AGNI deprivation of liberty decision tool

AGNI practice triangle guide

AGNI scenario decision tool

Critical Reflection Hub

swe-reflection-record

A Safeguarding Adults Review – SSAB

This Safeguarding Adults Review examines the circumstances leading to a preventable death, identifying key learning around risk management, multi-agency working, communication and safeguarding practice. It highlights how fragmented responses, lack of escalation and gaps in oversight can contribute to harm, while emphasising the importance of collaboration, legal literacy and proactive safeguarding. The report is designed to support learning and improvement across services, helping professionals reflect on practice and strengthen systems to better protect adults at risk.

Ace Calculator

This tool is used to calculate an individual’s Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) score by identifying exposure to different types of abuse, neglect and household challenges during childhood. It supports practitioners in understanding the potential long-term impact of trauma on health, behaviour and outcomes, helping to inform assessments, risk considerations and trauma-informed approaches to practice.

Adultification bias within child protection and safeguarding

This report explores adultification bias within safeguarding, highlighting how some children are perceived as more mature or responsible than they are, which can lead to their vulnerability being overlooked and their rights not being upheld. It particularly examines how racialised bias impacts Black children and emphasises the need for critical reflection, professional curiosity and an intersectional approach to ensure fair and effective safeguarding practice

Adultification, Anger Bias, and adults’ different perceptions of Black and White children

This research article examines how adultification and racial bias influence how adults perceive children, particularly the tendency to misinterpret Black children as older or wrongly attribute anger to them. It highlights how these perceptions can lead to unfair treatment and harsher consequences, reinforcing the importance of awareness and reflection in professional practice to reduce bias and improve decision-making.

Care Act Briefing

Discriminatory Abuse

A resource describing discriminatory abuse as unfair treatment based on differences such as race, gender, disability or religion. It explains how this may involve harassment, exclusion or denial of rights and can be present within other types of abuse. The document highlights that discriminatory abuse is often missed or not reported due to stigma or lack of awareness. It also emphasises the need for practitioners to recognise indicators early and respond effectively in safeguarding work.

Discriminatory Abuse 7-minute briefing

A briefing that explains discriminatory abuse as unfair treatment based on protected characteristics such as race, gender or disability. It outlines how this can include harassment, exclusion or unequal treatment and is often underreported. The resource highlights the importance of recognising discrimination in practice and using good communication skills when discussing sensitive issues. It also links discriminatory abuse to legal protection under the Equality Act

Domestic abuse against older adults

A research article exploring domestic abuse against older adults using Section 42 safeguarding enquiry data. It highlights that abuse is often not recognised as domestic abuse, especially when carried out by family members such as adult children. The study shows that many victims are older women and that multiple types of abuse often occur together. It also identifies gaps in risk assessment, recording and professional responses, emphasising the need for improved safeguarding practice.

Domestic abuse and the co-existence of dementia

A resource explaining how domestic abuse and dementia can occur together and increase vulnerability for older adults. It outlines how dementia can affect memory, decision-making and independence, making it harder to recognise or report abuse. The resource highlights how perpetrators may use control, manipulation or isolation, and how abuse may be mistaken for symptoms of dementia. It also provides guidance for practitioners on safeguarding, communication and safety planning.

Experiences of black and mixed heritage boys in youth justice services

This report explores the lived experiences of black and mixed heritage boys within youth justice services, drawing on direct conversations with young people to understand their perspectives. It highlights issues such as racial profiling, particularly experiences of stop and search, low expectations of support, and a lack of meaningful engagement from services. The report emphasises the need for more relational, supportive, and person-centred approaches that actively involve young people in shaping the support they receive and address systemic inequalities within the justice system.

Forensic Social Work: Quality Assurance Toolkit

A comprehensive, evidence-based resource for forensic mental health social work, featuring audit tools, templates, statutory guidance, and best practice materials. Designed for practitioners, managers, and teams in secure and community settings. Supports quality assurance, safeguarding, supervision, and compliance with UK legislation.

Hidden in Plain Sight

A national report presenting a comprehensive analysis of the challenges facing vulnerable children and young people, particularly those at risk of exploitation, violence, and involvement in the criminal justice system. It sets out evidence-informed recommendations for a more joined-up, preventative, and trauma-informed approach across services, aiming to improve early intervention, strengthen family support, and create systemic change to help young people thrive.

How adultification leads to black children being treated as criminals

Guardian article exploring the concept of adultification bias and its impact on black children in the UK. It highlights how black children are often perceived as older, less vulnerable, and more culpable than their peers, leading to harsher treatment by authorities such as police and schools. Through case studies and expert commentary, the article demonstrates how racialised stereotypes contribute to systemic failures in safeguarding and the criminalisation of black children.

Improving the quality of decision making and risk assessment in children’s social care

Description This rapid evidence review brings together research on how decision-making and risk assessment can be improved in children’s social care. It highlights the complexity of practice, where professionals must make high-stakes decisions under uncertainty, often with limited information and time pressures. The review identifies key dimensions of quality such as accuracy, consistency, outcomes, practice, and equity, and explores how factors like organisational context, practitioner expertise, workload, and systemic influences shape decisions. It emphasises the importance of combining professional judgement with evidence-based approaches and understanding decision-making as part of a wider system rather than isolated actions.

Learning from Recent Safeguarding Adults Reviews

Six accessible summaries highlighting recurring lessons from recent SARs and national analysis, with clear prompts for strengthening everyday safeguarding practice.

learning-sars-2025-2026

Local Learning Review of Serious Youth Violence and Gang Related Activity

This local learning review examines a case of serious youth violence and gang-related activity, focusing on multi-agency safeguarding responses and the effectiveness of partnership working. It highlights key strengths such as strong professional collaboration, trauma-informed and relationship-based practice, and dedicated youth services, while also identifying areas for development including information sharing, contextual safeguarding thresholds, and transitional safeguarding. The review emphasises the complexity of youth violence, the importance of early intervention, and the need for coordinated, system-wide approaches to protect vulnerable children and young people.

National Competency Framework for Safeguarding Adults

Concise framework outlining key safeguarding competencies for staff at all levels, supporting consistent, person-centred and lawful adult safeguarding practice under the Care Act.

National Competency Framework for Safeguarding Adults Comprehensive

Detailed framework setting out the full range of safeguarding competencies across roles, including practice, leadership and multi-agency responsibilities.

Practice Briefing Note

Practice briefing summarising learning from a Safeguarding Adults Review, highlighting key themes such as multi-agency working, autism support, risk management and application of the Mental Capacity Act.

Principles for responding to child exploitation and extra-familial harm

Multi-agency practice framework outlining eight core principles to support responses to child exploitation, including child-centred, trauma-informed, strengths-based and partnership approaches.

Safeguarding children at risk from criminal exploitation

A national review examining serious cases of child criminal exploitation, identifying risk factors, service gaps, and key recommendations to improve multi-agency responses, prevention, and protection of vulnerable children. [safeguardi...panel-2020 | PDF]

Second national analysis of safeguarding adult reviews

This report presents the final (Stage 3) conclusions and improvement priorities from the second national analysis of Safeguarding Adult Reviews (SARs), covering the period April 2019 to March 2023. Drawing on findings from 652 SARs, it identifies recurring themes, systemic challenges, and learning across adult safeguarding practice, governance, and policy. The report highlights key issues such as inconsistencies in SAR quality, gaps in recognising types of abuse (including self-neglect and organisational abuse), and ongoing challenges in interagency working. It sets out 31 national improvement priorities aimed at strengthening safeguarding systems, improving data collection, enhancing legal frameworks, and embedding learning into practice across local and national levels.

Second national analysis of safeguarding adult reviews Final report Stage 1 analysis

This report presents a large-scale quantitative analysis of 652 Safeguarding Adult Reviews (SARs) completed between April 2019 and March 2023, examining patterns in abuse, neglect, and the characteristics of individuals involved. It explores themes such as types of harm, living situations, health conditions, and safeguarding processes, helping practitioners understand trends and risk factors across England. The report supports learning by identifying recurring issues in practice and highlighting areas for improvement in safeguarding responses.

Second national analysis of safeguarding adult reviews Final report Stage 2 analysis

National report analysing learning from safeguarding adult reviews, identifying good practice, recurring shortcomings and improvement themes across direct practice, interagency working and organisational systems.

Second national analysis of safeguarding adult reviews Final report Stage 3

National report presenting conclusions and sector-wide improvement priorities from safeguarding adult reviews, focusing on governance, system learning and policy development.

Self Neglect Poster

This poster raises awareness of self-neglect and encourages early identification and supportive engagement with individuals who may be struggling. It highlights visible signs such as poor hygiene, isolation, and unmet basic needs, and promotes practical actions like starting conversations, showing care, and seeking advice or support to ensure individuals are not overlooked.

Self-Neglect 7-minute briefing

This 7-minute briefing provides a concise overview of self-neglect in the context of adult safeguarding, including its definition under the Care Act 2014, key indicators, causes, and associated risks. It outlines the legal framework, highlights when self-neglect becomes a safeguarding concern, and emphasises the importance of balancing autonomy with duty of care. The document includes practical guidance for professionals, such as assessing mental capacity, applying trauma-informed approaches, and working collaboratively to manage risk. It also reinforces professional responsibilities, including timely reporting, multi-agency working, and maintaining professional curiosity.

Self-Neglect Learning Briefing

This learning briefing provides an overview of self-neglect, including what it is, common signs, underlying causes, and how it should be responded to within safeguarding practice. It highlights the importance of risk assessment, multi-agency collaboration, and applying legal frameworks such as the Care Act and Mental Capacity Act, while outlining a structured process for identifying, assessing, and managing self-neglect cases.

Understanding homicide A framework analysis

Behavioural Insights Team report analysing 50 London homicide cases through a structured coding framework to explore how mental health, drugs, alcohol, gang involvement, social media and escalation patterns contribute to homicide and inform prevention.