Welcome to the new online edition of the TSAB Newsletter
We hope you like the new format, we always welcome any suggestions for improvement, requests for future content or any contributions you would like to make.
Please circulate the information in this bulletin across your networks to help us to continue to raise awareness of safeguarding adults in Tees.
News from TSAB
Learning from Safeguarding Adult Reviews (SAR)
New and Refreshed Guidance Documents
‘Spotlight On’ Campaigns
Service Spotlight: Independent advocacy charity
“People First is an independent advocacy charity. We stand shoulder to shoulder with people across the North of England to champion fairness and equality.
We believe everyone has the right to be respected and to have a say on the issues that shape their lives. We challenge the term ‘vulnerable’ by supporting people to understand their rights and to be heard when they need it most.
We provide a range of services to help people have their say, including:
- Independent advocacy, including Independent Mental Health Advocacy, Care Act Advocacy, Independent Mental Capacity Advocacy, and NHS Complaints Advocacy.
- Self-Advocacy and representation, groups, projects and activities to support people to live independent lives and provide opportunities to develop life skills and confidence
- Direct Payments Support service offers impartial advice and support to people receiving direct payments or a personal health budget.
- Inclusive education: The People First Academy deliver a range of courses to help people with learning disabilities achieve their learning, work and development goals.
If you’d like to know more about what we do and how we do it; if you’d like to get involved in our work or if we think we can help you, get in touch.
For more information, guidance and support go to our website or you can call our helpline on 03003 038037 9am – 5pm Monday – Friday”
Training, Workbooks and Further Resources
Dates for the Diary
Listed below are details of recent and upcoming 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.
Honour based abuse is a crime or incident which has been committed to protect or defend the honour of the family and/or community.
Honour based abuse can include:
- Domestic abuse perpetrated by family members including coercion, psychological abuse and threatening behaviour
- Forced marriage
- Female Genital Mutilation
- Sexual abuse/harassment
- Preventing a person’s freedom or restricting their contact with others / isolating from others
There are an estimated 12 ‘honour’ killings each year in the UK, although the exact number is unknown.
Karma Nirvana (a specialist charity supporting victims and survivors of Honour Based Abuse) hosted a Week of Memory between 8th -14th July. Visit their website for more information.
Local Specialist Support Services – The Halo Project
The Halo Project provide safeguarding and culturally appropriate confidential advice, help and support to Black and Minoritised Women and girls who are at risk of and/or are survivors of domestic and sexual violence and abuse. This includes searching for safe accommodation, outreach support, safety planning and ongoing support to those at risk of harm and abuse.
Their Specialist Safeguarding Support Hub not only provides tailored advocacy to victims and survivors of abuse, they also provide expert support to professionals for enhanced safeguarding and better outcomes for victim and survivors.
Visit Halo’s Website more information.
Local Domestic Abuse Support Services
Harbour Support Services (Hartlepool, Stockton, Redcar THRIVE)
My Sisters Place (Middlesbrough)
Eva Women’s Aid (Redcar & Cleveland)
Clare’s Law
The Domestic Violence Disclosure Scheme (also known as Clare’s Law) allows an individual to ask Police to check whether a new or existing partner has a violent or abusive past. This is the ‘right to ask’. If records show that an individual may be at risk of domestic abuse from a partner, the Police will consider disclosing the information if it is legal, proportionate and necessary to do so. ‘Right to know’ enables an agency to apply for a disclosure if the agency believes that an individual is at risk of domestic violence from their partner. The Police can release information if it is lawful, necessary and proportionate to do so.
How to request information under Clare’s Law (Cleveland Police)
Read TSAB’s Clare’s Law Guidance
TSAB also have a useful leaflet on Domestic Abuse and Honour Based Abuse.
World Suicide Prevention Day takes place on 10th September. The theme is Change the Narrative and there is a call to action to “Start the Conversation“.
This call to action “encourages individuals, communities, organisations, and governments to engage in open, honest discussions about mental health and suicide. By starting conversations, we can break down barriers and raise awareness, check in with a friend or loved one, share personal stories and advocate for mental health resources and support services. Every conversation, no matter how small, contributes to a more supportive and understanding society.”
The Samaritans provide some helpful information and resources on their website including supporting someone with suicidal thoughts and how to support someone you’re worried about. You can view their “Little tips” poster below.
Autism and Suicidality 
“Here to Help is a new project from SJOG which aims to raise awareness and provide information, advice and guidance regarding autism and suicidality across the Northeast.
People with autism are 9 times more likely to die by suicide than non-neurodiverse people. We work across all 5 Tees Valley regions (Middlesbrough, Stockton, Hartlepool, Darlington and Redcar and Cleveland). We work with autistic people 14+, and those who support them, including parents, carers and professionals.
We have a web platform filled with resources and support which can be accessed at: Here to Help (here2help.uk). We are not a crisis service and instead aim to empower individuals to feel able to support their own mental health and find the support that they need during crisis. We are planning on taking our sensory bus ‘Magic Space’ around with us to raise awareness of this project. We are also delivering workshops to support each group, which we will target to the needs of each community.
Our sessions are free and can be accessed virtually or in-person depending on need, all of which are co-produced where possible:
For more information please contact Rachael and Lynn, the Here to Help Project Team on [email protected]“
National Safeguarding Adults Week is taking place from 18th November to 22th November 2024.
This year, the themes will encourage us to consider how we can work together to establish safer cultures within our workplaces and communities.
TSAB have already started planning our activities and events for the week in conjunction with our partners. If you would like to be involved or have any ideas for activity or promotion please get in touch.