Self-neglect & Hoarding

The Care Act statutory guidance 2014 defines self-neglect as; “a wide range of behaviour neglecting to care for one’s personal hygiene, health or surroundings and includes behaviour such as hoarding”.

Representatives from Herefordshire Safeguarding Adults Boards partners have worked with Worcestershire Safeguarding Adults Board to update our local policy that includes a toolkit to aid professionals in identifying and responding to cases of self-neglect and / or hoarding.

• Self Neglect and Hoarding Policy and Practice Guidance
• HSAB Self-Neglect Learning Briefing

Also see information and guidance from SCIE: SCIE self-neglect at a glance

For households where hoarding has been identified it is recommended that a referral to Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Service is made for a Home Fire Safety Visit.

Clutter Image Ratings are used to identify the level of any possible hoarding allowing all practitioners to have a common understanding of the level of risk for the household. View Clutter rating images here.

Home Fire Safety Visits maximise the opportunity to help individuals stay safe and independent.  The qualified technician will also identify any health and care needs that require signposting to local services to help ensure safety and wellbeing.

To refer a client for a Home Fire Safety Visit please complete an online referral or download it below.

• Home Fire Safety Visit Referral Form 
• Home Fire Safety Visit Leaflet

Sandwell Safeguarding Adults Board has produced a short film to help people identify self-neglect in themselves and others – and know what to do about it.

Presentation slides on Self-Neglect, delivered at the Practitioner Forum in March 2023 – HSAB Self-Neglect Presentation_March 2023

A recording of the presentation above (28 minutes) can be viewed here

Self-neglect can be a complex and challenging issue for practitioners to address, not least because of difficulties in striking a balance between respecting a person’s right to autonomy and fulfilling the statutory duty of care to protect their health and wellbeing.

Self-neglect typically features a triad of behaviours –

1. Lack of self-care to an extent that it threatens their personal health and safety.
2. Failure to attend to their living environment to the extent that it becomes hazardous to self or others e.g. fire risk, infestation, lack of sanitation.
3. Failure to seek help or access services to meet their critical health and social care needs.

The person may present with a compulsion to accumulate belongings or animals. The term hoarding should be used sensitively as the person may place a high emotional value on these items.