raising a Concern should include as much information under the following headings.
Details of the Person Raising a Concern:
- Name, address and telephone number;
- Relationship to the adult at risk;
- Name of organisation, if the concern is being raised from a care setting;
- Anonymous concerns raised will be accepted and acted on, however, the Person Raising a Concern should be encouraged to give contact details.
Details of the adult at risk:
- Name(s), address and telephone number;
- Date of birth, or age;
- Details of any other members of the household including children;
- Information about the primary care needs of the adult, that is, disability or illness;
- Funding authority, if relevant;
- Ethnic origin and religion;
- Gender (including transgender and sexuality);
- Communication needs of the adult at risk due to sensory or other impairments (including dementia), including any interpreter or communication requirements;
- Whether the adult at risk knows the safeguarding concern is being raised;
- Whether the adult at risk has consented to the safeguarding concern being raised and, if not, on what grounds the decision was made;
- What is known of the person’s mental capacity;
- The adult at risk’s views about the abuse or neglect, what they want done about it and what their desired outcomes are (if known);
- Details of how to gain access to the person and who can be contacted if there are difficulties.
Information about the abuse or neglect:
- How and when did the concern come to light?
- When did the alleged abuse occur?
- Where did the alleged abuse take place?
- What are the details of the alleged abuse?
- What impact is this having on the adult at risk?
- What is the adult at risk saying about the abuse?
- Are there details of any witnesses?
- Is there any potential risk to anyone visiting the adult at risk to find out what is happening?
- Is a child (under 18 years) at risk?
Details of the person (or organisation) alleged to be causing the harm (if known):
- Name, age and gender;
- What is their relationship to the adult at risk?
- Are they the main carer of the adult at risk?
- Are they living with the adult at risk?
- Are they a member of staff, paid carer or volunteer?
- What is their role?
- Are they employed through a personal budget?
- Which organisation are they employed by?
- Are there other people at risk from the person causing the harm?
Any immediate actions that have been taken:
- Were emergency services contacted? if so, which?
- What action was taken?
- What is the crime number if a report has been made to the police?
- What details of any immediate plans have been put in place to safeguard the adult at risk from further harm?
- Have children’s services been informed if a child (under 18 years) is at risk?