Where we are based

We have a team based at Sunderland Royal Hospital and South Tyneside District Hospital.

Meet the team

How to make a referral

For more information on how you can make a referral, please click the link below.

Referrals to South Tyneside, Sunderland, Gateshead and Durham can be made via Datix by choosing the appropriate dropdown in the Datix safeguarding module.

South Tyneside Locality

Contact by telephone the Lets Talk Team on 0191 4246000 in hours or 0191 456 2093 out of hours. A concern has not been raised until this team have been contacted and you have discussed the concern.

Sunderland Locality

If urgent contact Sunderland Local Authority on 0191 520 5552.

Gateshead locality

Contact by telephone Adult Social Care on (01910) 433 7033 in and out of hours

Durham Locality

Contact by telephone Social Care Direct on 03000 267 979

Any other localities

If the abuse occurred outside of these areas – please contact the Safeguarding Adults team where the abuse occurred.

Follow this link for guidance on making a good Adult Safeguarding Referral

How you can contact us

Staff can contact the Safeguarding Adults Team Monday - Friday between 8:30am - 5:00pm. On the following numbers:

The Adult Safeguarding Team can be contacted on 0191 5410555 ext. 40555 or email stsft.safeguardingteam@nhs.net

Out of office hours staff should contact their Line Manager/Matron/Safeguarding Champion

  • If a crime is taking place now dial 101 to inform the police (or 999 if it is a serious crime/an emergency). 
  • Call 999 if you believe any other emergency service is needed. You may also report concerns to the Care Quality Commission (CQC) on 03000 61 61 61 if your concern relates to a care organisation i.e. care home, hospital.

Designated and Named professionals can be contacted on the numbers below.

  • Tracy Dawson - Named Nurse Safeguarding Adult: 07884337206
  • Stephen Edgeley - Interim Designated Nurse Safeguarding Adults South Tyneside: 077771358202
  • Wendy Proctor - Designated Nurse Safeguarding Adults Sunderland: 07796938519

Local multi-agency safeguarding arrangements

Safeguarding Adults Unit in South Tyneside

South Shields Town Hall,  Westoe Road, South Shields, NE33 2RL

Telephone: (0191) 424 6000 in hours or (0191) 456 2093 out of hours 

Telephone: (0191) 424 4049 in hours or (0191) 456 2093 out of hours 

(*** Please remember to submit a DATIX referral after contacting South Tyneside Local Authority Adult Safeguarding Units ***)

Safeguarding Adults in Gateshead

Gateshead Council, Civic Centre, Regent Street, Gateshead NE8 1HH Telephone: (0191) 433 7033 

Safeguarding Adults in Sunderland

City Hall, Plater Way, Sunderland SR1 3AA Telephone: (0191) 520 5552

Safeguarding Adults in Durham

 

For local safeguarding procedures, please visit the following websites:

Safeguarding Adult Reviews (SARS) and Learning Reviews

The Care Act 2014 stipulates that Safeguarding Adult Boards (SABs) must arrange a Safeguarding Adults Review (SAR) when:

  • an adult in its area with care and support needs dies as a result of abuse or neglect;
  • whether known or suspected; and
  • there is concern that partner agencies could have worked more effectively to protect the adult.

SABs must also arrange a SAR if an adult with care and support needs, in its area has not died, but the SAB knows or suspects that the adult has experienced serious abuse or neglect.

The purpose of all SARs is to keep the focus on learning. The final SAR report and those responsible for disseminating the learning from it, should ensure that the recommendations can be translated into practice, not just for those involved but to a wider audience to support prevention strategies and influence strategic plans.

It is not for a SAR to investigate how a death or serious incident happened. Neither is it the responsibility of the SAR to apportion blame. Such matters will be dealt with by the Coroner’s or criminal courts, or other bodies.

Safeguarding Adult Reviews:

Please click the links below which will take you to the local Safeguarding Adult Boards with the most recent published SARS:

7 Minute Briefings:

Making Safeguarding Personal

Making Safeguarding Personal (MSP) is a personalised approach that enables safeguarding to be done with, not to, people. The approach uses professional skills rather than just "putting people through a process". This enables practitioners, families, teams and Safeguarding Adult Boards to know what difference has been made based upon the person's desired outcome.

MSP starts with a conversation. Discuss with the patient as clearly as possible, what abuse they are subjected to, and what they would like to do about this. This would be what the Local Authority refers to as the person’s ‘desired outcome’ and forms the basis of the section 42 enquiry.  Section 42 enquiries are no longer process driven, but guided by what the person wants to happen in regards to the abuse they are experiencing.

Please click on the links for further information on Making Safeguarding Personal (MSP):    

Self-Neglect and Hoarding

Under The Care Act 2014 Self-Neglect is classed as a category of abuse.

Self-neglect can cover a wide range of behaviours. Some examples of this can be individuals neglecting to care for their personal hygiene, health or surroundings and includes behaviours such as hoarding.

It is important to consider the individuals capacity to understand the risks associated with their behaviours when self-neglect is suspected. Also consider how it may impact on other family members and whether this gives rise to a safeguarding concern.

 

Self-neglect toolkits:

 

Click the below links for further information:

Return to Safeguarding