KMSAB Policies & Procedures

Multi-Agency Safeguarding Adults Policy, Protocols and Guidance for Kent and Medway is designed to guide practitioners through legal responsibilities, how organisations work together, and general guidance on how to recognise and react to abuse or suspected abuse against adults at risk.

These policies and protocols are for professionals working with adults who are at risk of abuse and neglect, aged 18 and over. They do not apply to children, in which separate policies and procedures are in place. To access the policies related to safeguarding children, please visit the relevant children's partnership website:

• Kent Safeguarding Children Multi-Agency Partnership
• Medway Safeguarding Children Partnership

All multi-agency policies should be read in conjunction with individual agencies internal policies.

For information - in relation to DOLs and home takeovers, related polices will be updated to reflect the following changes in due course:

Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DOLs)

The Supreme Court judgement issued on 2 June 2026 has fundamentally changed the legal test for what constitutes a deprivation of liberty, overturning the longstanding “acid test” and introducing a more nuanced, case-by-case approach. This has significant implications across adult social care, with organisations needing to review how they identify and authorise restrictive care arrangements. Local authorities are beginning to consider the impact on current DoLS processes and practice, and the sector is awaiting further national guidance to support consistent implementation. For further details, please see link below.

 UK Supreme Court 2026 judgment on what constitutes a deprivation of liberty - GOV.UK

Home Takeover

The Crime and Policing Act 2026 created a new bespoke criminal offence to tackle the practice known as ‘cuckooing’ (home takeover), whereby criminals take control over the home of another person to use it for criminal activity.

Multi-Agency Safeguarding Adults Policy, Procedures and Practitioners Guidance

• Kent and Medway multi-agency safeguarding adults policy, procedures and practitioner guidance
• EQIA

Adults Missing from Health and Care Settings

• Multi-agency response for adults missing from health and care settings
• EQIA

Complaints and Compliments

• KMSAB Complaints and Compliments Policy

Domestic Abuse and Care and Support Needs

• Multi-agency protocol for dealing with cases of domestic abuse to safeguard adults with care and support needs
• EQIA

Escalation and Resolving Practitioner Differences

• Escalation policy; resolving practitioner differences for referrals and adult safeguarding
• EQIA

Exploitation, Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking

• Protocols to safeguard adults who are at risk of exploitation, modern slavery and human trafficking
• EQIA

Homelessness Practitioner Resource

• Practitioner resource supporting persons who are homeless, at risk of homelessness or experiencing multiple exclusion homelessness

Kent and Medway Threshold Tool

• Kent and Medway Threshold Tool

Multi-Agency Risk Management Framework (MARM)

• Kent and Medway Multi-Agency Risk Management Framework

Supporting Documents

• MARM Flowchart 
• Quick Guide to the MARM
• MARM Email Template for Inviting Agencies
• MARM Agenda Template
• MARM Case Studies
• MARM Training Slides

People in Position of Trust (PiPOT)

• Managing concerns around People in Positions of Trust (PiPOT)
• EQIA

Pressure Ulcers and Safeguarding

• Pressure Ulcers and Safeguarding Local Guidance

Safeguarding Adults Reviews Procedure

(email KMSAB@kent.gov.uk for access to the Safeguarding Adults Review referral form)

• Policy, Procedures and Practitioner Guidance for Safeguarding Adults Reviews

Self-neglect and Hoarding

• Policy and Procedures to support people that self-neglect or demonstrate hoarding behaviour
• Quick Guide - Identifying and Responding to Self-Neglect and Hoarding
• Appendix 1: Legal Framework and Intervention
• Appendix 2: Clutter Image Rating Tool Guidance
• Appendix 4: Multi-Agency Meeting Agenda Template (word version)
• Appendix 5: Email template for inviting agencies (word version)
• EQIA

When Adults at Risk Abuse Each Other in settings where care is provided

• When adults at risk abuse each other in settings where care is provided
• EQIA

Useful documents

• • Kent and Medway Threshold Tool
  • KMSAB 10 Rules of Record Keeping
  • KMSAB Legal Frameworks and Interventions
  • KMSAB Legal basis for sharing information - Quick Guide
  • KMSAB - End of Life Care
  • KMSAB - recognising the emotional wellbeing of adults following significant life changes
  • KMSAB What makes a good referral?
  • KMMH Professionals Meetings - Guidance for practitioners

Privacy Notices

• KMSAB Privacy Notice

All KMSAB Policies and Procedures are live documents and are reviewed by the Practice, Policy and Procedures Working Group. If you have any comments or suggestions for improvement, please contact the KMSAB Manager by emailing KMSAB@kent.gov.uk.