This process must be read in conjunction with Wigan Safeguarding Adults Board (WSAB) Multi agency Safeguarding Adults policy and procedures which sets out the legal responsibilities of how organisations work together to safeguard adults.

This approach is designed to support anyone working with an adult where there is a high level of risk and the circumstances sit outside the statutory adult safeguarding framework, but where a multi-agency approach would be beneficial.

Concerns regarding adults who agencies have reasonable cause to suspect have needs for care and support should be referred under section 42 Care Act via the reporting abuse or neglect concerns webpage (external link).

This guidance establishes a structured framework for multi-disciplinary practitioners to convene, collaborate, and coordinate actions aimed at addressing complex issues and improving outcomes for individuals.

Please note this guidance is aimed to provide guidance and support to agencies when cases meet the criteria as outlined below:

1. Case does not meet the criteria of:
   1. Section 42 Care Act 2014 (Statutory Adult Safeguarding)
   2. Multi-agency Risk Assessment Conference (MARAC)
   3. Multi-agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA)
   4. Prevent
2. The person has capacity to make decisions and choices
3. There is a risk of serious harm that would be supported by multi-agency co-ordination

Risk of serious harm could include the following:

• There is a risk of serious harm or death by self-neglect, fire, deteriorating health condition, non-engagement with services or where an adult is targeted in the local community, is subjected to hate crime, anti-social behaviour or sexual violence - and they do not meet the criteria for s.42, MARAC, MAPPA or Prevent. Note: serious harm means death or injury, whether physical or psychological, which is life threatening and/or traumatic and which is viewed to be imminent or likely to occur in the future.
• There is a potential risk to the health and safety of others in the community. This could be due to fire risk, cuckooing, drug dealing, hate crime and other crimes committed which could make others feel unsafe in the area; environmental health concerns such as vermin, excess rubbish and unsanitary conditions and any other issue which could impact on the health and safety of neighbours, visitors, the wider community or professionals who need to enter the property to provide a service.

Please note where anti-social behaviour (ASB) is a feature of a case, agencies must ensure alignment with existing ASB policy and resolution frameworks. The multi-disciplinary team (MDT) process is intended to complement, not replace, established ASB case management and should be used where risks cannot be effectively managed through standard ASB interventions.

For ASB-related cases, escalation to the MDT process should be considered where there is evidence of high risk, vulnerability, repeat harm, or where coordinated multi-agency intervention is required beyond routine case management.

Useful documents:

• Risk and Complexity MDT and SRP Full Guidance
• Appendix 1 - Meeting Invite
• Appendix 2 - Meeting Etiquette
• Appendix 3 - Agenda
• Appendix 4 - Action Plan
• Appendix 5 - SRP Escalation Form

More details about anti-social behaviour can be found on the ASB webpage (external link).

Please note that concerns regarding children should be reported through the worried about a child webpage (external link).