"I am concerned about someone who self-neglects"
Quick overview: Five Steps for practitioners and services
Refer the Self-neglect policy, procedures and guidance for further information
Step 1. First and foremost, offer support:
- Always work to engage with people to offer all the support you are able to, without causing distress.
Step 2. If someone declines support, assessed to be essential to their health and wellbeing:
Review your approach using the best practice principles within the policy. In particular:
- Support the person to make an informed decision
- Assess risk, as best as you can in the circumstances
- Speak to partners to understand concerns and approaches
- Consider if there is evidence to suggest a mental capacity assessment is required
Step 3. If you assess that there is a low risk to their health and wellbeing
- Respect their wishes – making sure they know how to access support in the future
- If they periodically or partially engage with services, continue to work with them following the principles in the policy. This can involve working alongside other agencies involved in the persons care – to share information, and agree joined up approaches. You should seek, overtime, to help the person overcome barriers to accessing the wider support they need.
- If someone lacks mental capacity however, to make decisions about access to support or services, these will need to be make in their best interests.
Step 4. If the risk is more significant, and a formal multi-agency approach is required or you believe it is a safeguarding concern.
- Contact: Adult Social Care
- If you identify a risk to child, at any point, contact Leeds Children Services
Step 5. What Adult Social Care will do:
- Undertake an assessment of care and support needs as indicated
- Decide whether to facilitate a multi-agency meeting, or request a partner do so in line with the principles of the policy
- Decide whether a multi-agency safeguarding adults procedures should be followed