Safeguarding Policy

SAFEGUARDING ADULTS

INTRODUCTION

The safeguarding of adults from harm and abuse are an absolute priority for A New Vision of Britain CIC, its staff, trustees and volunteers. Ignoring abuse is not an option. This policy outlines our commitment to, and recognition of, responsibility for the protection of the people we work with through our services, who may have care and support needs. We are committed to the principles contained in the Essex Safeguarding Adults Board ‘Safeguarding Adults Guidelines’. This policy outlines A New Vision of Britain CIC’s approach to reporting suspected abuse. The Chief Officer, Nick Robinson, is responsible for safeguarding within A New Vision of Britain CIC.

What is abuse

“Abuse is a violation of an individual’s human and social rights by any other person or perso ns”

“Adults with care and support needs adults” refers to any person aged 18 years and over 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 himself, or herself, or unable to protect himself or herself against significant harm or serious exploitation, ...” We will endeavour to safeguard adults with care and support needs by:

  • adopting safeguarding adults guidelines through a code of behaviour for staff and volunteers,
  • sharing information about adult protection and good practice with clients, carers, staff and volunteers,
  • sharing information about concerns with agencies (Social Care/Essex Police) that need to know, and involving clients and their carers as appropriate,
  • following carefully a procedure for recruitment and selection of staff and volunteers working in those projects that may have contact with adults who may have , and
  • providing effective management for staff and volunteers through supervision, support and training.
  • having robust policies in place to support staff who may have concerns about safeguarding issues including whistleblowing, vehicles, code of conduct and IT.

DEFINITIONS OF ABUSE

Within this policy the following are regarded as abuse: Physical Neglect Sexual Financial/Material Emotional Organisational Discriminatory Modern Slavery Self Neglect Domestic abuse including honour based abuse However, it needs to be emphasised that abusive situations are rarely as tidy as the six categories suggest. Many situations involve combinations of abusive elements.

EXPLANATIONS AND POSSIBLE SIGNS

1. Physical abuse

These include:

  • Physical injuries which are not explained satisfactorily
  • Knowledge or suspicion that injury was inflicted intentionally by the violence of others
  • Lack of care for the person by formal or informal carers or by others who have responsibility, charge, or care of the individual

Pushing, pinching, slapping, hitting, burning, force feeding or force medication and restraint of a person might be included under this heading. The extent to which they have occurred and the circumstances in which they have taken place will need to be taken into account.

1. Sexual abuse

Sexual abuse is considered to be the involvement of adults with care and support needs in sexual activities to which they have not given or were unable to give their consent, or which violate the law. Sexual abuse includes:

  • Contact abuse – touch eg of breast, genitals, arms, mouth etc, masturbation of either or both persons, penetration or attempted penetration of vagina, anus, mouth with or by penis, fingers or other objects

  • Non- contact abuse – looking, photography, indecent exposure, harassment, serious teasing or innuendo

2. Neglect

Adults with care and support needs who have been or are suspected of being physically neglected by either formal or informal carers or any other person who has responsibility, charge or care for the person, to the extent that their health and/or development are significantly impaired. For example this would include an adult with care and support needs who is unable or observed to be unable to self-medicate and is not receiving their medication in an appropriate manner, or any person who has responsibility or charge for a person who fails to safeguard their living arrangements.

1. Emotional abuse

Adults with care and support needs who have been physically abused either by acts of omission or commission on the part of others resulting in humiliation or harassment, for example swearing at, ignoring and denial of their rights. This could include making the individual feel ashamed of involuntary behaviour, blaming them for actions or events beyond their control, or ridiculing them for their conduct; also included could be deprivation of normal social contact and inadequate or improper supervision. Harassment could comprise of bullying, being threatened, or intimidated, or being made to fear for their health and well being.

1. Financial/Material abuse

Adults with care and support needs who suffer material exploitation at the hands of any other person through the misuse or theft of their money, property, possessions, or by having their access to material goods restricted by another person. For example, this includes the misappropriation of benefits due to the individual or preventing access to such benefits.

1. Institutional abuse

Abuse may take place in residential care or nursing homes. The policies of all establishments should ensure that the routines do not neglect people’s ability to receive personal and individualised care and that their rights to privacy, dignity, independence, choice and fulfilment are met. Abuse may be influenced by factors wholly or partly outside the staff member’s immediate control (eg staffing levels, health and safety issues etc). Poor practice in any institutional setting is abuse, and should be challenged through the use of whistle blowing, and guidelines for allegations against staff.

1. Discriminatory abuse

May include racist or sexist remarks or comments based on a person’s impairment, disability, age or illness, and other forms of harassment, slurs or similar treatment.

1. On-line abuse

There is safety risks associated with the Internet, in particular social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter. Risks include malicious users who may try to bully users, offensive or obscene material, identity fraud or spyware. When using the Internet to order goods or services for A New Vision of Britain CIC, staff should access reputable sites and do so only with the agreement of the Chief Officer. If you believe you are being bullied or harassed on-line in any way you must report it to the Chief Officer as soon as possible and cease to use the website concerned.

RECOGNITION

Indicators of Possible Abuse

The following indicators are the main signs and symptoms which may suggest that some form of abuse might have been, or is, taking place. Caution suggests against establishing adult abuse merely due to the presence of one or more of these indicators without further detailed investigation.

1. Physical abuse

  • History of unexplained falls or minor injuries
  • Bruising
  • in well protected areas, e.g. inside thigh, inside upper arm
  • on soft parts of the body
  • clustered as from repeated striking
  • Finger marks
  • Burns of an unusual kind or in unusual places
  • Injuries, bruises, found at different stages of healing or those where it is diffic ult to suggest an accidental cause
  • Injury shape similar to an object
  • Injuries to head, face
  • History of changing GP or reluctance to seek GP/services help
  • Accounts of events which may vary with time and are inconsistent with the physical evidence
  • Frequent attendance at hospital accident and emergency departments
  • Malnutrition when not living alone
  • Quiet and subdued when in the presence of carers, or flinching movements when approached
  • Ulcers, pressure sores and being left in wet clothing

2. Sexual abuse

  • Withdrawal, choosing to be alone, unwillingness to make eye contact
  • Explicit or untypical sexual/language/behaviour by the
  • Self-inflicted injury
  • Disturbed sleep pattern
  • Difficulty in walking or sitting
  • Self-neglect
  • Torn, stained, bloody or missing underclothes
  • “Love” bites
  • Bleeding, sore, torn rectal or genital area

3. Neglect

  • Inadequate physical care (of the individual and the environment) and inattention to the person’s basic needs, including appropriate food, clothing and shelter
  • Medical needs of person unmet – including failure to seek medical advice for illnesses
  • Failure to supply essential social stimulation
  • Repeated failure to prevent (accidental) injury

2. Emotional abuse

  • Inability to sleep
  • Change in appetite
  • Unusual weight gain or loss
  • Fearfulness/agitation
  • Unexplained uneasiness
  • Low self-esteem
  • Confusions

3. Financial abuse * Unexplained or sudden inability to pay bills * Unexplained or sudden withdrawal of money from accounts * Unwillingness by the adult/carer/relative to consider any assistance requiring expenditure beyond natural thriftiness or privacy, and when finances are not a problem * Unusual interest by family members and other people in the individual’s assets