ETHOS HERITAGE CIC SAFEGUARDING VULNERABLE ADULTS POLICY

References:

A Mental Capacity Act 2005

B Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006

Reviewed: 21/12/22

Introduction

1. EH CIC is committed to creating a safe environment for all groups and participants. This means that everyone working with vulnerable participants must fully understand their safeguarding duties. Safeguarding covers a wide range of practices and responsibilities. We all share a responsibility to treat the people we support with respect, and to behave towards them in a way that we would want to be treated ourselves. This means that we must always act in a way that is best for the individual – not for our convenience or the convenience of the organisation.

Aim

2 The aim of this policy is to provide clear information on roles, responsibilities and the procedures to be applied in relation to safeguarding for all our participants

ADULTS AT RISK- DEFINITION

3 An ‘Adult at Risk’ (sometimes also referred to as a vulnerable adult) is someone who may be in need of community care due to a mental health problem, substance abuse, learning disability, physical disability, age or illness2 As a result, they may find it difficult to protect themselves from abuse

What Is Abuse

4 Abuse may be the result of; a single act or repeated acts It may be unintentional It may be an act of neglect or a failure to act There are many forms of abuse including:

● Physical abuse

● Emotional abuse

● Sexual abuse

● Neglect and acts of omission

● Financial abuse

● Discriminatory abuse

● Institutional abuse

2 Defined by the Department of Health as:

‘A person aged 18 years or older who 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 or herself, or unable to protect him or herself against significant harm or exploitation’

Characteristics

5. The following characteristics may, in some circumstances place an individual more at risk of harm or abuse.

● Not having mental capacity3 to make decisions about their own safety or other day to day issues -including having fluctuating mental capacity associated with mental illness and acquired brain injury.

● Communication difficulties.

● Physical dependency – being dependent on others for personal care and activities of daily life.

● Low self-esteem.

● Experience of abuse

● Childhood experience of abuse

Risk Factors

6 The following factors about a situation may make someone more at risk of harm or abuse:

● Being cared for in a care setting where they are more or less dependent on others

● Not getting the right amount or the kind of care they need

● Living with a family at risk

● Isolation and social exclusion

● Stigma and discrimination

● Lack of access to information and support

● Being the focus of anti-social behaviour

● Another person ‘unofficially’ managing a vulnerable adult’s finances on a daily basis

Recognition And Indicators Of Adult Abuse

7. The ability to identify the signs and symptoms of abuse in any given situation is likely to depend on the nature of the relationship with the adult in question. Personnel involved in support on our projects should think in terms of the physical and behavioural signs, and the other factors associated with the category of abuse.

● Physical signs - What physical signs of abuse may be evident on the body of the adult at risk?

● Behavioural signs - When you think about the behaviour of the vulnerable adult or their carer, does it add to your concerns or lessen them?

3Being unable to understand the implications of their situation and the risks to themselves, take action themselves to prevent abuse, participate to the fullest extent possible in decision making about interventions involving them, be they life-changing events or everyday matters (Mental Capacity Act 2005)

● Other factors associated with the abuse - What do you know about the history of the adult, their family or carers? Does this information add to or detract from your concern?

Responsibilities

8. EH CIC must ensure that our staff and participants are familiar with safeguarding policy and procedures. Safeguarding, however, is everyone’s business and individuals have a moral and legal responsibility to ensure the safety of vulnerable adults who may potentially be at risk.

Maintenance Of Records

9 Accurate records must be maintained for adults being supported, including age, date of birth, address, contact details and emergency contacts, including Next of Kin

What To Do If You Suspect Abuse

10. If you suspect abuse, remember, you have a duty of care to take action. A concern may be a direct disclosure from the adult at risk, or a concern raised by others. It may be an observation of the behaviour of the adult at risk or the behaviour of another. If concerned, you should do the following:

● Act to protect the adult at risk This is best achieved by early reporting to the appropriate agency (in extreme circumstances this may be the police or the local authority) The local NHS can give advice on the appropriate actions

● Deal with immediate needs and ensure that the person is, as far as practicable, central to the decision making process. EH CIC staff must be aware that it is not their role to investigate suspected abuse, this is the job of the appropriate authority.

● Make a referral to the local Social Services Department if abuse is suspected and report the abuse to the senior EH CIC person on site

● Record the events factually, without personal judgement or opinion

Recording Concerns

11. It is vital to maintain a record of any concerns that may be raised about an individual – this includes a record of the action taken in response. These need to be reviewed regularly as it may be possible to see patterns of behaviour emerging, which may indicate episodic or cumulative forms of abuse.

Reporting Concerns

12 Any safeguarding concerns must be reported without delay Incidences of suspected or potential abuse must be formally raised with senior EH CIC staff All staff on site must be aware that there may also be a legal obligation to report concerns to social services or the police No one should ever go home at the end of the day without reporting a concern If suspicions of abuse are mentioned by other people, they must be encouraged to report this at the earliest opportunity All staff must be aware that their first responsibility is to the adults they support and not to their colleagues or the organisation