Resources and Campaigns
The below resources and campaigns have been developed to aid safeguarding practice across Northamptonshire. Our resources have been categorised into different topics to support you in finding all the resources available on each topic.
Adult Risk Management
Adult Risk Management (ARM) is a multi-agency process that supports adults who are at serious risk of harm, experiencing high-risk situations, such as self-neglect or disengagement from services.
Northamptonshire Safeguarding Adults Board has put together a toolkit of materials to aid practitioners in undertaking an ARM meeting. The toolkit is made up of a variety of materials including guidance, meeting minute templates and a video detailing what the ARM process is, when an ARM should be used and the ARM oversight panel.
Below you will also find a link to the ARM Reporting Form. You should only complete this form if you are the ARM Chair. The below link should be used when an ARM is initiated. Once completed, the Chair will receive an email which will provide information and a link for reporting when ARM has concluded with closure information. This needs to be used when an ARM is closed so please ensure the email link is saved so that reporting can be aligned.
- NSAB ARM Guidance – January 2025 – (PDF 178KB)
- ARM Initial Meeting Minute Template – January 2025 – (Word 37KB) – To be used in ARM meetings
- ARM Review Meeting Minute Template – January 2025 (Word 27KB) – To be used in ARM meetings
- ARM Reporting Form Link
- ARM Oversight Panel Referral Form – April 2021 (83KB)
- ARM Information Sheet
Useful Videos
Advocacy
Advocacy empowers people to have their voices heard, ensuring their views, wishes, and rights are respected. Advocates support individuals to speak for themselves wherever possible, represent them when needed, and help them make informed decisions about their lives. They can also provide information, guidance, and signposting to relevant services, helping people access the support they need and improve their wellbeing.
Bitesize Videos
What is advocacy?
Independent Mental Health Advocacy
NHS Complaints Advocacy
Human Rights in Everyday Life videos
No matter who you are or what your background is human rights are part of everyday life. POhWER is here to support individuals to make sure their voice is heard and rights are upheld. POhWER’s Advocacy, Information and Advice services can help an individual to understand their rights. Every voice has power and everyone has human rights. Watch the videos in the link below to see how POhWER supports people to uphold their rights in their everyday lives.
Practitioner Guide
Closed Cultures
A closed culture can develop when organisational structures, policies, processes, and practices create an environment where poor care or harmful behaviours become accepted and go unchallenged. These environments are often characterised by limited openness, poor leadership, and a lack of external scrutiny, increasing the risk of abuse, neglect, and breaches of human rights.
Practitioner Guide
Cultural Competence
Cultural competence is the ability to understand, respect, and respond appropriately to the diverse values, beliefs, traditions, and experiences of different individuals and communities.
Practitioner Guide
Disguised Compliance
Disguised Compliance describes situations where a person may appear to work with professionals, but meaningful or sustained change is not evident. This may arise for a range of reasons, including fear, uncertainty, previous experiences of services, or a wish to reduce professional involvement. The term “disguised compliance” should be used with care, as it may imply deliberate deception and leave people feeling judged or blamed by professionals.
Practitioner Guide
Domestic Abuse
Domestic abuse can have significant impact on an individual’s health, safety, and quality of life. Abuse may be physical, emotional, psychological, sexual or financial and often involves patterns that can lead to isolation, fear and vulnerabilities.
Controlling and coercive behaviour
Controlling and coercive behaviour is a type of domestic abuse. It may include use of acts designed to make a person feel inferior and/or dependent by keeping them apart from friends, help and support. This could include taking advantage of their money, stopping their independence, and controlling what they do. Controlling and coercive behaviour may also include acts of assault, threats, humiliation and intimidation which is used to harm, punish or frighten the victim.
Hidden Harms – Domestic Abuse and Older Adults
The Hidden Harms animation highlights the unique challenges that older adults face when domestic abuse occurs. The aim of this short animation is to be a tool to support practitioners and families start a conversation with an older adult.
We would like to thank Norfolk Safeguarding Adults Board for granting permission to adapt this animation for Northamptonshire Safeguarding Adults Board.
It Happens to Us Too – Domestic Abuse and Disability
The It Happens to Us Too animation highlights that anyone, including individuals who have a disability, can experience domestic abuse. Everyone has the right to feel safe in their own home and there is support available.
We would like to thanks Sandwell Safeguarding Adults Board for granting permission to adapt this animation for Northamptonshire Safeguarding Adult Board.
Easy Read Literature
A keeping safe from abuse easy read summary has been developed to help those with care and support needs understand what abuse is and how to keep themselves safe.
A voiceover, which talks through the document, has also been produced and can be accessed below.
Emollient Use
Emollients are safe to use but it is important for users and practitioners to be aware of and manage the fire risk associated with these products. When working with individuals who use emollient products, professionals should consider a range of proportionate measures to reduce fire risk.
Emollient Use and Risk of Fire Guidance
Emollient Use and Risk of Fire Guidance (PDF 311KB) – Published May 2026
Exploitation
Exploitation occurs when an individual is manipulated, coerced, deceived or controlled for another person’s gain. This may include criminal, financial or sexual exploitation, modern slavery and trafficking.
Cuckooing
Cuckooing is a practice where people take over a person’s home and uses the property to facilitate exploitation. There are different types of cuckooing including: using the property to deal or store drugs, using the property for sex work, taking over the property as a place to live or, taking over the property to financially abuse the tenant.
Animation
This animation raises awareness of home takeover (also known as cuckooing), the signs and indicators of cuckooing, why people might be reluctant to report concerns, where concerns can be reported to and where to go for advice.
We would like to thank Newcastle Safeguarding Adults Board for granting permission to adapt this animation for Northamptonshire Safeguarding Adults Board.
Bitesize Video
Practitioner Guide
County Lines
This useful animation details what County Lines is, how it works, and how children and vulnerable adults are exploited.
The film was developed by the National County Lines Co-ordination Centre to raise awareness and explain how County Lines impacts the vulnerable, partners, law enforcement and society as a whole.
Cyber and Fraud Awareness
Week of Learning Videos
Modern Slavery
Modern Slavery is defined as the recruitment, movement or harbouring of women or men through the use of force, coercion, abuse of vulnerability or deception. It includes holding a person in a position of slavery, forced or compulsory labour, or facilitating their travel with the intention of exploiting them.
Bitesize Video
Spotting the Signs of Modern Slavery – Presentation
Take a Closer Look Video
A short film called Take a Closer Look has been launched by the Northamptonshire Office of the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner and Northamptonshire Police, to raise awareness of modern slavery and exploitation.
The film depicts a scenario following a road traffic collision which highlights signs of modern slavery that aren’t immediately obvious. It invites viewers to ‘take a closer look’ whereby signs of exploitation become apparent.
If you have any concerns that you or somebody you know is a victim of modern slavery, report them to Northamptonshire Police on 101 or 999 in an emergency. You can also contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or visit the Crimestoppers website, to give information 100% anonymously about modern slavery or any other crime.
Tricky Friends
Northamptonshire Safeguarding Adults Board have launched the Tricky Friends Animation* with the aim to help vulnerable adults understand what good friendships are and when they might be harmful.
It is important that adults with learning disabilities and autism, those who have cognitive difficulties, or young adults, have positive opportunities to make and maintain friendships.
The animation shows what good friendships should like like to vulnerable adults who may be less able to recognise the intentions of others and can be used as a tool to start conversations as to what good friendships look like, and keep vulnerable adults safe whilst enjoying friendships.
The video is less than 4 minutes long, and can be accessed via YouTube. A signed version is also available.
*with special thanks to Norfolk Safeguarding Adults Board for allowing Northants SAB to adapt.
Week of Learning Video
Scam Protection
Easy Read Guides
The following easy read guides have been recommended by Northamptonshire Police to support individuals to use the internet safely and how to protect themselves from scams.
Mencap – How to protect yourself from scams easy read (PDF 1778KB)
Herbert Protocol
In partnership with Northamptonshire Police, Northamptonshire Safeguarding Adults Board have relaunched the Herbert Protocol.
People caring for someone living with dementia are encouraged to use this initiative to help keep people with dementia safe and found.
The Herbert Protocol enables carers and families of people living with dementia to log key information about them on a form including their description, a current photograph, medical information, favourite locations and more.
Stored securely where the person lives, the form can be handed straight to the police if they are reported missing, providing immediate, detailed insight into their life and habits, helping direct search efforts so they can be found as quickly as possible.
Northamptonshire Police have also developed a tutorial video explaining how the Herbert Protocol should be used.
For more information please visit the Northamptonshire Police website.
Hoarding
A hoarding disorder is where someone acquires an excessive number of items and stores them in a chaotic manner, usually resulting in unmanageable amounts of clutter. Hoarding can cause problems if the amount of clutter interferes with everyday living, or if the clutter is causing significant distress or negatively affecting the quality of life.
Northamptonshire Hoarding Framework
Northamptonshire Multi Agency Hoarding Framework – Published July 2022
Week of Learning Video
Homelessness
Homelessness can arise from a number of factors, including financial hardship, relationship breakdown, poor physical or mental health, domestic abuse or the loss of suitable accommodation. Effective partnership working ensures individuals can access the right support at the earliest opportunity.
SAR Reports relating to Homelessness
Week of Learning Videos
Information Sharing
Effective safeguarding relies on strong information sharing and collaboration between professionals and agencies. By working together, practitioners can build a fuller understanding of an individual’s circumstances, identify risks earlier, and ensure that support is coordinated, timely, and person-centred.
Bitesize Video
Seven Golden Rules for Information Sharing Guide
Sharing information about individuals between partners is essential if adults at risk of harm and abuse are to be kept safe, and ensure they receive appropriate support. Information sharing should only happen when it is legal and necessary to do so, and adequate safeguards are in place to protect the security of the information. To support this, there are seven golden rules for information sharing.
Information Sharing Protocol
Making Safeguarding Personal
Making Safeguarding Personal (MSP) is a person-centred and outcome focused approach to safeguarding adults. It emphasises that the adult concerns must always be at the centre of adult safeguarding, and their their wishes and views should be sought at the earliest opportunity.
Bitesize Video
Practitioner Guide
Mental Capacity Act
The Mental Capacity Act exists to protect people who lack capacity by providing a flexible framework that places individuals at the heart of the decision-making process. It is designed to protect and restore power to vulnerable people who lack capacity, empowering professionals to make an accurate assessment of an individual.
Frequently Asked Questions
Thesse frequently asked questions have been developed by NSAB to support practitioners when undertaking a Mental Capacity Act Assessment.
Mental Capacity Act Assessment Templates
NSAB are pleased to share a range of example Mental Capacity Act (MCA) Assessment templates to aid practitioners when undertaking a MCA assessment.
- Mental Capacity Act Template 1 (Word – 35KB)
- Mental Capacity Act Template 2 (Word – 301KB)
- Mental Capacity Act Template 3 (Word – 32KB)
- Mental Capacity Act Template 4 (Word – 41KB)
Week of Learning Video
Mental Health
Mental health affects us all. Whether you are supporting others in a professional capacity, looking for guidance for yourself, or seeking information for a colleague, friend or family member, recognising the signs of poor mental health is an important first step.
Section 136 VLOG
North Northamptonshire Council and Northamptonshire Police have produced a short VLOG which explains the role of Approved Mental Health Professionals (AMHPs) and when a Section 136 should be used.
Week of Learning Videos
Prevent
Prevent is part of the UK’s counter-terrorism strategy and focuses on safeguarding people who may be vulnerable to radicalisation or at risk of being drawn into terrorism. Operating before any criminal activity has occurred, Prevent provides early support, guidance and intervention to help individuals build resilience and make informed choices.
Bitesize Videos
Prevent Duty for Public Sector Staff – This video illustrates how public sectors under the Prevent duty work together to stop radicalisation.
Prevent Duty in Healthcare – This video sets out the key role that healthcare professionals play in the delivery of Prevent, stopping people from being terrorists or supporting terrorism.
National Guidance
Professional Curiosity
A professionally curious approach to safeguarding encourages practitioners to look beyond what they are being told and to be confident in asking the right questions when taking action to reduce harm. By keeping an open mind, practitioners can identify concerns and respond to risks more effectively, supporting better decision making and safer outcomes.
Bitesize Video
Practitioner Guides
- Practitioners Guide – Professional Curiosity (PDF 108KB)
- Practitioner Guide – Managing Difficult Conversations (PDF 231KB)
Local Guidance
National Guidance
The following Professional Curiosity resource has been developed by the National SAB manager network to support practitioners.
#ReportIt Resources and Translations
Northamptonshire Safeguarding Adults Board is raising awareness of how to report a safeguarding adults concern. Please support #ReportIt by sharing and printing the leaflets, posters and social media messaging to your Northamptonshire networks.
Safeguarding Poster and Leaflet
This poster and leaflet are designed to be printed and shared to help raise awareness that safeguarding is everyone’s busines and inform people how they can report a concern. The content contained within the posters is available on the report a concern page of our website. You may want to resize the poster to suit your needs.
Social Media Graphics
These images are designed to be shared via your Northamptonshire Networks. Be social and support #ReportIt to help raise awareness of safeguarding adults. Remember, safeguarding is everyone’s business.
- Social media graphic one (PNG 1177KB)
- Social media graphic two (PNG 997KB)
- Social media graphic three (PNG 633KB)
Translations
The posters have also been translated into some popular languages to be shared with communities and networks.
The posters are designed to be printed and shared to help raise awareness that safeguarding is everyone’s business and inform people how they can report a concern. You may want to resize the poster to suit your needs.
Safeguarding and the Care Act 2014
Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility. The Care Act places a duty on organisations and professionals to protect adults with care and support needs from abuse, neglect and exploitation, while promoting their independence, wellbeing and right to make informed choices. By understanding safeguarding responsibilities and acting early, we can help ensure adults at risk are protected, empowered and supported to live safe, healthy and independent lives.
Practitioner Guide
Safeguarding Podcast
Voluntary Impact Northamptonshire have a podcast all about Safeguarding. The podcast is great for staff, volunteers, trustees as an introduction or reminder that Safeguarding is everybody’s business. The NSAB Independent Scrutineer and the Safeguarding Team Manager in North Northants Council were invited to talk on the podcast so please listen out for their features across the series.
Decision Making Framework
Week of Learning Videos
Safely Ceasing Involvement
Adults who self-neglect and are unable or unwilling to engage with support require a coordinated, multi-agency approach, particularly where needs are complex and risks are high. Professionals should assess mental capacity, evaluate risks to the individual and others, and ensure that all decisions and interventions are clearly recorded before considering case closure.
Practitioner Guide
SAR Learning Recording and Learning Conversations
Virtual learning events were held to support the publication of SARs 021, 022 and 024. These events were recorded to allow practitioners to listen to the training in their own time. We have also recorded learning conversations highlighting the key learning points (similar to a podcast).
SAR 021 – Temple Court Care Home
- SAR 021 – Temple Court Care Home – Sessions held Friday 24th November 2023 and Wednesday 13th December 2023.
- SAR 021 Learning Conversation
SAR 022 – Teo
- SAR 022 – Teo – Session held Tuesday 12th December 2023.
- SAR 022 Learning Conversation
SAR 024 – Adult A
- SAR 024 – Adult A – Session held Tuesday 6th December 2023.
- SAR 024 Learning Conversation
Self-neglect
Self-Neglect is when a person is unable, or unwilling, to care for their own essential needs. It can cover a wide range of behaviour including neglecting personal hygiene, health or surroundings, refusal of necessary support and hoarding.
Bitesize Video
Practitioner Guides
Practitioner Guide – Self-Neglect (PDF 280KB)
Local Guidance and Risk Assessment Tool
- NSAB Self-Neglect Guidance – Revised May 2024 (PDF 443KB)
- NSAB Self-Neglect Risk Assessment Tool – Revised May 2024 – (Word 1245KB)
Self-Neglect Leaflet
A self-neglect leaflet has been developed to support frontline practitioners to identify and work with those self-neglecting.
SAR Reports relating to Self-Neglect
- SAR 2026/035 – Homelessness Thematic Review – published 2nd May 2025
- SAR 033 – Adult C – published 11th November 2025
- SAR 051 – Adult D – published 16th February 2026
- SAR 056/062 – Eddie and Frank – Self-neglect Thematic Review – published 13th March 2026
- SAR 057 – Adult G – published 28th August 2026
- SAR 059 – Adult H – published 5th November 2026
SAR 051 Learning Event
The SAR 051 Learning Event was recorded and available for practitioners to watch below. Themes in SAR 051 include self-neglect, mental health and suicidal thoughts.
Working with peple who self-neglect one page guide
These key messages have been adapted by Northamptonshire Safeguarding Aduls Board and should be considered by practitoners across all agencies in the county when working with adults who self-neglect.
What to do about self-neglect animation
The what to do about self-neglect animation raises awareness of self-neglect, signs you might identify if someone is self-neglecting and what can be done to help support these individuals.
We would like to thank the North East SAR Champions for granting permission to adapt this animation for Northamptonshire Safeguarding Adults Board.
Week of Learning Videos
Supporting Individuals to Engage with Services
Past experiences, fear, trauma, mental or physical ill health and other complex circumstances may cause some adults to find it difficult to engage with services. A safeguarding approach focusing on trust, understanding barriers and working with individuals, promotes independence and wellbeing improves access to support and achieving safer outcomes.
Principles of Engagement one page guide
These principles have been adapted by Northamptonshire Safeguarding Adults Board and should be adopted by practitioners across all agencies in the county.
It’s our responsibility to reach out to people, to make it easier for them to engage with us and to remove barriers to them being able to engage.
Think Family
The Think Family approach encourages practitioners to consider the needs, risks and strengths of the wider family, not just the individual they are supporting. By recognising how factors such as mental ill health, domestic abuse, substance misuse and poverty can impact all family members, professionals can work together more effectively to safeguard both children and vulnerable adults.
Practitioner Guide
Bitesize Video
Think Family approach refers to the steps taken by children’s, young people’s and adult’s practitioners to identify wider family needs which extend beyond the individual they are supporting.
Training Video
To support the learning from SAR 024 – Adult A, North and West Northamptonshire Council Prinicipal Social Workers held a Think Family Training session for colleagues in the NSAB partnership in February 2024. The session was recorded and can be watched below.
Transitional Safeguarding
Transitional Safeguarding recognises that young people’s needs, risks and vulnerabilities do not end when they turn 18. It promotes a flexible, person-centred approach to safeguarding that bridges children’s and adults’ services, ensuring support is provided according to individual needs rather than service eligibility.
Practitioner Guide
Trauma Informed Practice
By recognising that past experiences of trauma can have a significant impact on an individual’s ability to engage with services, we are able to promote a compassionate, person-centred approach that seeks to understand “what has happened to someone” rather than “what is wrong with them”. By creating safe, supportive environments and building trust, professionals can empower individuals, reduce the risk of re-traumatisation, and improve outcomes through respectful and informed practice.
Practitioner Guides
Trauma Informed Practice Framework
Animation
This animation was created to support the development of a trauma informed workforce.
Week of Learning Videos
Whistleblowing
A positive whistleblowing culture encourages openness, accountability and learning, helping organisations acknowledge concerns and improve practice to keep people safe and informed. Anyone raising a concern about poor practice, abuse, neglect or wrongdoing, should be able to feel supported and protected from unfair treatment or victimisation.
Week of Learning Video