Cromwood’s approach to safeguarding is very much a team effort and tenants have a vital role to play.
In March 2024, Cromwood received a complaint about a violent incident at one of its properties. Because of the way the information was communicated, it was initially treated as a case of antisocial behaviour and the tenant was warned about using abusive language to staff.
However, the housing officer had concerns for the tenant’s safety, and after looking into the matter in more depth, soon realised that there was a very different story.
The full story was that a few people had turned up looking for Cromwood’s tenant. Unable to find him, they damaged the property and assaulted a neighbour. The tenant was the victim, not the perpetrator. This led to a completely different response.
The housing officer logged a multi-agency safeguarding hub (MASH) referral with the council. A meeting was held just two weeks later attended by a safeguarding officer, police, medical professionals, and support workers. Cromwood was invited to the meeting as we had raised the initial safeguarding concern.
The meeting highlighted several issues that we were unaware of and because of this we changed our practices. Staff no longer visit the property alone and we have a better understanding of the tenant’s mental health issues that will assist in future communication.
The plan highlighted the need to:
- Assess the impact on staff, tenants, and all relevant agencies
- Evaluate the risks to visiting professionals
- Review lone working practices and procedures
- Consider the level of risk and decide whether to move the tenant out of the borough
- Take legal advice within the safeguarding team to plan for the victim’s family
Our housing officers don’t simply carry out property inspections and fix broken boilers.
They are trained in safeguarding and can identify issues with tenants and ensure we link in with all relevant agencies to achieve a positive outcome for all.
When we know what’s going on, we can ensure that everyone has the information they need to take appropriate action.
The intervention started with the housing officer identifying key risks rather than just dealing with the case as antisocial behaviour. Our experience of housing management and tenant support is invaluable, but we can’t do it without you. If you are concerned about your health or safety, please talk to us because the sooner we know, the quicker we can act.
