The Association of Directors of Adult Social Services (ADASS) have published updated protocol for Out of Area Safeguarding Adults Arrangements which aims to compliment statutory guidance by recognising the particular safeguarding risks and needs that arise where people’s care and support arrangements cross local authority boundaries.
This protocol for inter-authority working on safeguarding enquiries was revised in 2016, to reflect Care Act duties, the accompanying statutory guidance and the ethos and best practice standards of Making Safeguarding Personal. It has been revised and updated in 2025 to bring it into line with changes since then. It does not cover Safeguarding Adults Reviews.
This guidance applies to people at home, in the community and all care and support settings in England, including registered care settings, supported living, community settings, family placement or hospitals. It applies to all adults at risk, as defined by s42 of the Care Act, whether or not the costs of their care and support are being met by public funds. Where safeguarding adults concerns are raised, the local authority where the risk is posed is responsible, under Section 42 of the Care Act, for ensuring that enquiries are undertaken, as required.
ADASS-Out-of-area-Safeguarding-Adults-Arrangements-Protocol-Final-30-Oct
