Safeguarding Policy
Totnes U3A - Safeguarding Adults Policy and Procedure
Policy
We recognize that some older people are potentially at risk of abuse and neglect. Abuse and neglect can take place in any public or private location
We recognise that abuse and neglect can be perpetrated by staff of institutions, volunteers, other users of services, relatives, friends and neighbours.
We acknowledge that the reasons for abuse and neglect occurring are not fully understood and vary with each incident, often dependant on risk factors. They can include poor quality long-term relationships, poor coping strategies, mental health issues, isolation, dependency and co-dependency as well as inadequate staff development, support and supervision.
We will neither condone nor tolerate any form of abuse or neglect and believes that all people should be able and, where necessary, enabled to live in an environment which is safe from abuse and neglect.
We believe that everyone is entitled to:
• privacy
• be treated with dignity and respect
• lead an independent life and to be enabled to do so
• choose how they live their lives
• the protection of the law
• have their human and civil rights upheld regardless of ethnic origin, gender, sexuality, impairment or disability, age, religious or cultural background.
Where abuse or neglect is suspected, we will aim to respond to the situation in a way which is caring, effective, enabling, influencing and innovative.
It is not appropriate for U3A Totnes to take the lead role in any Safeguarding Enquiry under Section 42 of the Care Act 2014, but will refer this to the local authority and U3A National Office.
1. This Policy and Procedure is written to enable the Committee, Group Leaders and Members of U3A Totnes to act appropriately whenever possible or actual abuse or neglect comes to their attention.
2 All members of the Committee, Group Leaders & other volunteers who act in accordance with this Policy and Procedure will be supported by U3A Totnes.
3 We recognise that adults at risk, as defined in the above, can be either the victim or the perpetrator of abuse.
4 We recognise that, through its day-to-day activities, its members of the Committee, Group Leaders & Members may be in a position to be key in the identification, to abuse and neglect of adults at risk.
Procedure
1 The Committee, Group Leaders & Members who become aware of possible or actual abuse or neglect will ensure that the safety of the adult at risk is secured as a priority.
2 Guidance on how to respond to a disclosure of possible or actual abuse is contained in Guidance for Group Leaders section below.
3 The Committee, Group Leaders & Members who becomes aware of possible or actual abuse will, as soon as possible, record the details of the abuse using Form SAP1.
4 The Committee, having been advised of the possible or actual abuse, will satisfy themselves that the adult at risk is safe, and that the alleged perpetrator, if known, does not pose a threat to any other adult at risk.
5 As far as possible, the adult at risk’s wishes will be respected as to whether to refer any concerns to the local authority as a Safeguarding Enquiry under Section 42 of the Care Act 2014.
6 All incidents where Form SAP1 has been completed, will be advised to the Committee. Confidentiality must be adhered to always and therefore the contents of the form will not be provided to any third parties.
Appendix 1 Key Definitions:
Adult at risk:
Is any person, who is over 18 years of age and who has need for care and support, is experiencing, or is at risk of abuse or neglect, and because of those needs is unable to protect himself or herself against the abuse or neglect or risk of it.
Abuse:
Is the “violation of a person’s human and civil rights by any other person(s). It may be a single or repeated act(s), physical verbal, psychological, sexual, institutional, discriminatory or financial, an act of neglect or failure to act”
Types of abuse:
a) Physical abuse – including assault, hitting, slapping, pushing, misuse of medication, restraint, or inappropriate physical sanctions.
b) Domestic violence – including psychological, physical, sexual, financial, emotional abuse; so called ‘honour’ based violence.
c) Sexual abuse – including rape, indecent exposure, sexual harassment, inappropriate looking or touching, sexual teasing or innuendo, sexual photography, subjection to pornography or witnessing sexual acts, indecent exposure and sexual assault or sexual acts to which the adult has not consented or was pressured into consenting.
d) Psychological abuse – including emotional abuse, threats of harm or abandonment, deprivation of contact, humiliation, blaming, controlling, intimidation, coercion, harassment, verbal abuse, cyber bullying, isolation or unreasonable and unjustified withdrawal of services or supportive networks.
e) Financial or material abuse – including theft, fraud, internet scamming, coercion in relation to an adult’s financial affairs or arrangements, including in connection with wills, property, inheritance or financial transactions, or the misuse or misappropriation of property, possessions, or benefits.
f) Modern slavery – encompasses slavery, human trafficking, forced labour and domestic servitude. Traffickers and slave masters use whatever means they have at their disposal to coerce, deceive and force individuals into a life of abuse, servitude and inhumane treatment.
g) Discriminatory abuse – including forms of harassment, slurs or similar treatment; because of race, gender and gender identity, age, disability, sexual orientation or religion.
h) Organisational abuse – including neglect and poor care practice within an institution or specific care setting such as a hospital or care home, for example, or in relation to care provided in one’s own home. This may range from one off incidents to on-going ill-treatment. It can be through neglect or poor professional practice because of the structure, policies, processes, and practices within an organisation.
i) Neglect and acts of omission – including ignoring medical, emotional or physical care needs, failure to provide access to appropriate health, care and support or educational services, the withholding of the necessities of life, such as medication, adequate nutrition and heating
j) Self-neglect – this covers a wide range of behaviour neglecting to care for one’s personal hygiene, health or surroundings and includes behaviour such as hoarding.
Appendix 2
Contact details for the members of the Committee – see web site for details.
In the event of becoming aware of actual or suspected abuse or neglect, any Member should contact a member of the Committee to report their concerns or for advice and support.
Appendix 3
Contact Details for South Hams Social Services:
Follaton House, Plymouth Road, Totnes
01803 861234
The local authority will contact the Police if they consider it appropriate. In the case of an emergency such as a serious assault or it is believed that other adults may be at immediate risk of serious harm or abuse, the Police should be contacted immediately via 999.
FORM SAP1 Confidential
SAFEGUARDING ADULT DISCLOSURE/SUSPICION
RECORDING PROFORMA
Please complete in black ink so that the report can be photocopied if needed and be aware that your report may be required later as part of a legal action or disciplinary procedure.
Adult at Risk
Surname:
Forename:
Gender: Ethnicity:
Date of Birth:
Marital Status:
Home address:
Post Code:
Disclosure/Suspicion Date and Time:
Location of Disclosure/Suspicion:
Who Received Disclosure/Had Suspicion:
Type of Alleged Abuse:
Location of Alleged Abuse:
Description of Alleged Abuse:
Name:
Signature: Post: Date:
Committee informed:
Name:
Post: Date & Time:
Committee decision:
No further action: Referral on:
Yes/No Yes/No
Date
Action Date:
Reason for Decision:
Date Record to be Destroyed:
Signed Committee Chair:
Date: Time:
Information contained in this document should only be used for the purposes of implementing and monitoring Safeguarding Adults Policy and Procedures and service monitoring. The information must not be copied, transmitted or in any way divulged without the permission of the Committee.
Guidance for Group Leaders
If someone discloses abuse to you:
Do:
Stay calm and try not to show shock or disbelief
Listen carefully to what they are saying
Be sympathetic (I’m sorry that this has happened to you’)
Be aware of the possibility that medical evidence might be needed
Tell the person that:
They did the right thing to tell you
You are treating the information seriously. It was not their fault
You are going to inform the appropriate person
You/ will take steps to protect and support them
Record and report the disclosure in line with the Procedure
Do Not:
Press the person for more details; this will be done at a later date
Stop someone who is freely recalling significant events (Don’t say ‘hold on, we’ll come back to that later’; they may not tell you or anybody else again)
Do not promise to keep secrets; you cannot keep this kind of information to yourself
Make promises you cannot keep (Such as ‘This will never happen to you again’)
Contact the alleged abuser
Be judgemental
Pass on the information other than to those with a legitimate ‘need-to-know’ under this Policy and Procedure
In your record of the disclosure you should aim to:
Note what people said, using their own words and phrases
Describe the circumstances in which the disclosure came about
Note the setting and anyone else who was there at the time of the abuse or the disclosure
Separate factual information from your own and other’s opinions