Self-Neglect: A Practical Approach to Risks and Strengths Assessment

Self-neglect covers a wide range of behaviours, from neglecting to care for one's personal hygiene and health to one's surroundings; this can include behaviours such as hoarding of objects and/or animals. As presentation of self-neglect cases vary greatly, assessment and support planning should be made on an individualised case by case basis. Self-neglect describes a Risks and Strengths assessment model which has been developed by practitioners as an aid to frontline workers across all sectors, as well as agencies holding responsibilities in Safeguarding Adults. It aims to support and structure the effective, timely and consistent assessment of risk in relation to key social and healthcare factors of self-neglect both on an individual case level and at a strategic level in contributing to community/locality needs analysis and reporting mechanisms; including annual Safeguarding Adults Board Reports.