Page 6 - Teeswide Inter Agency Safeguarding Adults Policy V4

8. Who this Policy Applies To

This policy applies to all organisations and people working or volunteering with adults living in the
boroughs of Hartlepool, Middlesbrough, Redcar & Cleveland and Stockton-on-Tees. Single-Agency
Safeguarding Adults Policies and Procedures, including those of the Voluntary, Community and
Independent Sectors must reflect the Teeswide Inter-Agency Safeguarding Adults Policy and
Procedures.

Local Authorities must co-operate with each of their relevant partners as follows, and these partners
must also co-operate with the Local Authority in the implementation of this policy and associated
2
procedures:
 Other Local Authorities
 Clinical Commissioning Groups
 Police
 NHS Trusts and NHS Foundation Trusts
 NHS England
 Department for Work and Pensions
 Prisons
 Probation Services
 Trading Standards.

In addition Hartlepool, Middlesbrough, Redcar & Cleveland and Stockton-on-Tees Councils must co-
operate with other agencies or bodies as appropriate in order to exercise their safeguarding adults
3
functions, including but not limited to:
 General Practitioners
 Dentists
 Pharmacists
 NHS Hospitals and Community Healthcare Services
 Housing, Health and Care Providers.

9. What We Mean by Adult Safeguarding

The Care Act 2014 Guidance describes safeguarding as the means of protecting an adult’s right to live in
safety, free from abuse and neglect. It further states that it is about people and organisations working
together to prevent and stop both the risks and experience of abuse or neglect, while at the same time
making sure that the adult’s wellbeing is promoted including, where appropriate, having regard to their
views, wishes, feelings and beliefs in deciding on any action. Within this context, the guidance
recognises that adults sometimes have complex interpersonal relationships and may be ambivalent,
unclear or unrealistic about their personal circumstances.
Abuse and neglect can take many forms and it is important that staff working in all organisations should
not be constrained in their view of what constitutes abuse or neglect, and the circumstances of an
individual case should always be considered.

It should be emphasised however that safeguarding procedures are not a substitute for:
 Providers’ responsibilities to provide safe and high quality care and support;
 Commissioners regularly assuring themselves of the safety and effectiveness of commissioned
services;
 The Care Quality Commission (CQC) ensuring that regulated providers comply with the fundamental
standards of care or by taking enforcement action
 The core duties of the police to prevent and detect crime and protect life and property.

Abuse or Neglect may be:

 a single act or repeated acts

2 Care Act 2014, Section 6 (7)
3 Care Act 2014, Section 6 (3)
Ensuring our safeguarding arrangements act to help and protect adults
5