Prevention of Future Deaths reports

Irene Esaw

Regulation 28 report to prevent future deaths, reference 2021-0307. A coroner writes one of these when an inquest reveals a risk that could cause further deaths unless something changes.

Reference2021-0307
DeceasedIrene Esaw
CoronerAnna Morris
Coroner areaManchester South
CategoryHospital Death (Clinical Procedures and medical management) related deaths · Community health care · Other related deaths
Organisation namedTameside and Glossop Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust
Sourcejudiciary.uk record · original PDF
Responses published1

The report

Text extracted from the PDF text layer. Reproduced verbatim, including the scan's own layout.

REGULATION 28:  REPORT TO PREVENT FUTURE DEATHS 

REGULATION 28 REPORT TO PREVENT FUTURE DEATHS 

THIS REPORT IS BEING SENT TO:  Chief Executive Tameside and 
Glossop Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust 

1  CORONER 

I am Anna Morris, assistant coroner, for the coronial area of Manchester South 

2  CORONER’S LEGAL POWERS 

3 

I make this report under paragraph 7, Schedule 5, of the Coroners and Justice Act 2009 
and Regulations 28 and 29 of the Coroners (Investigations) Regulations 2013.   
INVESTIGATION and INQUEST 
On 11th September 2019 an investigation into the death of Irene Ann Esaw, 
aged 73 years. The investigation concluded at the end of the inquest on 6th 
September 2021. The conclusion of the inquest was a narrative conclusion. 

4  CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE DEATH 

The deceased lived at home with her 24-year-old grandson, who was her sole 
carer. The deceased suffered from dementia which was diagnosed in 2015. 
From October 2017, there was no formal support in place from external 
agencies. From that point, the deceased’s grandson was responsible for 
attending to all the deceased’s nutritional, mobility, hygiene and personal care 
needs. This was an unmanageable care burden for her grandson.  

On the 12th September 2018, the deceased was admitted to hospital in 
extremis. She was malnourished, dehydrated, and confused. A safeguarding 
concern was raised by Northwest Ambulance Service (NWAS) who were 
concerned about her physical presentation, her social circumstances and the 
care being provided to her by her grandson. Her presentation was such that it 
was known or ought to have been known to those treating her that she was a 
vulnerable adult. The deceased was admitted to Tameside General Hospital and 
treated for sepsis and her other acute medical conditions. The NWAS 
safeguarding concern was referred to the IUCT Social Workers at the hospital 
provided by the Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council based at the hospital. 

There was an assessment on the 26th September by a social worker of the 
deceased’s care needs. This assessment failed to properly assess the 
deceased’s capacity to make decisions about her own care needs or where and 
by whom they should be met. It was assessed that there were no needs 
identified and no support was put in place for either the deceased or her 
grandson. The deceased was discharged from hospital on the 28th September 
2018 without any package of care in place from the Local Authority or any 
referrals in place from the Hospital to community-based services.  

At the time the deceased was discharged, a Grade 1 pressure sore to her 
sacrum had been identified, as well as other areas of reddening of the skin on 
her lower limbs. The identification of a Grade 1 pressure sore by the hospital, 
considering her nutritional needs and her difficulties with maintaining her own 
nutrition, hydration and mobility made her extremely high risk of not being able 
to maintain her own tissue viability. Without appropriate support I find that it was 

1 

 inevitable that the deceased would develop sores not just on her sacrum but in 
other areas and that she would have been too weak to mobilise herself and with 
her level of cognition she would not have been able to recognise her need to 
move herself. This should have been identified by the hospital and the deceased 
should have been provided with adequate support post discharge. In hospital, 
the deceased had benefitted from high grade medical care with nursing support 
and that this level of care would have been appropriate to deal with her ongoing 
pressure, nutritional and cognitive needs. As a consequence, I find that the 
Trust failed to meet the deceased’s basic medical needs following discharge 
from hospital. 

As that support was not put in place, the deceased’s grandson was not able to 
meet her complex care needs in the community. Her grandson also likely 
suffered from poor mental health because of his care burden. His needs as a 
carer were not adequately assessed or addressed at any stage during 2017-
2018.  

As a consequence, I find on the balance of probabilities that her grandson did 
not meet the deceased’s basic nutritional and personal care needs from the 
point of her discharge from hospital on the 28th September 2018 to the time of 
her death. As a direct result of the failure of the deceased’s basic needs being 
met, her Grade 1 sacral pressure sore developed to a deep and infected 
ulceration that subsequently caused the bone to be exposed and infected. She 
also developed another significant ulcer that connected to her sacral ulcer and 
other areas of tissue damage. As a result of those untreated pressure sores, the 
deceased developed widespread sepsis. 

On the 11th November 2018, her grandson called for an ambulance. When 
paramedics attended at her home address, they found Mrs. Esaw in bed, 
propped upright and clearly deceased. The state of her clothing and the bedding 
was soiled with both faeces and urine and the deceased was found in an 
emaciated state due to malnutrition.  

2 

 
 
 
 
 5  CORONER’S CONCERNS 

The MATTERS OF CONCERN are as follows.  –  

1.  Identifying and Assessing Mental Capacity –  

My findings in relation to Mrs. Esaw’s death were that there was a 
fundamental failure by the clinical and nursing staff to adequately 
consider and assess Mrs. Esaw’s capacity to make decisions about her 
own care needs whilst she was a patient at Tameside General Hospital 
between 12th and 28th September 2018. This failure in my view, 
undermined her discharge planning and was one of the key reasons why 
the discharge was unsafe. I understand that work is ongoing in this area, 
but I am concerned having heard the evidence of 
Deputy Director of Nursing and Professional Standards that it is still a 
“work in progress” identified by this and other incidents reported to the 
Trust. I am concerned that there are still issues that the Trust still aren’t 
completely compliant with and that this needs to be addressed.  

, the 

2.  Recognising the Clinical Signs of Neglect –  

My findings indicate that in 2018 there was no adequate consideration by 
the clinical or nursing staff that Mrs. Esaw’s clinical presentation in of 
itself indicated neglect and therefore a safeguarding concern. The Trust’s 
Safeguarding Lead 
Domestic Homicide Review, the Trust recognises that more work needs 
to be done around the recognition of what is neglect and those medical 
indicators of neglect. She recognised that there needs to be a 
strengthening of recognition in staff of safety concerns. I understand that 
this is part of the Safeguarding Lead’s portfolio, but I am concerned that 
this still needs to be addressed.  

 told me that following on from the 

3.  Multi-agency Working –  

My findings reveal that in the treatment of Mrs. Esaw, there were 
assumptions made by the clinical team and the IUCT that the other 
agency was responsible for capacity and needs assessments. The effect 
of this was that there was never an adequate assessment of her needs 
completed. 
Care told me in her evidence that even though IUCT are on the wards at 
Tameside, there is still further work to be done to understand the roles 
that the IUCT and the clinical team are undertaking. I am concerned that 
this continues to need to be addressed.  

, the Principal Social Worker for Adult Social 

6  ACTION SHOULD BE TAKEN 

In my opinion action should be taken to prevent future deaths and I believe you and your 
organisation have the power to take such action. 

7  YOUR RESPONSE 

You are under a duty to respond to this report within 56 days of this report, 
namely by 11th November 2021. I, the coroner, may extend this period.  

Your response must contain details of action taken or proposed to be taken, 
setting out the timetable for action. Otherwise you must explain why no action is 
proposed. 

8  COPIES and PUBLICATION 

I have sent a copy of my report to the Chief Coroner and to the following 
Interested Persons: 

Chief Executive Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council. 
NHS England 
I am also under a duty to send a copy of your response to the Chief Coroner 

3 

 
 
 
  
 and all interested persons who in my opinion should receive it.  
I may also send a copy of your response to any other person who I believe may 
find it useful or of interest.  
The Chief Coroner may publish either or both in a complete or redacted or 
summary form. He may send a copy of this report to any person who he 
believes may find it useful or of interest.  
You may make representations to me, the coroner, at the time of your response, 
about the release or the publication of your response 

9  16th September 2021 

Anna Morris – Assistant Coroner 

Signed: 

4 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 REGULATION 28:  REPORT TO PREVENT FUTURE DEATHS  

REGULATION 28 REPORT TO PREVENT FUTURE DEATHS 

THIS REPORT IS BEING SENT TO:  Chief Executive Tameside 
Metropolitan Borough Council. 

1  CORONER 

I am Anna Morris, assistant coroner, for the coronial area of Manchester South 

2  CORONER’S LEGAL POWERS 

I make this report under paragraph 7, Schedule 5, of the Coroners and Justice Act 2009 
and Regulations 28 and 29 of the Coroners (Investigations) Regulations 2013.   

3 

INVESTIGATION and INQUEST 
On 11th September 2019 an investigation into the death of Irene Ann Esaw, 
aged 73 years. The investigation concluded at the end of the inquest on 6th 
September 2021. The conclusion of the inquest was a narrative conclusion. 

4  CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE DEATH 

The deceased lived at home with her 24-year-old grandson, who was her sole 
carer. The deceased suffered from dementia which was diagnosed in 2015. 
From October 2017, there was no formal support in place from external 
agencies. From that point, the deceased’s grandson was responsible for 
attending to all the deceased’s nutritional, mobility, hygiene and personal care 
needs. This was an unmanageable care burden for her grandson.  

On the 12th September 2018, the deceased was admitted to hospital in 
extremis. She was malnourished, dehydrated, and confused. A safeguarding 
concern was raised by Northwest Ambulance Service (NWAS) who were 
concerned about her physical presentation, her social circumstances and the 
care being provided to her by her grandson. Her presentation was such that it 
was known or ought to have been known to those treating her that she was a 
vulnerable adult. The deceased was admitted to Tameside General Hospital and 
treated for sepsis and her other acute medical conditions. The NWAS 
safeguarding concern was referred to the IUCT Social Workers at the hospital 
provided by the Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council based at the hospital. 

There was an assessment on the 26th September by a social worker of the 
deceased’s care needs. This assessment failed to properly assess the 
deceased’s capacity to make decisions about her own care needs or where and 
by whom they should be met. It was assessed that there were no needs 
identified and no support was put in place for either the deceased or her 
grandson. The deceased was discharged from hospital on the 28th September 
2018 without any package of care in place from the Local Authority or any 
referrals in place from the Hospital to community-based services.  

At the time the deceased was discharged, a Grade 1 pressure sore to her 
sacrum had been identified, as well as other areas of reddening of the skin on 
her lower limbs. The identification of a Grade 1 pressure sore by the hospital, 
considering her nutritional needs and her difficulties with maintaining her own 

1 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 nutrition, hydration and mobility made her extremely high risk of not being able 
to maintain her own tissue viability. Without appropriate support I find that it was 
inevitable that the deceased would develop sores not just on her sacrum but in 
other areas and that she would have been too weak to mobilise herself and with 
her level of cognition she would not have been able to recognise her need to 
move herself. This should have been identified by the hospital and the deceased 
should have been provided with adequate support post discharge. In hospital, 
the deceased had benefitted from high grade medical care with nursing support 
and that this level of care would have been appropriate to deal with her ongoing 
pressure, nutritional and cognitive needs. As a consequence, I find that the 
Trust failed to meet the deceased’s basic medical needs following discharge 
from hospital. 

As that support was not put in place, the deceased’s grandson was not able to 
meet her complex care needs in the community. Her grandson also likely 
suffered from poor mental health because of his care burden. His needs as a 
carer were not adequately assessed or addressed at any stage during 2017-
2018.  

As a consequence, I find on the balance of probabilities that her grandson did 
not meet the deceased’s basic nutritional and personal care needs from the 
point of her discharge from hospital on the 28th September 2018 to the time of 
her death. As a direct result of the failure of the deceased’s basic needs being 
met, her Grade 1 sacral pressure sore developed to a deep and infected 
ulceration that subsequently caused the bone to be exposed and infected. She 
also developed another significant ulcer that connected to her sacral ulcer and 
other areas of tissue damage. As a result of those untreated pressure sores, the 
deceased developed widespread sepsis. 

On the 11th November 2018, her grandson called for an ambulance. When 
paramedics attended at her home address, they found Mrs. Esaw in bed, 
propped upright and clearly deceased. The state of her clothing and the bedding 
was soiled with both faeces and urine and the deceased was found in an 
emaciated state due to malnutrition.  

2 

 
 
 
 
 5  CORONER’S CONCERNS 

The MATTERS OF CONCERN are as follows.  –  

Identifying and Assessing Mental Capacity –  
My findings in relation to Mrs. Esaw’s death were that there was a 
fundamental failure by the local authority staff to adequately consider and 
assess Mrs. Esaw’s capacity to make decisions about her own care needs 
whilst she was a patient at Tameside General Hospital between 12th 
September 2018 and the time of her death. This failure in my view, 
undermined her discharge planning and was one of the key reasons why the 
discharge was unsafe.  I understand that work is ongoing in this area by 
 in relation to prompting and recording of consideration of 

capacity concerns but, I also have concerns about a lack of professional 
curiosity by social workers, which I understand is still to be addressed in an 
ongoing piece of work for the new Safeguarding Lead who has yet to start in 
post. Therefore, I am concerned that the area of inquiring about and 
assessing capacity continues to need to be addressed.  
Multi-agency Working – 
My findings reveal that in the Care assessments of Mrs. Esaw, there were 
assumptions made by the clinical team and the IUCT that the other agency 
was responsible for capacity and needs assessments. The effect of this was 
that there was never an adequate assessment of her needs completed. 

, the Principal Social Worker for Adult Social Care told me in 

her evidence that even though IUCT are on the wards at Tameside, there is 
still further work to be done to understand the roles that the IUCT and the 
clinical team are undertaking. I am concerned that this continues to need to 
be addressed.  

6  ACTION SHOULD BE TAKEN 

In my opinion action should be taken to prevent future deaths and I believe you and your 
organisation have the power to take such action. 

7  YOUR RESPONSE 

You are under a duty to respond to this report within 56 days of this report, 
namely by 11th November 2021. I, the coroner, may extend this period.  

Your response must contain details of action taken or proposed to be taken, 
setting out the timetable for action. Otherwise you must explain why no action is 
proposed. 

8  COPIES and PUBLICATION 

I have sent a copy of my report to the Chief Coroner and to the following 
Interested Persons: 

Chief Executive Tameside and Glossop Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust 

I am also under a duty to send a copy of your response to the Chief Coroner 
and all interested persons who in my opinion should receive it.  
I may also send a copy of your response to any other person who I believe may 
find it useful or of interest.  
The Chief Coroner may publish either or both in a complete or redacted or 
summary form. He may send a copy of this report to any person who he 
believes may find it useful or of interest.  
You may make representations to me, the coroner, at the time of your response, 
about the release or the publication of your response 

3 

 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 9  16th September 2021 

Anna Morris – Assistant Coroner 

Signed: 

4

Responses

1 response published against this report on judiciary.uk. A response is a body's written reply to the coroner's concerns; publication is at the discretion of the Chief Coroner's office, so an absent response does not mean nobody replied.

Response from For Irene Esaw (PDF)
A1 A2 A3 A4 A5 A6 A7 CHIEF EXECUTIVE 

Chief Executive, Tameside MBC 
and Accountable Officer, Tameside & Glossop CCG 
Tameside One, Market Place, Ashton under Lyne, OL6 
6BH 

Doc Ref 

let/sp1211 

Date 

10 November 2021 

Ms Anna Morris 
Assistant Coroner 
Coroner's Court 
1 Mount Tabor Street 
STOCKPORT 
SK1 3AG 

Dear Ms Morris 

Re: Regulation 28 Report into the death of Irene Ann Esaw (dob 13/11/1934, dod 11/11/2018) 

Further  to  your  letter  and  Regulation  28  Report  to  Prevent  Future  Deaths  dated  16  September 
2021, regarding the tragic case of Irene Ann Esaw please find my response outlined below. 

The untimely death of a person is distressing for their family and any others affected by their death 
and  loss,  and  all  the  more  so  if  there  is  any  belief  that  but  for  the  actions  of  any  public  sector 
organisation it could have been avoided. 

I would like to record my sincere condolences to the family of  Irene Ann Esaw for their loss and I 
hope through this process they can obtain some closure. 

The matters of concern identified by the Coroner and directed to the Chief Executive of Tameside 
Metropolitan Borough Council were as follows: 

1.  Identifying and Assessing Mental Capacity 

My findings in relation to  Mrs.  Esaw’s death were that there was a fundamental failure by 
the  local  authority  staff  to  adequately  consider  and  assess  Mrs.  Esaw’s  capacity  to make 
decisions about her own care needs whilst she was a patient at Tameside General Hospital 
between  12th  September  2018  and  the  time  of  her  death.  This  failure  in  my  view, 
undermined her discharge planning and was one of the key reasons why the discharge was 
unsafe.  I  understand  that  work  is  ongoing  in  this  area  by 
  in  relation  to 
prompting  and  recording  of  consideration  of  capacity  concerns  but,  I  also  have  concerns 
about  a  lack  of  professional  curiosity  by  social  workers,  which  I  understand  is  still  to  be 
addressed in an ongoing piece of work for the new Safeguarding Lead who has yet to start 
in post. Therefore, I am concerned that the area of inquiring about and assessing capacity 
continues to need to be addressed. 

2.  Multi-agency Working 

My  findings  reveal  that  in  the  Care  assessments  of  Mrs.  Esaw,  there  were  assumptions 
made by the clinical team and the IUCT that the other agency was responsible for capacity 
and  needs  assessments.  The  effect  of  this  was  that  there  was  never  an  adequate 
,  the  Principal  Social  Worker  for  Adult 
assessment  of  her  needs  completed. 
Social Care told me in her evidence that even though IUCT are on the wards at Tameside, 
there is still further work to be done to understand the roles that the IUCT and the clinical 
team are undertaking. I am concerned that this continues to need to be addressed. 

1 | P a g e 

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 Identifying and Assessing Mental Capacity 
Since 2019, one  of  Adult  Social Care work  force development  priorities has  been to improve our 
staff knowledge and application of the Mental Capacity Act. 

Tameside MBC has recognised that there is a need to invest in their workforce to ensure that they 
are appropriately trained and that skills are updated and developed through a number of means. 

In order to do this a number of priorities were agreed: 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

To  improve  social  work  standards  and  the quality  of  social  work  practice,  assessment  and 
care planning. 
To ensure the provision of effective support and development to managers and practitioners 
to develop a  skilled and confident workforce which meets the needs  of the service and the 
people it supports. 
To  offer  high-quality  advice,  support  and  consultancy  to  social  work  managers  to  develop 
social work services locally and with our partners. 
A  programme  to  embed  the  Mental  Capacity  Act  in  practice  is  underway  including  Mental 
Capacity Assessment Forums and Social Work Forums 
A  Quality  Assurance  Framework  and  a  Workforce  Development  Framework  are  being 
developed  with  the  aim  to  embed  professional  confidence,  curiosity  and  development  in 
practice. 
Adult  Services  has  registered  with  Research  in  Practice  for  Adults  (RiPfA)  to  support 
managers and staff 
A  Social Work  Consultant  post  has  been  recruited  to.  This  post  does  not  carry  a  caseload 
and does not directly line manage any staff. The purpose of this management level post is to 
support  our  professional  teams,  managers  and  staff  to  improve  outcomes  for  individuals 
through their improved practice. 

On the 22 July 2020, a 12 month improvement plan was launched, which incorporates standards of 
practice,  themed  audits  and  themed  Continuing  Professional  Development.  The  Individual 
Management  Report  (IMR)  recommendations  and  action  plan  are  annexed  to  this  report  as 
Appendix A. 

Some  of  the  work  completed  has  included  reviewing  the  documentation  for  recording  Mental 
Capacity Assessments and Best Interest decisions.  These have been linked to other assessments 
such as the Needs assessment and Risk assessment to ensure the Mental Capacity Act is at the 
heart of social work practice with adults.  The revised and updated assessments (Appendix B &C 
refers)  and Care Act guidance for staff (Appendix D refers) are annexed to this response. 

A  programme  of  regular  training  has  taken  place  and  will  continue  as this  is  an  area  of  law  and 
practice which changes and evolves with the changing nature of practice and case law. 

The Safeguarding Lead started in their role on the 13 September 2021, they are responsible for the 
implementation  of  the  new  Safeguarding  Policy  and  Procedure  within  Tameside  Adult  Services. 
One of the priorities that will run throughout all of  their  work  will be to ensure  staff feel confident 
and  equipped  to  be  more  ‘professionally  curious’.  This  is  recognised  safeguarding  training  and 
the  toolkit,  advises  that  social  workers  can  become  more  professionally  curious  and  respectfully 
uncertain by following the points below: 

1)  “Question why  someone  is behaving in  a  certain  way.  Consider what  these  behaviours 

could indicate. 

2)  Find out more about  someone’s personal circumstances. Assess their behaviour in light of 

what you know about them and their situation. 

3)  Question the motives of  anyone  who  is  with  the  person. Why are  they  there? What is 
their relationship to  the  person?  Do  they  appear controlling?  Do  they dislike  leaving  the 
person alone? Even if they appear kind and supportive, could this be a way of hiding their 
role in harming the person? 

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 4)  Recognise when  someone  is reluctant to  provide  a  full  or  accurate  account  of  events  or 

is pretending to cooperate to avoid raising suspicions. 

5)  Think outside the box. Consider the person or situation from the viewpoint of other workers. 

What might they look out for and notice? What would they think about the situation? 

6)  Maintain an open  mind. Avoid making assumptions,  taking  information  at face  value and 
jumping  to conclusions. Take  account  of changing  information and different  perspectives. 
Consider if you need to adapt your views. 

7)  Ask questions and challenge what you believe to be untrue. 
8)  Notice if  you  or  someone  else  starts  to doubt that  someone  is  a  victim  –  consider  the 
reasons for these doubts. Are they fair? It might be helpful to read more about how victims 
of exploitation are perceived. 

9)  Trust your instinct and raise concerns if  something about  someone’s behaviour  or situation 

does not feel right. 

10) Think  vulnerability  and  exploitation –  be  actively  aware  of  how  anyone  you  come  across 

may be vulnerable and could be experiencing exploitation. 

11) Think  and  act  outside  of  your  immediate  job  role –  take  action  to  investigate  and  act  on 
your  concerns,  even  if  this  goes  beyond  the  immediate  remit  of  your  role  and 
responsibilities. 

12) For  example,  a  professionally  curious  health  professional  who  is  treating  someone  for 
physical  injuries  would  also  question  why  these  injuries  have  been  sustained  and  assess 
the  person’s  wider  appearance  and  behaviour  –  do  they  seem  distressed?  Are  they 
reluctant to say how they received their injuries? Do they seem to be hiding something? Is 
there anything about them that raises concerns or suspicions? 

13)If you are concerned about someone, take action to find out more about their situation and 

protect their safety and wellbeing.” 

Within the first month of being in the role, the Safeguarding Lead delivered a session for all social 
workers and managers on the learning from this case.  The session was  very well attended with 
over  100  attendees.  Following  the  event,  staff  have  been  asked  to  discuss  the  learning  in  their 
teams and then share feedback with the Safeguarding Lead on how the learning will be applied in 
practice and what further support they may need.  This feedback will inform their work plan. 

The  Safeguarding  Lead’s  work  plan  includes  gaining  feedback  on  practice  in  a  number  of  ways 
including  conducting  regular  case  file  audits,  learning  reviews  and  consulting  with  all  staff  on  a 
regular basis through surveys and forums to ensure that the support provided meets the needs of 
the  organisation  and  social  work  standards.  This  approach  aims  to  improve  social  worker’s 
confidence,  knowledge  and  skills  in  safeguarding  practice  and  ensure  staff  demonstrate 
professional curiosity in practice. 

The Safeguarding Lead has arranged quarterly Safeguarding Practice Forums.  The first of these 
is  planned  in  December  2021  and  the  theme  will  be  Domestic  Abuse.  The  ongoing  training 
programme for social workers and managers will be reviewed and developed by the Safeguarding 
lead ensuring that staff have up to date knowledge and skills in this area of practice.  There will be 
a  rolling  programme  of  essential  training  for  all  practitioners  to  complete  every  2  years,  this 
includes new and existing staff. 

The  Principal  Social  Worker  is  currently  reviewing  the  implementation  of  the  quality  assurance 
framework  for  social  work  practice,  the  application  of  the  Mental  Capacity  Act  will  feature  in  this 
work. The aim  is that  a new framework  will be in place from January 2022.  Part  of this  work  will 
include  implementing  the  National  Mental  Capacity  Act  Competency  Framework,  developed  by 
Bournemouth  University.  A  skills  and  knowledge  audit  will  take  place  of  social  workers  and 
managers and the outcome will inform the ongoing training programme. 

Multi-agency Working 
Tameside MBC and Tameside and Glossop Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust both received 
similar Prevention of  Future Death reports.  In response to this and in line  with Tameside  MBC’s 
Domestic Homicide Action Plan, a learning meeting took place on the 12 October 2021. 

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 Senior  staff  from  both  the  Tameside  and  Glossop  Integrated  Care  NHS  Foundation  Trust  and 
Tameside  MBC  met  to  reflect  on the  mechanisms  in  place  for  multiagency  working  at  discharge 
between  the  Integrated  Urgent  Care  Team,  the  Wards,  the  Medics  and  the  community 
Neighbourhood Teams.  The meeting was chaired by the Principal Social Worker, TMBC and the 
Head  of  Nursing  for  Integrated  Safeguarding,  Tameside  and  Glossop  Integrated  Care  NHS 
Foundation  Trust.  The  following  themes  were  identified  as  areas  for  development  in  terms  of 
multiagency working: 

•  Safe Discharge 
•  Recognising Adults at Risk 
•  Roles and Responsibilities 
•  The Application of the Mental Capacity Act 

A  joint  action  plan  for  the  Tameside  and  Glossop  Integrated  Care  NHS  Foundation  Trust  and 
Tameside MBC has been developed, which includes developing the knowledge and skills of all the 
staff  involved  in  hospital  discharge  on  the  ward  and  in  the  community  on  ‘What  is  a  Safe 
Discharge?’ and ‘Who are the adults at risk? ’ through a number of ways such as training, forums, 
audits and revised procedures.  The joint action plan is also annexed to this response – Appendix 
E refers. 

Integral  to  this,  is  ensuring  that  the  multidisciplinary  team  have  a  good  understanding  of  one 
another’s  roles  and  responsibilities.  Work  will  take  place  to  ensure  that  this  is  embedded  in 
practice.  This  will  include  ensuring  that  roles  and  responsibilities  feature  in  the  induction  of  all 
staff, in ongoing clinical supervision and in multiagency procedures and standards.  A multiagency 
review and refresh of the Mental Capacity Act procedures and training regarding adults with care 
needs on discharge, will take place. 

The finalised joint action plan will be shared with Tameside Adult Safeguarding Board at the next 
Board meeting in December 2021.  A Multiagency Action Plan Group will be established to monitor 
the  action  plan,  this  will  in  place  by  December  2021.  Alongside  this  a  Quarterly  Multiagency 
Learning  Forum  will  be  established  as  a mechanism  to  monitor  the  implementation  of  the  action 
plan  and  to  support  a  culture  of  reflection  and  learning  across  the  multiagency  partnership 
associated with hospital discharge. 

Conclusion 
Tameside  MBC  trusts  that  these  actions  and  proposals  are  sufficient  to  satisfy  that  Coroner  that 
the Council does take these concerns seriously, and that there is a continuous programme in place 
to  support  staff  knowledge  in  identifying  and  their  application  of  the  Mental  Capacity  Act. 
Furthermore  that  the  implementation  of  the  joint  action  plan  between  the  Council  and  Tameside 
and  Glossop  Integrated  Care  NHS  Foundation  Trust  will  minimise  the  risk  of  inadequate  multi 
agency working. 

I hope that we have provided you with the necessary assurances in relation to your concerns. 

Please contact me if you require any further information or if I can assist further in any way. 

Yours sincerely, 

Chief Executive, Tameside MBC/Accountable Officer, Tameside & Glossop CCG 

Attachments: 
Appendix A 
Appendix B 

IMR Recommendations with Action Plan 
Mental Capacity Assessment 

B4

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