Multi-Agency Risk Management Guidance
Multi-Agency Risk Management (MARM) is a collaborative approach used when an adult is at significant risk of harm and existing interventions are not enough to manage the risk. It is particularly relevant where an adult with mental capacity declines support or services and risks remain high.
The MARM Guidance has been developed by the City of York Safeguarding Adults Board to be used by all agencies.
The guidance and suite of documents are designed to support anyone working with an adult where there is a high level of risk and the circumstances sit outside the statutory adult safeguarding framework, but where a multi-agency approach would be beneficial.
MARM enables a proactive approach which helps to identify and respond to risks before crisis point is reached and helps agencies provide supportive intervention particularly when self-neglect is involved which relies on multi-agency co-ordination and risk management.
Remember: MARM is about working together to reduce the risk of serious harm, improve wellbeing, and keep the person at the centre of decision-making while balancing their rights, wishes and safety. Successful MARMs rely on strong partnership working, clear accountability, effective information sharing and persistent engagement.
- When to use MARM
- Key principles of MARM
- Who should attend a MARM meeting
- What happens at a MARM Meeting
- MARM outcomes
- Further MARM guidance and documents
When to use MARM
The organisation should have attempted all they can to reduce or minimise risk prior to initiating a MARM. If risks remain, the organisation can then refer the case for discussion at a MARM meeting, which is designed to enable a collaborative, coordinated and multi-agency response to risks ensuring timely information sharing, a holistic assessment of risk and the development of multi-agency risk plans.
Use MARM when:
- there is a high level of risk to an adult
- a multi-agency response is needed
- other processes have been explored and are insufficient
- self-neglect risks are assessed as medium or high
The framework does not replace single agency risk management arrangements or pre-existing multi-agency case discussion processes, such as Multi-Disciplinary Team (MDT) meetings, Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conference (MARAC), Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA), and instead seeks to support case discussion where no multi-agency case discussion and risk management process exists.
Key principles of MARM
Before arranging a MARM, consider:
- mental capacity and consent
- mental health needs
- risks to health, wellbeing, housing and safety
- impact on others and environmental risks
- support planning needs
Who should attend a MARM meeting
The adult should be involved wherever possible, alongside relevant agencies such as:
- Adult Social Care
- Health Services
- Housing
- Police, Fire and Rescue
- Voluntary Sector organisations
- others involved in managing the risk
What happens at a MARM Meeting
The lead agency coordinates and chairs the meeting. Partners share information, assess risks, consider legal options where necessary, and agree a coordinated action plan.
Every agency is responsible for completing the actions assigned to them.
Common challenges may include:
- balancing an individual's right to make unwise decisions with the duty of care to keep them safe
- engaging adults who decline services or refuse to participate
- complex mental capacity and executive functioning assessments
- information-sharing barriers between agencies
- different professional views about risk, legal powers and next steps
- ensuring agencies remain accountable for agreed actions
- managing ongoing high risk where support continues to be declined
- navigating legal and ethical complexities
- sustaining multi-agency commitment over time
MARM outcomes
A MARM should produce:
- an action and contingency plan
- monitoring arrangements
- a review date
- a communication plan
- agreement on the lead agency
- ongoing risk management and escalation where needed