TSAB Newsletter – February 2025

a group of people with letters

Welcome to the February online edition of the TSAB Newsletter.

Please circulate the information in this bulletin within your organisation to help us to continue to raise awareness of safeguarding adults in Tees

What’s New from TSAB

Since our last newsletter, TSAB has met face to face for the annual development session and
virtually on 11th December for a scheduled Board meeting.

Agenda highlights included:

  • An update on the Missing from Home approach from Cleveland Police
  • An update on the Teeswide Approach to Domestic Abuse from the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Cleveland
  • Overview from the Board’s Performance and Quality Sub-Group on the Quarter 2 Performance Report 2024/25

Annual Development Session included:

  • Review of the current Board Priorities
  • Development of the TSAB Strategic Plan 2025-28

Learning Reviews

Joseph was a 20 year-old man with a learning disability, Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS), obesity hyperventilation syndrome and type II diabetes. Joseph died during a hospital admission where he was being treated for genital cellulitis.

The Safeguarding Adults Review was commissioned by Sunderland Safeguarding Adults Board but includes learning for Teesside.

The review highlighted the following key learning themes:

  • Understanding of PWS
  • Mental Capacity Assessments
  • Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards
  • Hospital Passports
  • Support for and involvement of parents/guardians/informal carers
  • Action plan and referral tracking
  • Commissioning of placements for people with PWS
  • Awareness of self-neglect
  • Case management

Read the SAR and associated 7-Minute Briefing and share the learning within you own organisation.

A Domestic Homicide Review* enables lessons to be learned from deaths where a person dies and there is potential causal link to domestic violence and /or abuse. For lessons to be learned, agencies involved with a victim and /or perpetrator of a homicide need to be able to understand fully what happened. By taking a holistic approach a DHR seeks to understand and identify any required recommendations to prevent homicides in the future.

To read DHR 7 and associated learning and recommendations, visit – Domestic homicide reviews | Middlesbrough Council

*Domestic Homicide Reviews (DHR) are now referred to as Domestic Abuse Related Death Reviews to better recognise deaths from domestic abuse related suspected suicides.

Policies, Procedures and Guidance

The Mental Capacity Act (MCA) 2005 applies to everyone involved in the care, treatment and support of people aged 16 and over, living in England and Wales who are unable to make all or some decisions for themselves.

All professionals have a duty to comply with the Mental Capacity Code of Practice.

A number of SARs published by TSAB highlighted areas of learning and recommendations relating to mental capacity. To support all practitioners in their understanding and duties under the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and Human Rights Act 1998, a dedicated Mental Capacity Act Resources webpage is now available via the TSAB website hosting a vast number of resources.

Do you know that we have a Safeguarding Adults Single Agency Policy Template available on our website for any organisation to download. This has been recently refreshed and updated.

Familiarise yourself with TSAB’s refreshed Self Neglect Policy and Guidance.

Self-neglect is one of ten types (categories) of abuse and neglect set out in the Care and Support Statutory Guidance, thereby linking self-neglect to statutory safeguarding duties. Self-neglect is described as covering ‘a wide range of behaviour including neglecting to care for one’s personal hygiene, health or surroundings and includes behaviour such as hoarding’.

‘Spotlight On’ Campaigns

Between the 10th -14th March TSAB will be raising awareness of Discriminatory Abuse. Discriminatory abuse is a category of abuse in safeguarding adults work, but it is rarely reported in practice.

TSAB are hosting a Free Webinar on Monday 10th March (2pm-2:45pm) – Discriminatory Abuse: ‘What lies beneath’ in safeguarding. Book Now!

What is Discriminatory Abuse?

Discriminatory abuse includes forms of harassment, slurs or similar treatment; because of race, gender and gender identity, age, disability, sexual orientation or religion.

What is Hate Crime?

Crimes committed against someone because of their disability, gender-identity, race, religion or belief, or sexual orientation are hate crimes and should be reported to the police.

What is Mate Crime?

Mate crimes happen when people with learning disabilities are befriended by someone who uses the relationship to exploit or abuse them. Watch: Tricky Friends

Useful Resources to share with colleges:

Discriminatory abuse: a briefing for practitioners

Podcast – Discriminatory abuse – developing practice responses

Discriminatory abuse self-assessment tool: safeguarding adults (intended to support councils, Safeguarding Adult Boards (SABs), practitioners from all sectors, staff responsible for reporting adult social care (ASC) performance; safeguarding leads and commissioners)

Knowledge of specialist support services (LGA Discriminatory abuse: a briefing for practitioners)

Ensure that you are aware of community services that support those with protected characteristics in your local area. Some examples include:

Black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) includes a range of services that support people from Black, Asian and other minoritised ethnic communities with their mental health across the country

Lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans (LGBT+) includes information and advice, and some specialist support services for older people who are LGBTQ+. Hart Gables is a local service in Tees providing support to LGBTQ+ people through one-to-one and group sessions.

Disability hate crime links provides information about disability hate crime and some of the services that can help. Safer Communities offer support to victims of crime in Tees.

Visit TSAB’s Find Support in Your Area page for more local services and please keep us updated with any local services that are not listed on our page!

Good News Story

Huge congratulations to independent advocacy group – Independent Voices who won Innovation Champion at the the ‘We See You – We Hear You’ National Safeguarding Adults Board Awards in November 2024. Independent Voices were nominated following their ongoing support and commitment to raising awareness of adult safeguarding. Well Done Independent Voices!

Service Spotlight

MATRIX Neurological is a registered charity founded 10 years ago by the mother of a brain injured young person, to provide practical help and support to children, young people and young adults, Tees Valley wide, who are living with the complex effects of an acquired brain injury, following a serious accident or illness. 

They work directly with children to young adults, aged 6 months to 25 years, mainly to address physical, sensory, communication, cognitive, emotional and behavioural impairments that continue to negatively affect their lives.   

They provide:

  • Cognitive assessments to determine the individual support needs of each child or young person, followed by a support plan linked to the client’s priorities and goals and state the non-clinical cognitive stimulation and other interventions we will provide to aid recovery. 
  • Holistic case management of all client needs, making appropriate referrals where required.
  • Emotional and peer support to their parents/carers using our lived experience of the recovery journey.

Matrix Neurological have provided a PowerPoint presentation to support professionals’ understanding of Acquired Brain Injuries:

Matrix Neurological – Understanding Acquired Brain Injuries

Recent Campaigns

Listed below are details of recent awareness campaigns. Follow us on Social Media @TeeswideSAB to keep up to date with resources and information we share as part of key campaigns. Email us at [email protected] to let us know how you get involved.

Sexual Abuse & Sexual Violence Awareness Week took place between 3rd – 9th February. It is the UK’s national week to raise awareness of sexual abuse and violence and to provide an opportunity for any organisation or individual to engage in dialogue.

TSAB has a number of resources focused on Sexual Violence and Abuse (please share with your colleagues):

In Teesside, there are specialist services available to support those who have experienced
Sexual Abuse and Violence, these can be found on our Find Support in your area webpage.

The International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) observed every year on February 6th marks an important day for the world community. It provides an opportunity to forge stronger ties and take concerted action to reinforce our commitments to eliminate this harmful practice which continues to impact the lives of millions of women and girls. In 2024, nearly 4.4 million girls – or more than 12,000 each day – are at risk of FGM around the world. Despite tremendous progress made over the years, FGM continues to remain a serious challenge in many countries. 

To learn more about FGM, complete TSAB’s free FGM Safeguarding Adults Workbook and/ or complete the free e-learning course. Encourage your colleagues to also complete!

The Teeswide Safeguarding Adults Board, Hartlepool & Stockton Safeguarding Children Partnerships and South Tees Safeguarding Children Partnership worked together to plan an event and share useful resources to highlight the important of Transitional Safeguarding during a weeklong campaign “A Spotlight on Transitional Safeguarding”. The campaign took place between 10th-14th February 2025.

Transitional Safeguarding is an “approach to safeguarding adolescents and young adults fluidly across developmental stages which builds on the best available evidence, learns from both children’s and adult safeguarding practice and which prepares young people for their adult lives.”

Transitional Safeguarding requires all those working in children’s and adult’s services to “think beyond child/adult silos for the benefit of young people at a key life stage”.

Where there is evidence of abuse, neglect and exploitation as a child, this rarely ends when a person turns 18. We must all work together to prevent and protect these young people from harm regardless of their age.

Further information and resources can be found on the campaign webpage:

Poster to show that exploitation and abuse doesn't end at 18. Image of young people falling through the cracks.

Training, Workbooks and Further Resources

Training Courses

To view and request a place on any of our upcoming training courses please visit our Training Courses and Events page.

Our Training plan is being refreshed and developed for 2025-2026 and new dates will be
advertised soon.

E-Learning

The Adults & Children Safeguarding Partner Organisations across Hartlepool, Middlesbrough, Redcar and Cleveland and Stockton-on-Tees actively support the ‘Think Family’ approach and are committed to the continuous learning and development of all staff and volunteers working with vulnerable people: adults, children, young people and families.

Through our E-Leaning site you will be able to view, select and be given immediate access to a range of e-learning opportunities.

Workbooks

Workbooks provide a free, paper-based option for professionals to engage in learning. This is important, especially for those who may not have access to a computer.

The Workbooks modules are accessible via TSAB website.

Managers are responsible for signing off the workbook for their staff member, using the online Managers Guidance. To access the Managers Guidance, managers should contact the TSAB Business Unit for the password.

Causeway, an organisation who supports, empowers and creates change for survivors of modern slavery and those with experience of the criminal justice system, has recently launched a Exploitation Risk Checker.

This is a free and confidential online self-assessment tool, that is available for anybody to access and use. The Exploitation Risk Checker has been developed in partnership with a team of Lived Experience Consultants, who themselves are survivors of modern slavery and exploitation. An individual can answer a series of questions to see if they, or somebody they know, may be in a situation, or at risk, of criminal or sexual exploitation.

Through the Exploitation Risk Checker they can also find further information, guidance and signposting about what steps they can take to gain further help and support.

Alongside the risk checker, Causeway’s expanded Help & Advice Hub is also now live. This is another completely free resource available to all – a public-facing digital hub packed full of important information and guidance relating to modern slavery and exploitation.

Further Information

A huge thank you to everyone who took part in National Safeguarding Adults Week in November 2024. The campaign was an incredible success due to the hard work, commitment and engagement from partner agencies.

The Board will soon be planning activity for National Safeguarding Adults Week 2025 and arranging a dedicated Task & Finish Group in the summer months. If you would like to be involved please contact: [email protected]

The Teeswide Safeguarding Adults Board works in partnership with a wide range of organisations to safeguard and promote the wellbeing and independence of adults at risk of abuse and neglect (Safeguarding means “protect from harm”). Your views are important to us to help shape our work and protect communities.

The survey closed on Wednesday 29th January and the results will be analysed and shared in a future Newsletter.

Thank you for your support!

Don’t forget that TSAB has a dedicated webpage hosting details of local and national services.

Can’t see your service/ another service on there and think it should be added? Please send the details to [email protected].

Do you have concerns that an adult is experiencing or is at risk of abuse or neglect?

Visit https://www.tsab.org.uk/report-abuse/ to find out how to report your concerns. The page hosts the TSAB Concern Form which should be completed and submitted to the relevant local adult social care service or alternatively you can contact them by using the contact numbers listed on the page.

As a reminder you should report abuse when:

  • The adult has needs for care and support (whether or not the authority is meeting any of those needs)
  • And is experiencing, or is at risk of, abuse or neglect

If you have any suggestions for future Newsletters, or any comments on the new format, get in touch with us using one of the communication methods below.

Email: [email protected]

Telephone: 01642 527267

Or visit our Website Teeswide Safeguarding Adults Board (tsab.org.uk)