SPECIAL EDITION: Multi-agency working

West Sussex County Council sent this bulletin at 14-07-2025 09:00 AM BST
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SPECIAL EDITION
Multi-agency working

Following the results of our multi-agency working survey, we understood that there is a need to make sure that staff working across our partnership are aware of and using our multi-agency working resources.

Using these will support better multi-agency working and subsequently, better experiences for the adults we are supporting. To help, this special edition newsletter highlights our multi-agency working resources available to you.

Please ensure that you share this newsletter widely within your organisations, to help learning and to promote best practice with adults with care and support needs in West Sussex.

NEW: Multi-agency meeting guide

MA Guide

When working with adults with care and support needs, including those with multiple and compound needs, engaging in multi-agency working is essential.

This means working closely and well together with staff from involved agencies. This ensures that all involved in an adult’s care are aware of, and understand, each other’s work and views so that the adult experiences a fully coordinated approach.

Our new Multi-agency meeting guide takes you through the benefits of multi-agency working; top tips for participation; the challenges you might face; and where to go to find out more. 

Key documents:

Multi-agency working summary guidance

Summary Guidance

Our Multi-agency working summary guidance has been produced with the intention of summarising and clarifying best practice for multi-agency working.

It covers five top tips for engaging in multi-agency working, including convening multi-agency meetings; recording your engagement with the adult; sharing information; and undertaking multi-agency risk assessments.

Key documents:

Sussex Safeguarding Adults Policy and Procedures

For an overview of the expected safeguarding multi-agency working practice for staff in Sussex, visit the Sussex Safeguarding Adults Policy and Procedures.

In these procedures, you will find information about expectations around the convening of multi-agency meetings; Making Safeguarding Personal; recording and sharing information; multi-agency risk management; and supervision and management oversight.

Key documents:

Sussex Safeguarding Adults Thresholds

The Sussex Safeguarding Adults Thresholds is a Sussex-wide guidance document, which helps your decision-making when you are considering whether or not a safeguarding incident needs reporting to the local authority.

It takes you through the types of abuse and neglect included in the Care Act 2014, and provides guidance on the incidents that are non-reportable, require consultation, and are reportable to the local authority. Alternative actions to consider at every stage are also included, for your reference. You should be using this document before submitting a safeguarding referral to the local authority.

Key documents:

*Please note that this document contains a link to an old version of the Sussex Safeguarding Adults Policy and Procedures website. Please access the Sussex Safeguarding Adults Policy and Procedures website via its new URL.

Sussex Escalation and Resolution Protocol

Escalation and Resolution Protocol

Our Escalation and Resolution Protocol summary guidance has been produced for staff, with the intention of summarising and clarifying the process for managing professional disagreements in relation to adult safeguarding.

This includes where staff do not agree with the outcome of an adult safeguarding referral. This summary guidance includes a breakdown of the five step escalation and resolution process to support you when you do not agree with:

  • the outcome of a safeguarding referral;
  • the level of risk presented for an adult;
  • practitioner or agency roles and responsibilities;
  • the outcome of a safeguarding enquiry;
  • a mental capacity or best interests decision.

Key documents:
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