Policies, Procedures and Strategies

The multi-agency policy and procedures are aimed at agencies and individuals involved in safeguarding adults, including managers, professionals, volunteers and staff working in public, voluntary and private sector organisations.

Safeguarding adults procedures and forms

Adult Risk Management (ARM) Toolkit

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 to be used during meetings 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. 

Long Term Segregation and Seclusion

Long term segregation refers to a situation where, in order to reduce a sustained risk of harm posed by the patient to others, which is a constant feature of their presentation, a multi-disciplinary review and a representative from the responsible commissioning authority determines that a patient should not be allowed to mix freely with other patients on the ward or unit on a long-term basis (Mental Health Act 1983 Code of Practice 2015, 26.150). Such long term segregation should take place in line with the Mental Health Act legislation and the Code of Practice and as such the local authority should be informed.

We request that the following forms are used to inform North Northamptonshire Council’s and West Northamptonshire Council’s Assurance Team of long term segregation in line with the Code of Practice and where there are no safeguarding concerns arising from the use of long term segregation.

Seclusion refers to the supervised confinement and isolation of a patient, away from other patients, in an area from which the patient is prevented from leaving, where it is of immediate necessity for the purpose of the containment of severe behavioural disturbance which is likely to cause harm to others (Mental Health Act 1983 Code of Practice 2015, 26.103).

In North Northamptonshire and West Northamptonshire it has been agreed with mental health partners, that North Northamptonshire Council’s and West Northamptonshire Council’s Assurance Team will be informed of seclusions where they meet a 72 hour threshold.