Vulnerable Adults Pathway

The Vulnerability Pathway delivers a true partnership approach to the management of vulnerable adults. As organisations and partners are involved in supporting vulnerable individuals this pathway will support the risk management.

Community Multi Agency Risk Assessment Conference (CMARAC)

The purpose of CMARAC is to take a multi-agency approach to address the complex needs of identified vulnerable adults where isolated interventions from organisations have not reduced risk to an acceptable level.

Community MARAC supports vulnerable adults:

  • That have mental capacity
  • Are experiencing ongoing or repeated victimisation
  • Are subject to or involved in anti-social behaviour and/or crime
  • Who are making unwise decisions
  • Who are at high risk of harm, or their behaviour poses a risk to affect others
  • Whose behaviour requires addressing by early intervention or enforcement
  • With complex needs including mental ill-health, problematic drug or alcohol use
  • Severe and recurrent self-neglect

Vulnerable Adult Risk Management Meeting (VARMM)

The purpose of the VARMM is to share information, identify solutions to reduce risk and co-ordinate activity across organisations, to address the needs of identified vulnerable adults.

Referrals to VARMM are agreed via the bi-weekly Partnership Triage meeting or CMARAC. Therefore, the adult will meet the threshold criteria for CMARAC. Escalation to VARMM occurs when:

  • Level of Complexity and or risk requires more in depth problem-solving
  • The vulnerable adult is at risk of serious harm or death
  • More specialist support is required
  • CMARAC involvement and/or previous interventions have not met the desired outcomes

Vulnerable Adult Panel (VAP)

The purpose of the VAP provides strategic oversight of the vulnerability pathway including the CMARAC and VARMM platforms, as well as those subject to statutory Section 42 enquiries. It aims to support the lead organisation to hold the case safely, by offering peer support, sharing ideas, actions and problem solving.

Referrals to the VAP occur when:

  • Commissioning or resource decisions are required
  • Unresolved system-wide issues blocking progress to mitigate risk
  • The approval to exit VARM or Safeguarding is jointly recommended by all members, in instances when all agency support has been fully explored and implemented, but the level of risk remains
  • There is an unresolved dispute between organisations, relating to a specific vulnerable adult

Vulnerable Adults Pathway Resources