Fife Multi-Agency Adult Protection Guidance - Home Page

3.13. ReportingCause fortoConcernthe Local–AuthorityAdult ProtectionSocial WorkReportsServiceof Harm to theSocial Work Service3.1 Adult protection phone line and cause for concern reportFife Adult Protection Committee has a single Adult Protection number andreporting form which enables any person within any organisation to report thefacts and circumstances where s/he knows or believes that an adult is at riskof harm and that action may be necessary to protect them from harm.The form is entitled Fife Multi-Agency Cause for Concern Form. (SeeAppendix 2). Fife’s social work service, as the lead agency must makeinquiries on receipt of an adult Cause for Concern call/form to determine;• if the adult is an adult at risk of harm as defined at 1.1 and• to establish whether social work may need to take steps to protect theadult’s wellbeing, property or financial affairs3.2 Reporting harm processCause for Concern reports will, in most cases, come through the social workservice’s contact centre via the single adult protection telephone number:• 01383 602200Contact centre call handlers will obtain relevant details and on-site social workstaff will screen all the information provided and gather more information fromrelevant parties as required.Contact centre staff will receive adult protection reports from partner agencies,members of the public, relatives, carers or any person concerned that an adultmay be at risk of harm.Where reports of harm come directly to the allocated social worker or localsocial work office (an open case) they will be acted on as any other report ofharm. The social worker will however be responsible for ensuring that theinformation is forwarded to the contact centre where staff will create acontact on SWIFT.3.3 Anonymous adult protection reports of harm (Paid employees andvolunteers)While every effort will be made to protect the identity of workers who areraising concerns, the anonymity of referrers cannot be guaranteed throughoutthe process.It is particularly important to remember, in cases where the police arepursuing a criminal prosecution, workers may be required to give evidence incourt.21