Multi-agency meetings

The Local Government Association (LGA) highlights that collaborative working enables organisations to achieve outcomes and deliver value that would be challenging, or even impossible, to accomplish independently.

As such, multi-agency meetings, whether conducted in person or virtually, provide the most effective means for ensuring robust information sharing, clear communication, and shared responsibility in assessing risks to an adult and developing an action plan to address those risks.

Any agency may initiate a multi-agency meeting; ideally, this should be the organisation most actively involved in supporting the individual. In cases where a Section 42 enquiry is active and the local authority has delegated the enquiry to another agency, that lead agency may take responsibility for coordinating the multi-agency response.

There are circumstances when a meeting should be considered, such as:

• Addressing self-neglect
• Sharing risk and creating safety plans
• Coordinating safeguarding responses and addressing concerns around quality of care
• Aligning criminal investigations with safeguarding enquiries
• Reviewing outcomes and agreeing safeguarding plans
• Managing complex cases involving multiple safeguarding enquiries, such as organisational abuse

Multi-agency meetings should follow a structured agenda that covers all relevant areas, and there must be a clear record of the actions agreed, who is responsible, and the timelines for completion. This includes determining who will take the lead on specific tasks related to risk management and safety planning.

It is good practice identify a professional(s) to coordinate the involvement of all agencies. This professional will act as the single point of contact and maintains oversight of the case, ensuring consistent and aligned support across organisations for adults with complex needs.

All decisions and actions agreed in multi-agency meetings should be thoroughly documented in the adult’s records, this may include safeguarding plans, risk assessments, care plans, or case notes. This documentation provides evidence of the steps being taken to reduce risk. Every agency involved should receive a copy of the safeguarding plan or meeting minutes.

If a multi-agency meeting is not possible to convene, professionals should still work together through virtual meetings, phone calls, or emails to share information, seek advice, and agree on necessary actions. The lead agency supporting the adult should take responsibility for driving this forward.

Where there is professional disagreement across agencies regarding the approach to an adult’s care, the Derbyshire and Derby Safeguarding Adults Boards Complaints Policy and Process and the DSAB Escalation Process for Professionals should be followed. These protocols support consistent and timely decision-making in safeguarding and include a streamlined escalation process to ensure relevant safeguarding leads are consulted when appropriate.