Safeguarding practice learning resources | Learning and podcasts

On this page you will find resources which relate to specific areas of safeguarding practice.

The difference between quality and safeguarding

Our Kingswood Organisational Learning Review, and our Safeguarding Adult Review in respect of DJT, told us that learning across agencies is needed regarding the difference between quality and safeguarding concerns.

Please refer to the following resources for support with understanding the difference between quality and safeguarding, and how to respond to each of these concerns.

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Additional reading:

Domestic abuse

Domestic abuse refers to abuse and harm by either a current or ex-partner, family relation or live in carer. In order for domestic abuse to be considered under the safeguarding pathway, the victim needs to have care and support needs.

Please read the West Sussex County Council domestic abuse guidance which focuses on coercion and control with consideration of mental capacity and, the accompanying Top Tips document.

You can find out more from the pan-Sussex Safeguarding Policies and Procedures section on domestic abuse. Please also see our Safeguarding Thresholds document section on domestic abuse and the different types of abuse and harm.

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Mental Capacity Act

The Mental Capacity Act (2005) is a legal framework for people over the age of 16 who may lack the mental capacity to make specific decisions, on a permanent or temporary basis.

Please refer to the Mental Capacity Act learning briefing and podcast to learn more about what may affect someone's mental capacity; how capacity should be assessed; and what happens after a capacity assessment.

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Multi-agency working and communication

Multi-agency working means recognising that West Sussex agencies are a partnership, committed to working together to support Adults experiencing
risk.

Read the Multi-Agency Working and Communication Learning Briefing to find out how you can work effectively with other agencies, and what to do if disagreements arise. You can also listen to the 8-minute podcast.

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Person-centred approaches

A person-centred approach means putting the Adult with care and support needs at the centre of any process or decision in order to support their needs, goals, and outcomes to be met. This approach moves away from professionals deciding what is best for an Adult by making them central to the planning of their care and support.

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Professional curiosity

Professional curiosity is the capacity and skills of communication to explore and understand what is happening for a person rather than making assumptions or accepting things at face value. It requires skills of looking, listening, asking direct questions and being able to hold difficult conversations.

Please ensure that you consider this information in conjunction with the Making Safeguarding Personal Learning Briefing.

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Risk assessment

Risk Assessment is the process of working with an adult to maximise safety and to reduce future risk.

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Safeguarding young people

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Self-neglect

Self-neglect is an extreme lack of self-care, to an extent that it threatens personal health and safety, and it is sometimes associated with hoarding and may be a result of other issues such as addictions. It can sometimes be a result of underlying issues such as:

addiction or substance misuse issues
physical health issues
some mental health issues

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Trauma-informed approach

Trauma-informed care means being able to see beyond an adult’s presenting behaviours and to ask, ‘what has happened to you’ rather than ‘what is wrong with you?’ It involves recognising when someone may be affected by trauma, collaboratively adjusting how we work to take this into account, and responding in a way that supports recovery.

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