Multi-agency meetings - learning briefing
Introduction
This briefing shares the key learning outcomes of these Safeguarding Adult Reviews:
- SAR Anna published in May 2022
- SAR Hannah published in December 2023.
It outlines:
- the types of multi-agency meetings
- how they are essential to manage risk
- when to call a meeting
- information sharing between agencies
We encourage all staff who work with adults with care and support needs to read the briefing and discuss it with your managers and team.
SAR Anna
Anna was an 85-year-old woman who died of natural causes. On admission to hospital, staff noted that she had bruises and skin tears over several parts of her body. There were historical concerns about abuse by her daughter whom she had returned to live with 5 months before her death.
One of the key findings was the lack of formal planning meetings with front line staff. This led to assumptions about what action was being taken to safeguard Anna.
SAR Hannah
Hannah was a 48-year-old woman, who died in 2022 due to a head injury. Before her death Hannah’s use of alcohol significantly increased. This led to significant physical health problems and she had many hospital admissions.
These stays in hospital provided opportunities to call a multi-agency meeting to consider what support could be provided to Hannah.
Types of multi-agency meetings
Safeguarding meetings
Safeguarding planning meetings are to decide if you need a Section 42 enquiry.
Safeguarding review meetings are to discuss what has happened during the enquiry and what needs to happen next.
Professionals meetings
These meetings are for talking about:
- specific cases
- care and treatment
- problems and risks
- when professionals disagree.
They can be regular or one-off meetings.
They can be called quickly in an emergency.
There should be a good reason for having these meetings, but there's no set rule for when to call one.
Multi-disciplinary team meeting
This meeting looks at a person's health needs. It often happens around a specific event, like when someone is leaving the hospital.
The person who needs help, their family, or their carers may or may not be involved. It depends on each situation.
Best interest decision meetings
If someone lacks the mental capacity to make the decision for themselves, any actions taken for them must be in their best interests. See: Best interest decision making.
Multi-agency risk assessment conference (MARAC)
A meeting for agencies to share information on the highest risk domestic abuse cases.
MARAC representatives discuss options for increasing safety for the victim and create a coordinated action plan. The primary focus of the MARAC is to safeguard the victim. See: MARAC | Safe in East Sussex
Multi-agency public protection arrangements (MAPPA)
MAPPA is a system where the police, probation officers and prison staff work together with other groups to assess and manage people who have committed violent or sexual crimes. This is to keep the public safe.
We can make a referral when we have tried everything else and are very concerned for someone's safety.
Who calls a multi-agency meeting and when
The Care Act offers some flexibility. Sometimes we don't need a formal meeting, but meetings are usually the best way to ensure everyone is working together. Whether in person or online, we can share information and work out what to do to keep the person safe.
When to have a meeting
A meeting is advised when:
- someone is not taking care of themselves
- we need to share information and plan
- we are working together to keep someone safe and make sure they are getting good care
- there is a police investigation and we are also looking into the person's safety
- we want to review what has happened and make a plan for the future
- there are a lot of things going on that might affect the person's safety
Any group that helps the person can call a meeting. Usually, it's the group that's most involved. If there is an active Section 42 enquiry, the agency leading this enquiry can lead the meeting.
It's a good idea to have one person in charge of coordinating everyone's work. This person will be the contact for all the groups involved. They'll make sure everyone is doing the same things to help the person and that everyone is working together.
About multi-agency meetings
Who should attend a multi-agency meeting?
Everyone who needs to be involved should be invited to the meetings and discussions.
If an agency cannot attend the meeting, they should tell the person who is organising it and try to send someone else from their agency.
Information sharing
Everyone should share any information they have that might be important for keeping the person safe. If staff from key agencies cannot be at the meeting, they should try to share information beforehand.
The person leading the meeting should ensure agencies that cannot attend are aware of what was decided and any actions they need to take.
Multi-agency risk assessment
When there are significant risks, we often need to work together with other agencies. This means clear and timely information sharing, shared risk assessing and creating multi-agency risk management plans. The plan should be reasonable and focused on stopping or reducing future risks.
Plans should clearly show:
- all the risks we know about and might expect
- what the person wants and thinks
- what we are doing and who is doing it
- if there are any problems with the person's mental capacity. How we are dealing with it, including best interests decisions. if needed.
- how we are explaining the risks and what we can do to help the person.
