4.13 Sharing Concerns with Adult Social Care Out of Hours

1. Making a Safeguarding Referral to the Local Authority

When an adult is experiencing, or at risk of abuse or neglect but there is no immediate risk of harm, the practitioner should follow their own local processes for raising concerns. This could involve either mean they contact the local authority safeguarding adults team themselves, or they share their concerns with the safeguarding adults lead in their organisation, who will then make the referral to the local authority safeguarding adults team.

However, if there is concern that immediate action is required or there is an urgent risk, an urgent referral should be made to the local authority’s Out of Hours Team (adults by) by telephoning 0161 253 6606. Where it is suspected a crime has been committed the police should also be contacted.

Details of all actions taken should be recorded in the adult’s case file / record.

2. Taking Immediate Action to Protect an Adult

If the Out of Hours Team receive a referral which indicates there is an immediate or urgent risk to an adult, the working receiving the referral must take all steps necessary to protect the adult. This could include arranging emergency medical treatment, contacting the police (by telephoning 999) and taking any other action to ensure the adult is safe.

3. Case Recording and Handover

The Out of Hours Team worker should record the details of the concern(s) on the adult’s electronic social care record. The worker will pass all necessary information to the relevant team in adult social care before the end of their shift. If the adult is already know to the local authority, the out of hours worker will notify the allocated worker.

See also Case Recording.