STAGE 4: CLOSING THE ENQUIRY
Safeguarding can be closed at any stage. Individuals should be advised on how and who to contact with agreement on how matters will be followed up with the adult at risk if there are further concerns. It is good practice where a care management assessment, Care Programme Approach (CPA), reassessment of care and support, health review, placement review or any other pre-booked review is due to take place following the safeguarding enquiry, for a standard check to be made that there has been no reoccurrence of concerns.
Closure records should note the reason for this decision and the views of the adult at risk to the proposed closure. The 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;
- Action taken with the person alleged to have caused harm;
- Action taken to support other service users;
- Referral to children and young people made (if necessary);
- Outcomes noted and evaluated by adult at risk;
- Consideration for a SAR;
- Any lessons to be learnt.
Closing enquiries down when other processes continue
The adult safeguarding process may be closed but other processes may continue, for example, a disciplinary or professional body investigation. These processes may take some time. Consideration may need to be given to the impact of these on the adult and how this will be monitored. Where there are outstanding criminal investigations and pending court actions, the adult safeguarding process can also be closed providing that the adult is safeguarded.
All closures, no matter at what stage, are subject to an evaluation of outcomes identified by the adult at risk. If the adult at risk disagrees with the decision to close down safeguarding their reasons should be fully explored and alternatives offered.
At the close of each enquiry there should be evidence of:
- Enhanced safeguarding practice ensuring that people have an opportunity to discuss the outcomes they want at the start of safeguarding activity.
- Follow-up discussions with people at the end of safeguarding activity to see to what extent their desired outcomes have been met.
- Recording the results in a way that can be used to inform practice and provide aggregated outcomes information for Safeguarding Adults Boards.
Refer to Making Safeguarding Personal.