Royal Greenwich Safeguarding Adults Board Newsletter

Safeguarding Adults Board Newsletter

June 2025

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The most relevant national and local adult safeguarding related news.

National News

The National Audit Office (NAO) – has published a report on the Government’s progress in reducing Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) in England & Wales report finds that by July 2024, the Home Office had delivered 78% of the commitments set out in their strategy but that VAWG is still a significant and growing issue. Tackling Violence Against Women and Girls NAO Report helps to address this, the Government has also recently announced for the first time controlling or coercive behaviour will be on a par with other domestic abuse offences. The law change means even more domestic abusers will fall under Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA): Government – Better Protection From Domestic Abusers

Hourglass – is a charity that aims to end the harm, abuse, and exploitation of older people in the UK. Hourglass recently hosted a webinar including some excellent speakers talking about this subject and the extent of this problem, which is significantly under reported/ researched: The Sexual Abuse of Older Adults – Hourglass Webinar 2025

This presentation from the London SAB Conference in November 2024 also links to this subject: Systematic Invisibility of Older Victims of Domestic Abuse – Amanda Warburton-Wynn

Manchester City Council – The Minister for Homelessness, Rashanara Ali, hosted an event that is not to be missed! The recording of the event can be found here This event sets the scene for evidence and practice-based transformation in public reform, working with people experiencing multi-exclusion homelessness. The event offers solutions for England to level up the equity gap, prevent humanitarian and financial cost, avoiding the development of complex needs. We can learn from what is already evidenced to be working. Help us share this recording far and wide through our networks, in solidarity for a positive impact and change in circumstances for the people who have become trapped living on our streets.

Details on investing in the social worker role working in homelessness can be found here.

Local News

Her Centre One Stop Shop – Her Centre runs a weekly one stop shop for advice on family legal issues and concerning abuse, Every Wednesday from 10am to 12pm at Thamesmead Moorings Sociable Club, it is a first come first served drop in.

Greenwich Domestic Abuse One Stop Shop – This is a drop in for legal advice and support to deal with abuse, Every Wednesday from 10 am to 12 noon

Location: St. Mary’s Eltham Community Centre.

Self-Neglect & Hoarding – A key initiative launched as part of The Self-Neglect & Hoarding Pilot has been the Self-Neglect and Hoarding Risk Panel. This adopts a multi-agency approach to self-neglect and hoarding behaviours and enables any professional dealing with such a case, to bring it to this multi-agency advisory panel with the aim of collaborative strategising of solutions and new approaches to consider adopting. Referrals are open to any professional in the public and voluntary sectors. If you wish to refer a case to panel, please contact hoarding-support@royalgreenwich.gov.uk or call 020 8921 2446 to discuss the case. Further information and the referral form can be found on our website

Mental Capacity Act (MCA) Guidance – To ensure that the Mental Capacity Act is applied properly for people with a learning disability when they are in hospital, we would like to share details about guidance and practical tools which can be used in these circumstances. This published guidance and practical tools is for front line clinicians in acute and community trusts to download to ensure that the Mental Capacity Act is applied properly for people with a learning disability when they are in hospital.

Safeguarding Adults Week: 17th-21st November 2025– The Ann Crafts Trust will be collaborating with their partners to explore a different safeguarding theme each day during safeguarding adults’ week. The themes will encourage us to consider how we can work together to establish safer cultures within our workplaces and communities. Visit this link to subscribe for resources and updates.

London’s LGBT+ Domestic Abuse Partnership– Galop’s Advocacy and Support Team is currently offering free 15–25-minute outreach briefings as part of London’s LGBT+ Domestic Abuse Partnership. Galop’s outreach briefing entails an overview of the support our domestic abuse team can provide to LGBT+ survivors in London – including how to refer and some of the barrier’s LGBT+ survivors may face when trying to access support.

Appropriate Adults Service for Vulnerable Adults Consultancy – The AA went live at 9am on 31st December 2024 and will run until 31st March 2027. Before going live, two briefing sessions were held with boroughs to discuss these changes and ensure alignment with Appropriate Adult Provision for Children. A dashboard will be created by The Major’s Office for Policing and Crime (MOPAC’s) E&I team to provide local authorities with key information regarding the service delivery, which will be available from June 2025 and updated every quarter. . Further information about MOPAC can be found here.

Me Learning – We are pleased to inform you that this resource, jointly commissioned with the Safeguarding Adults Board is now LIVE and is FREE to use for all Partners and Private, Voluntary and Independent sectors associated with The Royal Borough of Greenwich. Me Learning is an online e-learning platform whereby anyone in Greenwich is able to access a range of courses digitally. Courses include Safeguarding Adults level 1&2, Mental capacity Act 2005, lone working, moving and handling and lots more. Please email has-workforce@royalgreenwich.gov.uk to register for this resource.

By Alyssia Sutherland

On behalf of Royal Borough of Greenwich

Safeguarding Adults Board