Latest News March 2026
March 2026
Welcome to the March edition of the Salford Safeguarding Adults Board’s Latest News, published to coincide with Social Work Week 2026. We’re delighted to align this month’s update with the national celebrations and take a moment to recognise the vital work social workers do every day to safeguard people across Salford.
It’s a particularly busy week for us at the SSAB. On Wednesday 18 March, we’re hosting a joint exploitation training event, bringing partners together to strengthen awareness of exploitation, the harms involved, and how Salford is responding locally. We look forward to sharing key learning and resources from the session in future updates.
The Board also met virtually last week to review ongoing priorities and partnership activity. A summary of the meeting minutes will be available on our website shortly, so you can stay informed about the discussions and decisions shaping our work.
Best wishes,
The SSAB Team
A Message from Francine Thorpe, Independent Chair of the Safeguarding Adults Board
Social Work Week 2026
As we mark Social Work Week 2026, I want to extend my sincere thanks to all social workers across Salford who dedicate themselves every day to safeguarding adults and supporting some of our most vulnerable residents.
Safeguarding adults is rarely straightforward. It means navigating uncertainty, managing risk, and working alongside people whose circumstances may be extremely difficult. I want to acknowledge the professional judgement, emotional labour, and persistence that this work requires. Social workers routinely enter situations where there are no easy answers, where competing needs must be carefully balanced, and where each decision carries significant weight.
On behalf of the Safeguarding Adults Board, thank you for the dedication you bring to one of the most demanding areas of practice. Your efforts matter deeply, and so does your wellbeing. I hope this week provides an opportunity to reflect, reconnect with colleagues, and take pride in the importance of the work you do.
Kind regards,
Francine Thorpe
Stay Informed: New 7 Minute Briefing on ‘The Duty to Safeguard Adults’
The Salford Safeguarding Adults Board (SSAB) has released a new 7 Minute Briefing on the Care Act 2024 Duty to Safeguard Adults, an essential update for all practitioners working with adults, children, and young people in Salford. You can access it here (Plain text version also available).
Missed opportunities to safeguard remain a recurring theme in Safeguarding Adults Reviews, highlighting how crucial it is that every practitioner understands their responsibilities under this duty. Whether you work in health, social care, education, housing, policing, or the voluntary sector, awareness of this statutory duty is vital to ensuring timely, effective safeguarding responses.
All SSAB 7 minute briefings are designed to give busy practitioners concise, practical learning in just a few minutes. Explore the full collection here.
New 7 Minute Briefing on ‘The Right to Access and Associated Legal Powers’
We have a new 7 Minute Briefing on the Right to Access and Associated Legal Powers, which explains that while professionals may need to reach adults at risk, there is no automatic legal right of entry, and access must be achieved through engagement or specific legal powers where necessary.
👉 Read it here (plain text version also available)
New 7 Minute Briefing on ‘What is a DARDR?’
We have a new 7 Minute Briefing on Domestic Abuse Related Death Reviews (DARDRs), which explains that a DARDR examines deaths where domestic abuse may have been a factor— including coercive control and suicides linked to abuse—so agencies can understand what happened and improve future practice.
👉 Read it here
Voice of the Adult Update
The Salford Safeguarding Adults Board’s Voice of the Adult process gathers feedback from adults about their safeguarding experience, helping us understand what works well and where practice can improve.
This quarter, we’re pleased to report a general improvement in people’s satisfaction with the safeguarding process, based on the lived experience feedback reviewed through the Board’s quarterly reporting cycle. This progress is thanks to the continued hard work and person centred practice of our frontline practitioners. Your commitment is making a real difference. Thank you.
Stay Connected with the SSAB Website
Don’t forget to keep an eye on the Salford Safeguarding Adults Board (SSAB) website — it’s packed with resources to support your practice. You’ll find upcoming free multi agency training opportunities, all listed on the Upcoming Training page, along with details on how to book.
The site also hosts a wide range of 7 Minute Briefings on key safeguarding themes, designed to provide quick, focused learning that easily fits into a busy schedule. These briefings cover topics such as Making Safeguarding Personal, Equality and Inclusion, Domestic Abuse, Cuckooing, and more.
You can also access recently published Safeguarding Adult Reviews (SARs). We now include short, accessible briefing documents to help you quickly absorb the key learning without taking up too much of your time.
If you haven’t visited the site recently, it’s well worth a look — resources are updated regularly, and everything is designed to support effective, informed safeguarding practice across Salford.
Voice of the Practitioner Survey 2026 – Coming Soon
Keep an eye on your inboxes for the SSAB’s Voice of the Practitioner Survey 2026. This is your opportunity to share your views and experiences of safeguarding practice in Salford.
By taking just a few minutes to complete the survey, you can directly influence and improve safeguarding practice across the city. Your insight matters — and it genuinely helps shape how we work.
Please do take the short amount of time needed to fill it in. Your voice makes a real difference.
Greater Manchester Complex Safeguarding Week of Action
Programme of Learning Events (Online): 16–20 March 2026
The GM Complex Safeguarding Hub and partners are pleased to present this Week of Action, offering a series of free online learning events designed to strengthen understanding, awareness, and professional responses to exploitation across Greater Manchester.
All sessions are free, open to any practitioner in Greater Manchester, and—good news—there are no capacity limits, so it’s not too late to book onto any event.
If you have questions, please contact: Savannah.Buckle@greatermanchester-ca.gov.uk
Home Office Launches Faith Security Training Scheme
The Home Office has launched Faith Security Training, a free scheme designed to help places of worship across England and Wales strengthen their security and reduce risks. Delivered by CDS Support, the programme offers expert-led sessions to support faith leaders, trustees, volunteers and congregation members in improving safety and preparedness.
Training and Learning Opportunities
Looking to refresh your safeguarding knowledge or explore a new topic? Visit our Upcoming Training page. Here you’ll find details of upcoming safeguarding sessions and can request a place directly.
New dates for the first quarter of 2026 have been added - keep an eye on the page for updates. To make sure you never miss an opportunity, sign up to our Training Distribution List and receive updates straight to your inbox:
📩 Request to be added to the list
Links to other news
If you would like us to include anything in our next bulletin or have any feedback, please e-mail us at ssab@salford.gov.uk
Salford Safeguarding Adult Board (SSAB)
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