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Safeguarding Vulnerable Adults Policy 

Care Contact recognises that service users must be safeguarded from any form of abuse wherever and however it might occur.  All staff are aware of their role with regard to safeguarding.  We take a “to do nothing is not an option” view of reporting and investigating any allegations of abuse led by our multi agency partners.  If staff are involved in any allegation of abuse, we take separate advise in regard to employment law issues which may arise.

Policy Statement 

This Safeguarding policy is an aspect of ‘Safe’ as it is designed to ensure staff understand the company’s processes for safeguarding adults at risk and realising our duty of care. Every Organization should hold a zero-tolerance policy, and strongly articulate that no abuse is acceptable; abuse is a criminal offence and must be reported to the Safeguarding Adults Board

Policy 

The purpose of this policy is to protect adults at risk and their care, recognizing the risks involved in lone working and includes:

  • Clarifying the roles and responsibilities for staff and all healthcare professionals working with Care Contact to contribute to the prevention of abuse of adults at risk through raising awareness.
  • Outlined practice and procedures for all parties within the scope of the policy.
  • A clear framework for action when abuse is suspected.

Principles  

The Care Act 2014 introduced a duty to promote well-being whilst delivering care. Hence, Care Contact’s Safeguarding Vulnerable Adults Policy incorporates the wellbeing principle together with the six principles of safeguarding adults as set out in the Statement of Government Policy on Adult Safeguarding (DoH, May 2013), as follows:

  • Empowerment – people being supported and encouraged to make their own decisions with informed consent
  • Proportionality – the least intrusive response appropriate to the risk presented
  • Accountability – the way in which the safeguarding process is conducted should be transparent and consistent
  • Partnership – people can be satisfied that agencies are working together to make them safe
  • Protection – ensuring that people are safe and that they have support and representation as necessary during the process
  • Prevention – minimising the likelihood of repeated abuse and recognizing the person’s own contribution to this

Definition of Vulnerable Adult

Is simply a person over the age of 18 who is in, or may be in need of, care services by reason of mental or other disability, age, or illness; and who is unable to take care of himself/herself, or unable to protect himself or herself against significant harm or exploitation.”

Vulnerable People  

A vulnerable person may include someone who:

Is elderly and frail;

Has a mental illness, including dementia;

Has a physical or sensory disability;

Has a learning disability;

Has a severe physical illness;

Is a substance misuser;

Definition of Abuse  

“is the harming of another individual usually by someone who is in a position of power, trust or authority over that individual. The harm may be physical, psychological or emotional or it may be directed at exploiting the vulnerability of the victim in more subtle ways (for example, through denying access to people who can come to the aid of the victim, or through misuse or misappropriation of his or her financial resources). The threat or use of punishment is also a form of abuse… In many cases, it is a criminal offence.”

Types of Abuse  

Physical abuse  

  • Bodily assaults resulting in injuries e.g., hitting, slapping, pushing, kicking, misuse of medication, restraint or inappropriate sanctions; Bodily impairment e.g., malnutrition, dehydration, failure to thrive; Medical/healthcare maltreatment.

Sexual abuse   

  • Rape, incest, acts of indecency, sexual assault; Sexual harassment or sexual acts to which the adult at risk has not consented, or could not consent or was pressured into consenting; Sexual abuse might also include exposure to pornographic materials, being made to witness sexual acts and encompasses sexual harassment/non-contact abuse

Psychological/emotional abuse   

  • Including threats of harm, controlling, intimidation, coercion, harassment, verbal abuse, enforced isolation or withdrawal from services or supportive networks; Humiliation; Bullying, shouting, swearing.

Neglect   

  • Where the individual refuses to attend to their personal care and hygiene, their environment or even refusal of care services offered to them. Including ignoring medical or physical care needs, failure to provide access to appropriate health, social care or educational services; Withholding life’s necessities, such as medication, adequate nutrition and heating. Financial or material abuse

Theft and fraud;  

  • Exploitation, pressure in connection with wills, property or inheritance or financial transactions, or the misuse or misappropriation of property, possessions or benefits.

Discrimination  

  • Including racist, sexist, or based on a person’s disability, and other forms of harassment, slurs or similar treatment.

Organisational Abuse 

  • When a service, agency or care home is putting its own needs before those of the service users. Including inflexible daily routines, re-organising a staff rota to suit its own costs.

Modern Slavery 

  • The use of individuals working for little or no wages is now the business of the Safeguarding Adults Boards

Domestic Violence   

  • Domestic violence is now recognized as the jurisdiction of the Safeguarding Adults Boards across the country when it is committed against an adult in need of care services.

Other Signs of Abuse 

Inappropriate use of restraints;

Sensory deprivation e.g. spectacles or hearing aid;

Denial of visitors or phone calls;

Failure to ensure privacy or personal dignity;

Lack of flexibility of choice e.g. bedtimes, choice of food;

Restricted access to toilet or bathing facilities;

Lack of personal clothing or possessions;

Controlling relationships between care staff and service users;

Any errors in medication administration.

Rights and Responsibilities  

  • To ensure staff are aware of the Safeguarding Vulnerable Adults Policy and are adequately trained;
  • To ensure staff are aware of who the Safeguarding Officer is within the organization
  • To notify the appropriate authorities if abuse is identified or suspected;
  • To support and, where possible, secure the safety of individuals;
  • To instruct staff to promote good practice to all healthcare professionals;
  • To DBS check all healthcare professionals who have access to or work with adults at risk.
  • To ensure that all referrals to services and authorities have full information in relation to identified risk and vulnerability;

Purpose

To achieve safeguarding, Care Contact will comply with the 6 principles of Care Act 2014. These principles are:

  • Empowerment
  • Protection
  • Prevention
  • Proportionality
  • Partnership
  • Accountability

To promote safeguarding effectively, it is essential staff understand the rights of the Adult At Risk. Their rights are:

  • To be made aware of this policy;
  • To have alleged incidents recognised and taken seriously;
  • To receive fair and respectful treatment throughout;
  • To be involved in any process as appropriate;
  • To receive information about the outcome.

Our Duties  

All care staff must:

  • be made fully aware of the central importance of keeping adults at risk safe from harm and abuse as reflected in the current policy context
  • fully understand their service’s policies and procedures on safeguarding its service users from abuse/harm, particularly over spotting and reporting concerns and suspicions of abuse
  • continue to receive training as required, and where recommended by the local area safeguarding adults’ authority
  • understand their legal requirements to put the interests of service users over all other interests when it is known or suspected that they are being abused, including abuse by carers or relatives
  • ensure that service users are being fully protected during the Covid-19 situation.

Record Keeping   

 A written record of any concerns will be kept on file. This confidential information will be stored securely and appropriately and will be kept for as long as deemed necessary, in line with Data Protection principles.

  • All incidents should be discussed in supervision with your Registered Manager. Records kept should only include:
  • Contacts made;
  • Referrals made, including date, time, reasons and referral agency; Millennium24Healthcare may have specific projects that need to keep more detailed records, and these will be identified by the Team Leader and made known to the team.

Staff Duties in Recognising the Signs  

All staff have a duty of care towards all service users and colleagues. It is their responsibility to remain vigilant towards to presence and perpetration of abuse and act quickly as soon as signs of abuse have been identified by confiding in your Registered Manager or other senior members of staff, or the Safeguarding Officer.

How We Prevent Abuse / Harm  

  • Recruitment procedures is done very carefully
  • Staff training at all levels should deal with abuse/harm and protection.
  • Staff working alone with service users should be supervised carefully.
  • Any suspicion, evidence or reports of abuse/harm are followed up promptly.
  • A climate of openness is created which allows for the passing on of any concerns
  • Staff are encouraged to watch for any evidence of abuse/harm and to report these immediately.
  • Any person in the work setting who might be abusive of others is supervised and observed carefully.
  • Service users are encouraged to speak and helped to avoid/counter abuse/harm where this is possible.
  • Policies and procedures relating to abuse/harm are made available and widely publicised and kept up to date.

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