Keeping people safe from neglect and abuse

There were 1791 safeguarding concerns raised in 2022-23 (2,083 in 2021-22).

The number of concerns raised each month ranged between 90 to 168 (from 141 to 214 in 2021-22). Of these concerns, 1172 met the criteria and proceeded to a Section 42 enquiry (1,337 in 2021-22). (A Care Act 2014 Section 42 enquiry is held if there is reason to believe that abuse or neglect is taking place).  Five concerns did not meet the criteria but did proceed to an enquiry. An example of a reason for this could be due to an identified risk to others.

It is important to note that an individual may have experienced more than one type of abuse and, therefore, multiple abuse types may be entered for one person. This year, of the concluded enquiries:

• concerns regarding ‘neglect and acts of omission’* accounted for 532 individuals (542 in 2021-22) 
• financial abuse 185 individuals (178 in 2021-22)
• physical abuse for 184 individuals (154 in 2021-22).

These three categories total 901 individuals (874 in 2021-22). These have remained the top three categories for the last four years.  Neglect and ‘acts of omission’ have been the most reported form of abuse over the past five years.

*Neglect and acts of omission occur whenever an individual with responsibility for meeting the needs of an adult at risk does any of the following.

• Ignores their medical, emotional or physical care needs
• Fails to provide access to appropriate health, care and support or educational services
• Withholds any of the necessities of life, such as medication, adequate nutrition and heating.

Of the concerns received where the Section 42 criteria were met, those with physical support needs were the most likely to require an enquiry. This accounted for 386 individuals (475 in 2021-22). The next most common category is those who had no recorded support reason and this accounted for 298 individuals (306 in 2021-22).

Of the enquiries undertaken in 2022-23, 661 were for women and 409 were for men (691 and 463 respectively in 2021-22). There were 24 enquiries undertaken where an individual’s gender was not documented (13 in 2021-22). As with last year, the majority of adults involved in a enquiry were over 65 years old, which accounts for a total of 719 individuals (738 in 2021-22). The highest proportion of this figure was for those aged 85-94 years old, accounting for 291  individuals (310 in 2021-22).

The vast majority of enquiries were for adults who identified as White, totalling 920 individuals (935 in 2021-22). The data reflects the overall proportion of people’s ethnicities in West Sussex and is consistent with previous years. Enquiries completed for all other ethnicity categories did not individually account for more than 10 individuals (14 in 2021-22). There were 143 enquiries where an individual’s ethnicity was unknown, and this was either due to the information not yet being obtained, or because of the individual declined to provide this information (183 in 2021-22).

For completed enquiries, abuse in residential and nursing homes accounted for 439 individuals and 398 living in their own home (428 and 381 respectively in 2021-22). The most likely location to experience abuse remains residential and nursing homes, although West Sussex remains an exception as nationally most abuse happens for those living in their own home -  the gap has continued to reduce.

This means that adults are fully involved in the safeguarding process and are asked about the outcomes they want to achieve. As part of a Section 42 enquiry a total of 655 individuals expressed their desired outcome. Of the concluded enquiries, 313 people had these fully achieved and 342 had these partially achieved.

We have introduced a new safeguarding measure to assess whether a risk remains or has been reduced, following the outcome of a Section 42 enquiry. We work with people using a positive risk-taking approach which means some people choose to live with the risk identified and no further action is taken. However, all safeguarding Section 42 enquiries have a safeguarding plan to support the adult to reduce the risks identified.      

For the enquiries concluded this year, there were 511 individuals where action was taken to reduce risk. There were 305 individuals where the risk was removed and 69 people where action was taken and the risk remained.

For more detailed information please see the West Sussex Safeguarding Adults Board Annual report 2021-22.

• We will be working to embed feedback from people we support into the safeguarding processes.