Stage 4: Closing the Enquiry

The relevant manager responsible should ensure that all actions have been taken, building in any personalised actions:

• Agreements with the adult at risk to closure.
• Referral for assessment and support.
• Advice and information provided.
• All organisations involved in the enquiry updated and informed.
• Feedback has been provided to the referrer (this is very important).
• Action taken with the person alleged to have caused harm.
• Action taken to support other adults.
• Referral to children and young people made (if necessary).
• Outcomes noted and evaluated by adult at risk.
• Consideration for a Safeguarding Adults Review (SAR).
• Any lessons to be learnt.

The relevant team manager (or the person they have delegated to) may decide to convene a final multi-agency safeguarding meeting at the closure stage so that the Safeguarding Enquiry process can be reviewed, to ensure that the "risk to the adult has been sufficiently reduced, or removed" (although it may also be appropriate for this to 'remain' in some circumstances), before being closed. The guidance above in relation to Safeguarding Meetings remains relevant when calling a final multi-agency safeguarding meeting.

This will not always be required, but may be useful in the following circumstances: 

1. To ensure that in the most complex cases the risk management arrangements that have been put in place are being effective.
2. Where multiple agencies (including providers) have been involved in offering support and or protection, and ongoing co-ordination is required.
3. In organisational or institutional cases where other adults may also have also been at risk of abuse or neglect. This may include where issues have affected residents of other Local Authorities.
4. Where the abuse involved a member of staff/volunteer (position of trust), and this brought into question the safety of other adults, and or the service.
5. Where there may have been multiple ongoing enquiries by different organisations or other processes, including by Police and the Pressure Ulcer Panels.

To consider if other legal or statutory actions or redress are needed. This may include a referral for a Safeguarding Adults Review (SAR - s.44 Care Act 2014).

1. We can all help to prevent adult abuse and neglect by supporting the delivery of these key objectives: Improve Public Awareness

This can be achieved by helping to support awareness building campaigns and by signposting adults to appropriate sources of information.

2. Identify Adults who May be at Increased Risk

There are many factors which might increase the risks of adult abuse and neglect including: older age; physical, mental, sensory, learning or cognitive illness or disability; and having to rely on others for health and social care support.

3. Identifying & Responding Effectively to Abuse

Organisations and individuals working to improve their understanding and early identification of the different types of adult abuse, so that an effective response can be achieved in conjunction with the adults' views and wishes.

4. Consistent & Widespread Application of Policies & Procedures

It is important for organisations delivering services to adults to have appropriate policies and procedures which are developed in line with guidance from the Liverpool Safeguarding Adults Board and embedded into the practice of all professionals. See: Local policies and procedures - Liverpool Safeguarding Adults Board

5. Focus on Equality & Narrowing Inequality

Adults from financially deprived backgrounds are more likely to become an ‘identified’ victim of adult abuse and neglect, and it is less likely that an adult from some ethnic minority communities will be engaged with statutory services in Liverpool. All professionals can help to improve reporting and equal access to protective services.

This Government Guidance provides some excellent information and resources to help reduce inequality: Inclusion Health: Applying All Our Health (May 2021)

6. Help Adults to Protect Themselves

Every organisation delivering services to adults at risk of abuse and neglect can identify ways in which they can help to inform, and support adults in protecting themselves from abuse.

7. Provide Information, Advice & Advocacy

Individual organisations will know the communication needs of their client groups, and as such are best placed to provide bespoke adult safeguarding information in the most appropriate formats, methods and languages. 

More information on the Statutory Advocacy Provider in Liverpool can be found here: Liverpool Advocacy Hub - N-Compass

8. Provide Access to Training & Education

Organisations have a responsibility to provide access to up to date and relevant adult safeguarding training for their staff and volunteers, and additional support for the person (s) responsible for leading on this subject within that agency.

9. Support Broader Wellbeing Strategies

There is a clearly established link between the prevention of adult abuse and broader health and wellbeing strategies, including the reduction of social isolation and loneliness. Organisations can help to engage adults in these types of strategies, which will also indirectly help to prevent adult abuse.

Please let us know if you have any thoughts or ideas in relation to prevention.