• LB Harrow Cuckooing Local Protocol_ June 2025

• HSAB Escalation Policy_June 2025

• HSAB Protocol for working with Harder to Engage Service Users

• HSAB_Information_Sharing_Protocol_August 2025_v4

This is a new approach led by police, health and other relevant partners (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/national-partnership-agreement-right-care-right-person)

The goal is to ensure that when someone calls about a mental health concern, the appropriate professionals respond, rather than defaulting to police involvement. This change aims to alleviate pressure on emergency services and ensure that individuals receive the right care from the right people.

Rest assured; the police will continue to perform their primary role of ensuring public safety. If there is an immediate and serious threat to someone’s life, the police will respond quickly, just as they do now. Operators at the Metropolitan Police will be trained to utilise this new model, equipping them to assess each call and determine the appropriate course of action, including whether to send police officers.

With this new process, police officers are expected to attend fewer calls overall. Instead, they will concentrate on situations where their presence is necessary, such as when healthcare staff require assistance with patients who are being violent or have harmed others.

For more information refer to Right Care, Right Person on GOV.UK

Person in a Position of Trust (PIPOT) is someone who provides care and support to adults either through work or volunteering.

People are classified as being in a ‘position of trust’ if they are expected to have interactions with adults in care and support positions while working or volunteering.

• They are expected to be trusted in their role.
• Adults with care and support needs perceive that they are under the authority, power, or control of others.

This policy is applicable in all situations where issues arise regarding:

• The PIPOT’s responsibilities involve working with adults who require care and support, either through their job or volunteer work.

The personal life of the PIPOT involves caring and providing support for adults with care needs in their family or social circle.

Please note: HSAB is developing a Harrow PiPOT policy which will be added soon. 

Statutory guidance on Persons in Position Of Trust (PiPOT) can be found at S.14.123 within:

Care and support statutory guidance – GOV.UK

This protocol offers clear guidance to staff working with people who exhibit hoarding behaviours. It sets out a framework for multi-agency partners to work together using an outcome-focused, solution-based model.

Link to protocol will be added.

Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)

Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) is a harmful cultural practice involving the partial or total removal of external female genitalia or other injury to the female genital organs for non-medical reasons. There are no health benefits to FGM—it is a violation of human rights and a form of child abuse.

FGM is also known by various cultural or regional names, including female circumcision, cutting, Sunna, gudniin, halalays, tahur, megrez, and khitan, among others. These terms may be used to normalise or downplay the severity of the practice, but FGM is internationally recognised as a form of gender-based violence.

FGM is most commonly carried out on young girls, typically between infancy and the age of 15, often before the onset of puberty. In some communities, it is seen as a rite of passage, a preparation for marriage, or a way to ensure premarital virginity and marital fidelity. However, none of these reasons justify the physical and psychological harm inflicted.

FGM is practised in parts of Africa, the Middle East, and Asia, but due to migration, cases also occur in Europe, North America, and Australia, often within diaspora communities.

Information and support about FGM for healthcare professionals can be found at the link below:

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/female-genital-mutilation-fgm-guidance-for-healthcare-staff

To access the government guidance titled “Working across housing, social care and safeguarding to tackle long-term rough sleeping: webinar” please click the link below:

Working across housing, social care and safeguarding to tackle long-term rough sleeping: webinar – GOV.UK

To access the government guidance titled “A National Plan to End Homelessness” please click the link below:

A National Plan to End Homelessness

The practice of professional curiosity combines various personality traits, attitudes, behaviours, and skills that individuals develop over time (Burton and Revell, 2018).

Key elements include:

1. Personality Traits: Practitioners with professional curiosity possess a genuine enthusiasm for acquiring knowledge. They exhibit positive qualities such as adaptability, tolerance for uncertainty, a sense of humour, and a non-judgmental approach.

2. Attitude or Outlook: These individuals display determination, eagerness to learn, openness to new ideas, and a commitment to understanding the stories and lived experiences of others, often utilising strengths-based approaches.

3. Behaviours: Practitioners engage in asking insightful questions to bridge information gaps, recognise signs that necessitate further inquiry, and possess the courage to engage in challenging conversations.

4. Skills: They demonstrate strong communication abilities, utilise reflection and critical analysis, are knowledgeable about legal frameworks, and apply evidence-based practices grounded in research.

Overall, these characteristics empower practitioners and leaders to take proactive measures, identify potential issues, intervene early, and adopt a person-centred approach.

The traits outlined above enable practitioners and leaders to:

– Identify and explore in greater depth what is occurring for an individual through proactive questioning.
– Establish connections and confidently challenge respectfully when necessary.
– Recognise potential abuse, neglect, or situations that may lead to abusive or neglectful circumstances.
– Intervene early and adopt preventative strategies before a situation escalates.
– Make and document defensible decisions.
– Work in a person-centred manner.

Source: https://www.researchinpractice.org.uk/media/z5nl0yiw/adults_professional_curiosity_sb_web.pdf

To access the London Multi-Agency Adult Safeguarding Policy, Practice Guidance and Procedures please click the link below:

London Multi-Agency Adult Safeguarding Policy Practice Guidance and Procedures November 2025

Here is the link to the launch presentation for the document above:

Safeguarding Procedures launch Nov 2025