Annual Report 2025-26 published
The Newcastle Safeguarding Adults Board (NSAB) has published its Annual Report for 2025-26, highlighting the work undertaken across the partnership to safeguard adults at risk of abuse and neglect, strengthen multi-agency practice and respond to emerging challenges facing the city.
The report demonstrates the commitment of partner organisations to ensuring that safeguarding remains person-centred, effective and responsive, while recognising the increasing volume and complexity of safeguarding activity across Newcastle. During 2025-26, more than 21,000 safeguarding adult referrals were made, representing a significant increase on the previous year and reinforcing the importance of strong partnership working to support adults experiencing or at risk of harm.
The report highlights positive progress in ensuring that adults’ voices are central to safeguarding practice. Feedback from people who have experienced safeguarding support shows high levels of satisfaction, with most reporting that they felt safer as a result of interventions and would feel confident seeking support again if needed.
A key focus of the Board’s work during the year has been understanding and responding to neglect and self-neglect, which remain among the most commonly identified safeguarding concerns. The report outlines how learning from audits, reviews and safeguarding activity is helping partners improve pathways, strengthen professional confidence and develop more preventative approaches across health, care, housing and community services.
The Annual Report also highlights the Board’s ongoing work to address complex and hidden harms, including adult exploitation, home takeover (sometimes referred to as cuckooing), domestic abuse, homelessness, substance misuse, fire risk and serious violence. The Board has continued to influence regional and national developments in these areas and has published updated guidance to support practitioners in recognising and responding to exploitation.
Recognising the links between safeguarding, discrimination and health inequalities, the Board strengthened its focus on inclusion and accessibility during 2025-26. This included completion of a multi-agency discriminatory abuse self-assessment, delivery of learning and development activity on discrimination, stigma and cultural competence, and closer alignment with hate crime and community safety initiatives. This work supports Newcastle’s wider ambition to reduce inequalities and improve outcomes for communities who may face barriers to accessing support.
Vida Morris, Independent Chair of the Newcastle Safeguarding Adults Board, said:
“This report demonstrates the commitment of organisations across Newcastle to working together to safeguard adults and improve outcomes for some of the city’s most vulnerable residents. Whilst demand continues to grow and the challenges facing services remain significant, the report highlights the strength of partnership working, a continued focus on learning and a shared commitment to ensuring that adults remain at the centre of safeguarding practice.”
The NSAB would like to thank partner organisations, practitioners, volunteers, community groups and, most importantly, adults with lived experience who have contributed to safeguarding improvements throughout the year.