Policies
Safeguarding Vulnerable Adults Policy
Introduction
COGS Prepares 4 Life CIO (CP4L CIO) is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of young people and vulnerable adults, engaged in the breadth of its activities. The purpose of this policy is to outline the duty and responsibility of staff, volunteers and trustees working on behalf of CP4L CIO in relation to the protection of vulnerable adults from abuse. All adults have the right to be safe from harm and should be able to live free from fear of abuse, neglect, and exploitation.
The key objectives of this policy are:
· To explain the responsibilities that CP4L CIO, and its staff, volunteers and trustees have in respect of vulnerable adult protection.
· To provide staff with an overview of vulnerable adult protection
· To provide a clear procedure that will be implemented where vulnerable adult protection issues arise.
Context
For the purpose of this document ‘adult’ means a person aged 18 years or over.
Some adults are less able to protect themselves than others, and some have difficulty making their wishes and feelings known. This may make them vulnerable to abuse. The broad definition of a ‘vulnerable adult’ is a person:
“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”.
The first priority should always be to ensure the safety and protection of vulnerable adults. To this end it is the responsibility of all staff, volunteers, and trustees to act on any suspicion or evidence of abuse or neglect and to pass on their concerns to a responsible person/agency.
For purposes of ensuring consistent and widely understood terminology, this policy and procedures will use the phrase ‘Vulnerable Adults’ to identify those eligible for interventions within the procedures.
The role of staff and volunteers
All staff, volunteers and trustees working on behalf of CP4L CIO have a duty to promote the welfare and safety of vulnerable adults.
Staff, volunteers, or trustees may receive disclosures of abuse or observe vulnerable adults who are at risk. This policy will enable them to make informed and confident responses to specific adult protection issues.
What is abuse?
Abuse is a violation of an individual’s human and civil rights by any other person or persons.
Abuse may consist of a single act or repeated acts. It may be physical, verbal, or psychological. It may be an act of neglect or an omission to act, or it may occur when a vulnerable person is persuaded to enter into a financial or sexual transaction to which he or she has not consented or cannot consent. Abuse can occur in any relationship, and it may result in significant harm to, or exploitation of, the person subjected to it.
In its ‘No Secrets’ report, The Department of Health suggests the following as the main types of abuse: -
Physical abuse- including hitting, slapping, pushing, kicking, misuse of medication, restraint, or inappropriate sanctions.
Sexual abuse- including rape and sexual assault or sexual acts to which the vulnerable adult has not consented or could not consent or was pressured into consenting.
Psychological abuse- including emotional abuse, threats of harm or abandonment, deprivation of contact, humiliation, blaming, controlling, intimidation, coercion, harassment, verbal abuse, isolation or withdrawal from services or supportive networks.
Financial or material abuse- including theft, fraud, exploitation, pressure in connection with wills, property or inheritance or financial transactions, or the misuse or misappropriation of property, possessions, or benefits.
Neglect and acts of omission- including ignoring medical or physical care needs, failure to provide access to appropriate health, social care or educational services, the withholding of the necessities of life, such as medication, adequate nutrition, and heating.
Discriminatory abuse- including racist, sexist, that based on a person’s disability, age or sexuality and other forms of harassment, slurs, or similar treatment.
Procedure in the event of a disclosure
It is important that vulnerable adults 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 a vulnerable adult has been abused.
Promises of confidentiality should 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 should 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 has allegedly been abused, the nature of the alleged abuse, a description of any injuries observed, the account which has been given of the allegation.
Responding to an allegation
Any suspicion, allegation or incident of abuse must be reported to the Vulnerable Persons Protection Officer (VPPO) on that working day where possible.
CP4L CIO VPPO is Tracy Blakey
The nominated member of staff shall telephone and report the matter to the appropriate local adult social services or SSASPB (Staffordshire and Stoke-On-Trent Adult Safeguarding Partnership Board). 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.
Responding appropriately to an allegation of abuse
In the event of an incident or disclosure:
DO
Make sure the individual is safe.
Assess whether emergency services are required and if needed call them.
Listen
Offer support and reassurance.
Ascertain and establish the basic facts.
Make careful notes and obtain agreement on them.
Ensure notation of dates, time and persons present are correct and agreed.
Take all necessary precautions to preserve forensic evidence.
Follow correct procedure.
Explain areas of confidentiality; immediately speak to your manager for
Support and guidance
Explain the procedure to the individual making the allegation.
Remember the need for ongoing support.
DONT
Confront the alleged abuser.
Be judgmental or voice your own opinion.
Be dismissive of the concern.
Investigate or interview beyond that which is necessary to establish the basic facts.
Disturb or destroy possible forensic evidence.
Consult with persons not directly involved with the situation.
Ask leading questions.
Assume Information
Make promises.
Ignore the allegation.
Elaborate in your notes.
Panic
It is important to remember that the person who first encounters a case of alleged abuse is not responsible for deciding whether abuse has occurred. This is a task for the professional adult protection agencies, following a referral from the designated Vulnerable Persons Protection Officer.
Confidentiality
Vulnerable adult protection raises issues of confidentiality which should be clearly understood by all. Staff and volunteers have a professional responsibility to share relevant information about the protection of vulnerable adults with other professionals, particularly investigative agencies, and adult social services.
Clear boundaries of confidentiality will be communicated to all.
All personal information regarding a vulnerable adult will be kept confidential. All written records will be kept in a secure area for a specific time as identified in data protection guidelines. Records will only record details required in the initial contact form.
If an adult confides in a member of staff and requests that the information is kept secret, it is important that the member of staff tells the adult sensitively that he or she has a responsibility to refer cases of alleged abuse to the appropriate agencies.
Within that context, the adult should, however, be assured that the matter will be disclosed only to people who need to know about it.
Where possible, consent should be obtained from the adult before sharing personal information with third parties. In some circumstances obtaining consent may be neither possible nor desirable as the safety and welfare of the vulnerable adult is the priority.
Where a disclosure has been made, staff should let the adult know the position regarding their role and what action they will have to take as a result.
Staff should assure the adult that they will keep them informed of any action to be taken and why. The adults’ involvement in the process of sharing information should be fully considered and their wishes and feelings considered.
The role of key individual agencies
Adult Social Services and the Safeguarding Board
The Department of Health’s ‘No secrets’ guidance document requires that authorities develop a local framework within which all responsible agencies work together to ensure a coherent policy for the protection of vulnerable adults at risk of abuse.
All local authorities have a Safeguarding Adults Board, which oversees multi-agency work aimed at protecting and safeguarding vulnerable adults. It is normal practice for the board to comprise of people from partner organisations who have the ability to influence decision making and resource allocation within their organisation. CP4L CIO’s local board is Staffordshire and Stoke-On-Trent Adult Safeguarding Partnership Board (SSASPB).
0345 604 2719 – Mon – Thurs (8.30am – 5pm) excluding Bank Holidays
0345 604 2719 – Fridays (8.30am – 4.30pm) excluding Bank Holidays
0345 604 2886 - any other time
https://www.ssaspb.org.uk/Contact/Contact-us.aspx (Accessed 7th February 2023)
The Police
The Police play a vital role in Safeguarding Adults with cases involving alleged criminal acts. It becomes the responsibility of the police to investigate allegations of crime by preserving and gathering evidence. Where a crime is identified, the police will be the lead agency and they will direct investigations in line with legal and other procedural protocols.
Role of manager
The role of the manager is to support the member of staff, or volunteer involved with the incident and to ensure the correct procedures are followed. The manager should ensure that all staff within their team are familiar with CP4L CIO vulnerable adult protection procedures and ensure that all staff undertake training, where appropriate.
Training
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 who is the Vulnerable Persons Protection Officer.
Recruitment procedure
CP4L CIO operates procedures that consider the need to safeguard and promote the welfare of vulnerable adults, including arrangements for appropriate checks on new staff and volunteers where applicable.