- 1 referral for domestic abuse (a decrease of 87.5%)
- 41 referrals for self-neglect (a decrease of 19.6%)
- 5 referrals for financial abuse (a decrease of 74%)
- 11 referrals for self-neglect for RWP supported living tenants (a decrease of 48%)
- 11 referrals were made by our Independent Living Team
- 15 referrals were made by our Progress Lifeline Team
- 11 referrals were made by our RWP supported living team
- 15 referrals were made by our Customer Contact Centre
- 8 referrals were made by our Housing Operations Team
- 37 cases were closed
- 34 cases are awaiting updates from social services/employees
- 149 safeguarding concerns were raised overall by Key Unlocking Futures
- 81 safeguarding incident reports completed by Key’s Emotional Health and Wellbeing Service
- 7 safeguarding concerns raised in Key’s Schools Counselling Service
We are committed to providing outstanding safeguarding support, supervision and training.
Our Safeguarding Annual Report provides an opportunity to reflect on where we need to focus our efforts in the year ahead and recognise our achievements from the previous year in preventing harm and safeguarding our employees, tenants, their families and communities.
We recognise the importance of keeping adults with care and support needs and all children free from neglect, harm and abuse. This report summarises the number of safeguarding concerns raised across the Group.
A safeguarding concern is only raised where someone is at risk of harm. We will always work with the at-risk person to ensure they are happy with us referring them for help and support.
Progress Housing Group Safeguarding Annual Report 2023 - 2024
This year, 71 safeguarding concerns were raised, a reduction of 52 compared to the previous year. Neglect (including referrals for self-neglect) accounted for the most significant number of safeguarding concerns raised, followed by domestic abuse, emotional abuse and financial abuse.
Of our referrals, 31% were accepted by the local authority safeguarding team.
Child referrals
6
Adult referrals
65
Total referrals
71
Referrals year on year comparison
|
|
2018/19 |
2019/20 |
2020/21 |
2021/22 |
2022/23 |
2023/24 |
|
Adult referrals |
66 (71.7%) |
65 (74%) |
66 (71.7%) |
116 (84.6%) |
102 (82.92) |
65 (90.1%) |
|
Child referrals |
26 (28.3%) |
19 (22.6%) |
26 (28.3%) |
21 (15.3%) |
21 (17.07) |
6 (8.4%) |
|
Total |
92 |
84 |
92 |
137 |
123 |
71 |
|
|
2019/20 |
2020/21 |
2021/22 |
2022/23 |
2023/24 |
|
Neglect |
15 (17.8%) |
29 (31.5%) |
29 (21.2%) |
25 (30.75%) |
11 (15.5%) |
|
Self-Neglect |
31 (36.9%) |
21 (22.8%) |
60 (43.8%) |
51 (41.46%) |
41 (57.7%) |
|
Domestic Abuse |
17 (20.2%) |
20 (21.7%) |
13 (9.49%) |
8 (6.5%) |
1 (1.4%) |
|
Emotional Abuse
|
4 (4.8%) |
10 (10.9%) |
9 (6.57%) |
15 (18.45%) |
6 (8.4%) |
|
Financial |
10 (12%) |
8 (8.7%) |
12 (8.76% |
19 (15.44%) |
5 (7%) |
|
Physical |
6 (7.1%) |
0 (0%) |
7 (5.11%)
|
2 (2.46%) |
6 (8.4%) |
|
Institutional |
1 (1.2%) |
3 (3.3%) |
3 (2.19%)
|
0 |
0 |
|
Discrimination
|
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Sexual Abuse
|
0 |
1 (1.1%) |
2 (1.46%) |
2 (2.46%) |
1 (1.4%) |
|
Cuckooing
|
N/a |
N/a |
2 (1.46%) |
1 (1.23%) |
0 |
|
Total
|
84 |
92 |
137 |
123 |
71 |
- 5 referrals whereby the local authority safeguarding team confirmed that they were satisfied with the actions being undertaken internally by the Group.
- 22 referrals were accepted by the local authority safeguarding team who were working with the subject directly.
- 10 referrals which were deemed by the local authority not to meet the safeguarding thresholds due to information or support being offered by a third party
|
Outcome |
2019/20 |
2020/21 |
2021/22 |
2022/23 |
2023/24 |
|
Local Authority safeguarding team confirmed that they were satisfied with the actions being undertaken internally by the Group |
5 (-6.75%) |
10 (14.70%) |
16 (11.67%) |
15 (18.45%) |
5 (7%) |
|
Referral accepted by Local Authority safeguarding team who are working with the subject directly |
29 (-39.20%) |
24 (35.30%) |
41 (29.92% |
28 (34.44%) |
22 (31%) |
|
No further action taken by Local Authority safeguarding team due to information being supplied by a 3rd party (usually another tenant contacting Progress Connect) or no consent was gained for the referral or did not meet referral criteria |
40 (54.05%) |
32 (47.00%) |
38 (27.7%) |
38 (46.74%) |
10 (14%) |
|
No response from colleagues/social services regarding outcome of referral |
|
|
|
|
34 |
|
Total |
74 |
66 |
95 |
81 |
71 |
Concerns raised by business area
| Business area |
Referrals
|
|
Community Safety
|
6 (8.4%) |
|
Independent Living
|
11 (15.5%) |
|
Customer Voice
|
0 (0%) |
|
Income Collection
|
3 (4.2%) |
|
Neighbourhoods (Housing Ops in Progress Homes)
|
8 (11.2%) |
|
Progress Lifeline
|
15 (21.1%) |
|
Customer Contact Centre
|
15 (21.1%) |
|
Property Services
|
2 (2.8%) |
|
RWP
|
11 (15.5%) |
|
Total |
71
|
The Housing Ombudsman spotlight report ‘Relationship of Equals’ (February 2024) recommends that all housing providers consider vulnerability and implement a specific reasonable adjustments policy, including considering vulnerability in all contacts with tenants.
In addition to safeguarding policies, the Group will consider how it implements strategies for addressing vulnerability and records reasonable adjustment requests. A Reasonable Adjustment Policy has been finalised, and plans are also being made to develop an overarching vulnerability strategy.
- Our Safeguarding Review Group will continue to identify areas for improvement
- We will incorporate regular safeguarding awareness in all our tenant newsletters and on our intranet for colleagues.
- We will continue to support Safeguarding Adults Week each year.
- We will support Key’s team to undertake/refresh suicide awareness training.
- We will continue to offer free mental health and wellbeing support to our tenants through our partnership with Life and Progress.
- We will monitor and implement our Reasonable Adjustments Policy to ensure we adapt and tailor services where required.
- We will support Key’s team in undertaking/refreshing suicide awareness training.
Safeguarding Initiatives 2023 - 24
White Ribbon campaign against domestic abuse
This year's campaign message was # ChangeTheStory. To raise awareness, we shared messages on social media about domestic abuse. Colleagues from South Ribble and Chorley Women's Refuges encouraged people to show their support by wearing white ribbon badges made by the women and children staying at the refuges.
Our charity Key Unlocking Futures (Key) provided our Safe at Homes programme, where we support both men and women who want to stay in their homes or cannot access refuge or alternative accommodation. We also run a 24-hour domestic abuse helpline, two women’s refuges, and a free school programme to teach children about healthy relationships.
Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking Statement
We have a dedicated webpage to modern slavery on our website with resources, support guidance and links to training for our colleagues on our intranet.
Policies and procedures review
We have produced a Reasonable Adjustments Policy. Our Safeguarding Adults and Children Policies have been updated to include abuse through social media platforms.
Mandatory safeguarding training for employees
We provide mandatory safeguarding training that all employees are expected to complete depending on their role. As of May 2024, over 92% of colleagues had completed their training. We send reminders to colleagues six months, three months and one week prior to their refresher date.
We supported Adult Safeguarding Week, which is led by the Ann Craft Trust, the leading authority on safeguarding. Our supported living subsidiary, RWP and Key, worked with us to raise awareness of the campaign, which included themes on a trauma-informed approach, leading conversations in our organisation, and best practices in co-production.
We produced articles, blogs, a video explainer and Easy Read information.
Case study
When an electrical inspection could not be carried out at one of our properties due to hoarding, a case was opened by our area housing officer.
Both tenants had severe health issues; they were sleeping downstairs, and the living room was full of items. The fridge, freezer, and oven were not working, too.
We assisted the tenants by applying for funding to SAFFA, the Armed Forces charity, as one of them was ex-military. We secured funding for a new oven and fridge freezer and granted funding for property clearance.
The clearance company worked with the tenants to ensure that only items they were happy to dispose of left the property. The electrical testing was then completed. The team raised this case with the local authority’s social care team, and a social worker has been allocated. In the meantime, we continue monitoring and offering any required housing support.