SAFEGUARDING ADULTS POLICY AND PROCEDURES

Introduction

Many of the clients of Sheringham Day Services (SDS) are vulnerable adults. Staff and volunteers who work in SDS are committed to ensuring that the services are delivered competently, efficiently while retaining the dignity of the client. 

Staff and volunteers are in a position of trust while they are working with vulnerable adults at SDS. They are expected to behave in a responsible manner.  All staff are expected to maintain confidentiality when dealing with a case of suspected abuse.

Purpose - Safeguarding adults at risk policy

The purpose of this policy is to outline the duty and responsibility of staff and volunteers working on behalf of the organisation in relation to safeguarding adults at risk. 

All adults have the right to be safe from harm and must be able to live free from fear of abuse, neglect and exploitation.

Abuse of an adult at risk may consist of a single act or repeated acts. It may occur as a result of a failure to undertake action or appropriate care tasks. It may be an act of neglect or an omission to act, or it may occur where a vulnerable person is persuaded to enter into a financial or sexual transaction to which they have not, or cannot, consent.

Abuse can occur in any relationship and may result in significant harm to, or exploitation of, the individual. Concerns about abuse may be raised and reported to the regulatory body as a result of a single incident or repeated incidents of abuse. 

Anyone who has concerns about poor care standards and neglect in a care setting may raise these within the service, with the regulatory body and/or with the social services agency.

Safeguarding vulnerable groups (barred lists)

The Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) is designed to give greater protection to vulnerable groups.  As a care provider, we are obliged to check that potential new workers are not on the Barred List before allowing them to work for us.  We are unable to employ anyone in a care capacity who is on this list.

We also have a duty to refer any worker or volunteer to the DBS where we suspect any case of abuse. The Barred Lists are now managed by the DBS.

The role of Staff and Volunteers

All staff and volunteers working on behalf of SDS have a duty to promote the welfare and safety of adults at risk. Staff and volunteers may receive disclosures of abuse and observe adults who are at risk. This policy will enable staff and volunteers to make informed and confident responses to specific adult protection issues.

It is important that adults at risk are protected from abuse. All complaints, allegations or suspicions must be taken seriously.  This procedure must be followed whenever an allegation of abuse is made or when there is a suspicion that an adult at risk has been abused. 

Promises of confidentiality must not be given as this may conflict with the need to ensure the safety and welfare of the individual.

A full record shall be made as soon as possible of the nature of the allegation and any other relevant information.  This must include information in relation to the date, the time, the place where the alleged abuse happened, your name and the names of others present, the name of the complainant and, where different, the name of the adult who it is alleged has been abused, the nature of the alleged abuse, a description of any injuries observed, the account which has been given of the allegation.

Any suspicion, allegation or incident of abuse must be reported to the Designated Adult Protection Lead or Senior Manager on that working day where possible. 

             

The nominated member of staff shall telephone and report the matter to the appropriate body/agency. A written record of the date and time of the report shall be made and the report must include the name and position of the person to whom the matter is reported. The telephone report must be confirmed in writing to the relevant local authority adult social services department within 24 hours.

The role of the Designated Safeguarding Officer Adult

 

The role of the Designated Safeguarding Officer (DSO) is to deal with all instances involving adult protection that arise within SDS. They will respond to all adult at risk protection concerns and enquiries. 

The designated Vulnerable Adult Protection Lead (Designated Safeguarding Officer) for SDS is Jennifer Smith, Day Centre Manager. 

Training will be provided, as appropriate, to ensure that staff are aware of these procedures. Specialist training will be provided for the member of staff with vulnerable adult protection responsibilities. 

Safeguarding Adults

We will implement a robust recruitment policy that has been designed to identify those individuals that may pose a potential threat to our client users, due to the disclosure of a previous history of abusive behaviour. These people will not be offered employment within SDS.

All successful candidates and volunteers will be vetted prior to appointment and subject to a Criminal Records Bureau (CRB), now known as a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS), check. We will also take up of two satisfactory character references before the individual starts work.

All staff and volunteers will be trained to have an awareness of Safeguarding issues, and be reminded of their personal, moral and legal roles and responsibilities concerning Safeguarding.

All staff and volunteers will be trained on what action should be taken if they suspect abuse is occurring and who they should report this matter to, and to recognise the signs of the different types of abuse.

A climate of 'openness, honesty and awareness' will be encouraged among staff, volunteers, clients, families and relatives, and an open door policy for people to raise concerns.

Clients will be reassured by staff that they will not be victimised for speaking out to report any concerns around Safeguarding issues.

Any member of staff who suspects that abuse has taken place, or who witnesses a situation in which a client may be suffering from abuse, should report the incident to the DSO immediately.

Any staff member that is afraid that they may be victimised because of their disclosure should be made aware that SDS has a Whistleblowing policy in place.

If anyone is alerted to any suspicion or alleged abuse affecting a client, they should take immediate action to ensure the client concerned is removed from the danger. The matter should be reported to the DSO immediatley.

A staff member who is accused or suspected of abuse, will be dealt with according to SDS disciplinary procedure which, will usually mean the individual being suspended, without prejudice to that individual, pending investigation.

Any member of staff dismissed for misconduct which harmed, or placed at risk of harm, a client, will be reported to the Independent Safeguarding Authority.

Staff and Managers will work closely with other relevant organisations where and whenever required, including the Police and Local Safeguarding Boards, and will always cooperate in any abuse investigation.

They will follow any protection plan agreed through multi-agency procedures in order to reduce the risk of further abuse after an actual or suspected case of abuse.

Records of all adult protection issues and relevant decisions that have taken place, will be stored confidentially.

The Day Centre Manager has a duty to:-

• Regularly review and update all Safeguarding policies.

• Notify staff of any changes to the policy and ensure they have read and signed the Safeguarding policy.

• Investigate any evidence of abuse in accordance with Local Authority policy and report any serious allegations to the Care Quality Commission and the Local Authorities.

Staff Members and Volunteers have a 'Duty of Care' to:-

• Provide clients with the best possible care available and be mindful of having a zero tolerance to any form of abuse.

• Participate in training activities either by e-learning or 'face to face' workshops relating to Safeguarding issues.

• Co-operate fully in any investigation into an alleged abuse.

It must be stressed that all staff and volunteers have a personal responsibility to report any suspicion, or evidence of abuse, immediately to the DSO.

A Vulnerable Adult is someone who is:

• Over 18

• Is or may be in need of community care services by reason of mental or other disability, age or illness and who

• Is or may be unable to take care of him/her self or unable to protect him/ her self against significant harm or exploitation.

A large number of clients of SDS fall under this definition.

Abuse is a violation of an individual's human and civil rights by any other person or persons. It can be a single or repeated act or lack of appropriate action occurring within any relationship where there is an expectation of trust which caused harm or distress to a vulnerable person. Breach of trust is a criminal offence. Types of Abuse

Physical Abuse

This can include hitting, pushing, restraint, poisoning or misuse of medication. Misuse of equipment to aid disabled people can also be abuse. This equipment should never be used without training, and should always be used for the purpose for which it was designed.

Neglect and Acts of Omission

Neglect can take many forms including ignoring a person's needs such as:

• Medication

• Physical care

• Food and water

• Access to appropriate care

• Information to make choices

Sexual Abuse or Exploitation

This can range from rape to inappropriate touching, inappropriate language or words. It is important to realise it is not only men sexually abusing vulnerable adults, women can be abusers too.

Psychological Abuse

Psychological abuse takes place when one person uses threats, coercion or intimidation to force the vulnerable adult to do something they do not want to do. Any form of 'mind games' are abuse of this type. It can also include infantilisation, that is treating adults as children.

Discriminatory Abuse

Any harassment, slurs, comments or actions which are discriminatory can be a form of abuse. This can include references to age, disability, gender, sexual identity (see Equality and Diversity Policy).

Financial or Material Abuse

Any form of stealing comes under this heading, 'borrowing' money and not returning it, short changing, buying items not wanted by the vulnerable adult. There are also more criminally serious forms of this type of abuse, for instance, fraud, forging and blackmail, pressure in connection with wills, property inheritance. Vulnerable adults should not be forced to spend money on something they do not want to do, this means that if they prefer to gamble rather than pay the rent, this is their decision and should be respected.

Staff must not witness wills for clients or agree to have power of attorney over a service user. Staff should follow the guidelines about gifts which are set out in the staff handbook.

Institutional Abuse

This can occur in any organisation and may come from inadequate staffing, lack of training and/or awareness of staff. It usually shows by systems which meet the staff's need rather than the clients'. The result for the vulnerable person is they can receive poor care and reduced choice.

Recognising abuse in Vulnerable Adults

The following MAY BE signs of abuse in a vulnerable adult.

Changes in mood, behaviour, appearance, weight etc. To recognise abuse from these symptoms, staff and volunteers would have to know the vulnerable adult well and for some time.

There are signs that someone is being abused such as having no money, being afraid to be with a certain person or group of people or possessions going missing.

Disclosure of Abuse by Vulnerable Adult

The vulnerable person may tell a member of staff or volunteer that they are being abused, or may say something, but do not recognise they are being abused. DO NOT promise confidentiality, staff and volunteers MUST report all suspicions of adult abuse.

Staff and Volunteers should:

• Listen actively and do not ask leading questions.

• Assess and act as soon as possible.

• Record what was said in the words of the vulnerable adult. 

• Report to the DSO

Staff and Volunteers must not:

• Confront the possible abuser personally

• Start an investigation personally

• Destroy or taint evidence that may be used if the situation is investigated

Investigating Abuse

Once suspected abuse has been reported, an investigation will follow directed by the appropriate professional, social worker, care manager or other appropriate professional. At this point a trained professional may have to decide whether the vulnerable adult has 'mental capacity'.

To have mental capacity, an adult must know what is happening to them, understand what can be done and have the means to act. If a vulnerable adult has mental capacity, they have the right to stay in the abusive situation.

If a vulnerable adult does not have mental capacity, they are assumed to be unable to make choices which keep them safe and social services or other professional will make arrangements to keep them safe.

Protecting Evidence

Hopefully, staff and volunteers will never have to deal with a serious offence but if a serious incident is reported to a member of staff or volunteer the procedure to take is:

• If possible, isolate the room or other place where the incident took place so that any forensic evidence is not contaminated.

• Report the incident immediately to the DSO.

Do not allow any of the parties involved to wash or bath. Try to comfort the victim without hugging or touching them so that evidence is not contaminated.

The police should be called letting them know a vulnerable adult is involved. If necessary bag any evidence in a clean bin bag for the police. Use disposable gloves.

Reporting Abuse

If staff or volunteers suspect a vulnerable person in their care is being abused, they MUST report it to the DSO or if this is not possible report it to the Office Manager.

The senior person will take further action to investigate, or more likely report it to the Adult Protection professionals.

All occurrences of adult abuse will be reported to the Board of Trustees.

Guidance for Staff and Volunteers

Be aware of behaviour which can be taken the wrong way (e.g. jokes, teasing, touching) and avoid it.

If there is a need to get close to someone, for instance to help with personal hygiene, ask permission and tell the vulnerable adult what is happening.

Allow adults to make choices about what they want to do.

Do not get into a relationship with any client which goes beyond that which is required of work at SDS.

Named Designated safeguarding officer (DSO) and Deputy Designated Officer (DDO)

The following designated members of staff are in post:

Designated Safeguarding Officer (DSO):   Jennifer Smith (Day Centre Manager) Telephone Number:     01263 821188

Deputy Designated Officer (DDO):  Alison Craske  (Office Manager) Telephone Number:     01263 821188

Policy Review

We will always make any changes immediately to our policy and procedures in line with Norfolk Safeguarding Adults Board’s guidance norfolksafeguardingadultsboard.info