Enquiries with Care Providers

In Jersey we pride ourselves on the strength of partnership arrangements we have in place, and we recognise the skills, strengths and knowledge of all our partners in delivering quality safeguarding interventions to our citizens. Safeguarding is more effective when we work together cooperatively.

Care providers are responsible for taking appropriate action and for reporting safeguarding matters appropriately. The Jersey Care Commission must also be notified by a regulated care provider in accordance with the Regulation 21 of the Regulation of Care (Requirements and Standards) (Jersey) Regulations 2018 when a safeguarding matter is identified (see: Roles and Responsibilities).

When an incident occurs and abuse or neglect is suspected, a safeguarding concern should be raised. Consideration should also be given, depending on the nature of the incident, as to whether it may be necessary to notify relevant parties such as relatives or any external agencies or organisations due to contractual (or other) requirements.

See: Threshold Grid.

On receipt of a safeguarding concern, the SAT will decide as to whether a safeguarding enquiry is required or not. The SAT will also decide on how an enquiry should be conducted, and how the views of the adult(s) at risk will be gathered (if these have not been elicited already). The SAT may consider that all, or part, of an enquiry is carried out by another professional or organisation who are best placed to do this. The most appropriate professional should be identified to carry out an enquiry – for example, a health professional may be best placed to undertake enquiries relating to management of medication or pressure damage.

Registered Managers (in regulated care services) may be best placed to undertake enquiries related to abuse or neglect caused by a staff member. However, in some cases it may not be appropriate for an employer to undertake an enquiry (for example, if the employer is conflicted or significantly implicated).

The SAT may request the care provider to undertake the safeguarding enquiry (and provide the support that the adult may need) in respect of a person receiving care and support from that provider unless there is a compelling reason why it is inappropriate or unsafe for the same organisation to do this.  For example, there could be a conflict of interest, concerns about existing or previous enquiries, existing safeguarding issues or action plans that are not completed, or multiple concerns. The matter could also require investigation by the Police.

Where there is a decision to appoint an enquiry officer who is independent of a provider service, the provider may still be required to provide information and be involved in the enquiry or may be requested to undertake aspects of the enquiry by way of a Partner Report.