Multi-agency adults at risk system

1. What we do

The multi-agency adults at risk system (MAARS) has been developed to support adults who are at risk or vulnerable in Stockport.

Background

The need for this project was highlighted through:

• findings of high profile Serious Case Reviews nationally and locally. They identified that some adults were at risk of falling through apparent gaps in services. We were criticised for not having a clear pathway for concerns on the basis of risk
• a large number of referrals to the Adult Social Care contact centre which were not meeting eligibility thresholds
• increasing concerns about risks to vulnerable people in the community

Our aims

We aim to:

• provide a single pathway for partner agencies and colleagues to highlight adults at risk in the community. Adults may come into contact with services but not necessarily meet the threshold for those services
• provide a multi-agency forum to collaborate and co-ordinate action across services, reduce duplication and agree the best way to work with the adults current needs and prevent crisis
• to better understand and reduce risk. To attempt to proactively reduce demand on services through a more efficient and informed use of available resources