Safeguarding Adult Police Statement
This policy will enable SWIFT Appropriate Adult Service C.I.C. (SWIFT) to demonstrate its commitment to keeping safe the vulnerable adults with whom it works alongside. SWIFT acknowledges its duty to act appropriately to any allegations, reports or suspicions of abuse.
It is important to have the policy and procedures in place so that staff, volunteers, service users and management can work to prevent abuse and know what to do in the event of abuse.
The Policy Statement and Procedures have been drawn up in order to enable SWIFT to:
Promote good practice and work in a way that can prevent harm, abuse and coercion occurring.
To ensure that any allegations of abuse or suspicions are dealt with appropriately and the person experiencing abuse is supported.
To stop any abuse from occurring.
We are committed to reviewing our policy and good practice annually.
Definition of vulnerable adult: The Care Act 2014 s42 now identifies ‘an adult at risk.’ An adult at risk of abuse or neglect is defined as someone who has needs for care and support, who is experiencing, or at risk of, abuse or neglect and as a result of their care needs - is unable to protect themselves.
The policy applies to all staff, including management, paid staff, volunteers and anybody else working on behalf of SWIFT.
It is acknowledged that significant numbers of vulnerable adults are abused and it is important that SWIFT has a Safeguarding Adults Policy, a set of procedures to follow and puts in place preventative measures to try and reduce those numbers.
In order to implement the policy the SWIFT will work:
To promote the freedom and dignity of the person who has or is experiencing abuse.
To promote the rights of all people to live free from abuse and coercion.
To ensure the safety and well being of people who do not have the capacity to decide how they want to respond to abuse that they are experiencing.
To manage services in a way which promotes safety and prevents abuse.
Recruit staff and volunteers safely, ensuring all necessary checks are made.
Provide effective management for staff and volunteers through supervision, support and training.
With adults at risk of abuse and neglect to have greater control in their lives to both prevent it from happening and give meaningful options of dealing with it should it occur.
With staff to provide clearer guidance, and support pathways to working in an integrated way, breaking down barriers between organisations.
SWIFT Appropriate Adult Service:
Will ensure that the Management Team, staff, volunteers and everybody else working on behalf of SWIFT are familiar with this policy and the correct procedures.
Will work with other agencies within the framework of the local Safeguarding Adults Board Policy and Procedures, issued under No Secrets guidance (Department of Health, 2000) and then superseded by The Care Act 2014.
Will act within it’s confidentiality policy and will usually gain permission from service users before sharing information about them with another agency.
Will pass information to Adult Services when more than one person is at risk. For example: if the concern relates to a worker, volunteer organisation who provides a service to vulnerable adults or children.
Will inform service users that where a person is in danger, a child is at risk or a crime has been committed then a decision may be taken to pass information to another agency without the service user’s consent.
Will endeavour to keep up to date with national developments relating to preventing abuse and welfare of adults
Will ensure that the Designated Named Person understands his/her responsibility to refer incidents of adult abuse to the relevant statutory agencies (Police/Adult and Culture Services Directorate)
Where a referral is made to a local authority, there are two key duties on local authorities:
Section 9 Care Act 2014: Duty to assess needs for care and support
• Where it appears to a local authority that an adult may have needs for care and support, the authority must assess:
a) Whether the adult does have needs for care and support, and
b) If the adult does, what those needs are.
Section 42: Adult Safeguarding Enquiries
• The local authority is under a duty to undertake, or cause others to undertake, an adult safeguarding enquiry when it has a reasonable belief that an adult in its area:
a) Has care and support needs;
b) Is experiencing or is at risk of abuse or neglect; and
c) is unable to protect themselves from that abuse or neglect because of their care and support needs
The Designated Named Person for Safeguarding Adults in SWIFT is David Hill.
PROCEDURES
SWIFT provides an Appropriate Adult service to vulnerable people detained in police custody. These procedures have been designed to ensure the welfare and protection of any adult who accesses services provided by SWIFT. The procedures recognise that adult abuse can be a difficult subject for workers to deal with. SWIFT is committed to the belief that the protection of vulnerable adults from harm and abuse is everybody’s responsibility and the aim of these procedures is to ensure that all managers, staff and volunteers act appropriately in response to any concern around adult abuse.
Preventing Abuse
SWIFT is committed to putting in place safeguards and measures to reduce the likelihood of abuse taking place within the services it offers and that all those involved within SWIFT will be treated with respect.
SWIFT is committed to safer recruitment policies and practices for paid staff, and volunteers. This may include DBS disclosures for staff and volunteers, ensuring references are taken up and adequate training on Safeguarding Adults is provided for staff and volunteers.
The organisation will work within the current legal framework for reporting staff or volunteers that are abusers.
Service users will be encouraged to become involved with the running of the organisation.
Recognising the signs and symptoms of Abuse
SWIFT is committed to ensuring that all staff, the management committee, trustees and volunteers undertake training to gain a basic awareness of signs and symptoms of abuse. SWIFT will ensure that the Designated Named Person and other members of staff, management and volunteers have access to training around Safeguarding Adults.
“Abuse is a violation of an individual’s human and civil rights by any other person or persons” (No Secrets: Department of Health, 2000).
The Care and Support statutory guidance identifies types of abuse, but also emphasises that organisation should not limit their view of what constitutes abuse or neglect. The specific circumstances of an individual case should always be considered.
Abuse may be carried out deliberately or unknowingly. Abuse may be a single act or repeated acts.
People who behave abusively come from all backgrounds and walks of life. They may be doctors, nurses, social workers, advocates, staff members, volunteers or others in a position of trust. They may also be relatives, friends, neighbours or people who use the same services as the person experiencing abuse.
Designated Named Person for safeguarding adults
SWIFT has an appointed individual who is responsible for dealing with any Safeguarding Adults concerns. In their absence, a deputy will be available for workers to consult with. The Designated Named Person for Safeguarding Adults within SWIFT is David Hill.
The roles and responsibilities of the named person are:
To ensure that all staff including volunteers and trustees are aware of what they should do and who they should go to if they have concerns that a vulnerable adult may be experiencing, or has experienced abuse or neglect.
To ensure that concerns are acted on, clearly recorded and referred to the allocated social worker/care manager where necessary.
To follow up any referrals and ensure the issues have been addressed.
Consider any recommendations from the Safeguarding Adults process.
To reinforce the utmost need for confidentiality and to ensure that staff and volunteers are adhering to good practice with regard to confidentiality and security. This is because it is around the time that a person starts to challenge abuse that the risks of increasing intensity of abuse are greatest.
To ensure that staff and volunteers working directly with service users who have experienced abuse, or who are experiencing abuse, are well supported and receive appropriate supervision.
If appropriate staff or volunteers will be given support and afforded protection if necessary under the Public Interest Disclosure Act 1998: They will be dealt with in a fair and equitable manner and they will be kept informed of any action that has been taken and it’s outcome
Responding to people who have experienced or are experiencing Abuse
SWIFT recognises that it has a duty to act on reports, or suspicions of abuse or neglect. It also acknowledges that taking action in cases of adult abuse is never easy.
How to respond if you receive an allegation:
Reassure the person concerned.
Listen to what they are saying.
Record what you have been told/witnessed as soon as possible.
Remain calm and do not show shock or disbelief.
Tell them that the information will be treated seriously.
Don’t start to investigate or ask detailed or probing questions.
Don’t promise to keep it a secret
If you witness abuse or abuse has just taken place the priorities will be:
To call an ambulance if required.
To call the police if a crime has been committed.
To preserve evidence.
To keep yourself, staff, volunteers and service users safe.
To inform the Designated Named Person in your organisation.
All situations of abuse or alleged abuse will be discussed with the Designated Named Person or their deputy. The alleged victim will be told that this will happen. This stage is called the alert.
If it is appropriate and there is consent from the individual, or there is a good reason to override consent, such as risk to others, a referral (alert) will be made to the Management Team.
If the individual experiencing abuse does not have capacity to consent a referral will be made without that person’s consent, in their best interests.
The Designated Named Person may take advice at the above stage from Adult Social Care Direct and/or the Safeguarding Adults Unit and/or other advice giving organisations such as Police.
Raising a Safeguarding Adults Alert
All safeguarding adults alerts (referrals) should be made by telephone to the Management Team.
You should ask to make a safeguarding adults alert. Management will then decide if the safeguarding process should be instigated or if other support/services are appropriate. Feedback will be given to the person who raised the safeguarding adults alert.
The Designated Named Person will have an overview of this process so they can explain it to the person concerned and offer all relevant support to the person and process. This could be practical support e.g. providing a venue, or information and reports and emotional support.
Information should be provided to the individual. This could be about other sources of help or information that could enable them to decide what to do about their experience, enable them to recover from their experience and enable them to seek justice.
Managing allegation made against member of staff
SWIFT will ensure that any allegations made against members or member of staff will be dealt with swiftly.
Where a member of staff/volunteer is thought to have committed a criminal offence the police will be informed. If a crime has been witnessed the police should be contacted immediately.
The safety of the individual(s) concerned is paramount. A risk assessment must be undertaken immediately to assess the level of risk to all service users posed by the alleged perpetrator. This will include whether it is safe for them to continue in their role or any other role within the service whilst the investigation is undertaken.
The Designated Named Person will liaise with the relevant body to discuss the best course of action and to ensure that the SWIFT’s disciplinary procedures are coordinated with any other enquiries taking place as part of the ongoing management of the allegation.
Recording and managing confidential information
SWIFT is committed to maintaining confidentiality wherever possible and information around Safeguarding Adults issues should be shared only with those who need to know. For further information, please see SWIFT’s confidentiality policy.
All allegations/concerns should be recorded at Head Office. The information should be factual and not based on opinions, record what the person tells you, what you have seen and witnesses if appropriate.
The information that is recorded will be kept secure and will comply with data protection. Access to this information will be restricted to the Designated Named Person and those
with express authorisation.
Disseminating/Reviewing policy and procedures
This Safeguarding Adults Policy and Procedure will be clearly communicated to staff, volunteers, service users. The Designated Named Person will be responsible for ensuring that this is done.
The Safeguarding Adults Policy and Procedures will be reviewed annually by the Management Team. David Hill will be involved in this process and can recommend any changes. The Designated Named Person will also ensure that any changes are clearly communicated to staff and volunteers. It may be appropriate to involve service users in the review and service users and parents/carers need to be informed of any significant changes.