Adult Safeguarding Policy

Policy Purpose and Aims

All adults have the right to be safe from harm and must be able to live free from fear of abuse, neglect and exploitation.

The aim of this policy is to ensure that CASPA staff and volunteers promote the wellbeing of the people we support, to help prevent harm and reduce the risk of abuse or neglect. This applies to everyone over the age of 18 who access CASPA’s clubs and services.

We are committed to preventing harm and abuse and we will respond quickly and effectively if concerns are raised.

An adult at risk of abuse or neglect is an adult aged 18 or over who (Care Act 2014):

• Has needs for care and support
• Is experiencing, or is at risk of, abuse or neglect.
• As a result of those care and support needs, is unable to protect themselves from either the risk of, or the experience of, abuse or neglect.

Responsibilities of individuals

• The Board of Trustees have overall responsibility for reviewing this policy on an annual basis and appointing CASPA’s Designated Safeguarding Lead. The Head of Programmes & Services, Elizabeth Mungeam is the Designated Safeguarding Lead who is responsible for
• Implementing the policy and ensuring that all staff/volunteers are aware of, have access to and understand this policy.
• Liaising with the local authority regarding safeguarding allegations.
• Ensuring all staff and volunteers are familiar with the vulnerable adult procedures set out in this document
• Keep up to date with any changes in Local Authority procedures and communicate this to team.The Senior Programme Delivery Manager, Miranda Webberley is the Deputy Designated Safeguarding lead (DDSL) and is responsible for:
• Ensuring staff and volunteers are aware of their individual responsibilities within this policy and know how to report and manage a safeguarding concern
• Acting as first point of contact for staff to report Safeguarding concerns.The HR Officer is responsible for
• Sourcing and coordinating adequate bi-annual Safeguarding training for all staff and volunteers
• ensuring all new starters (staff and volunteers) complete the relevant Safeguarding training during the onboarding process
• keeping an accurate register of completed training recordsAll CASPA staff and volunteers are responsible for:
• Ensuring they have read this policy when they join CASPA and when it is updated
• Complying with the policy and their responsibilities in relation to CASPA colleagues and client groups
• Making the leadership team aware if they feel this policy is not being followed

Policy Application and Guidance

All staff and volunteers working on behalf of CASPA have a duty to promote the welfare and safety of adults at risk.

Staff and volunteers may receive disclosures of abuse and/or observe adults at risk. All complaints, allegations or suspicions must be taken seriously. See Appendix A for types of abuse and Appendix B for possible signs of radicalisation.

Our members who have been, or are being abused, may not always be prepared, or able to tell others. In these instances, observations regarding specific behavioural patterns may indicate abuse.

Indicators of abuse may include:

• Unwillingness to be in the same room with certain people
• Unwillingness to go to certain places e.g. work placement, day centre
• Withdrawn, isolated behaviour
• Complaining about missing possessions
• Being homeless or at risk of homelessness
• Being easily distressed
• Damage to property
• Disruptive behaviour
• Change in attitude
• An unexplained illness
• Bruising or torn clothes
• Unexplained changes in material circumstances.

All CASPA staff and volunteers must recognise potential risks of harm, abuse, or neglect to vulnerable adults.Report any suspicion, allegation or incident of abuse to the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) or Designated Deputy Safeguarding Lead (DDSL) on the same working day where possible to ensure timely referrals. They will become the Designated Person for the case.See Appendix C for safeguarding staff contact details.

If in doubt about any safeguarding concerns, consult with the Programme Delivery Manager or your Club/Trip Lead in the first instance. Do not ignore concerns, even if these are vague. Your first responsibility is to the vulnerable adult.

Recording a Safeguarding concern

Individual staff and volunteers should not investigate concerns. This is the role of the statutory agencies. However, if a vulnerable adult does say something, it is vital to listen carefully, so that it can be reported accurately.

As soon as you can, write down your concerns and record the facts accurately. These notes must be given to your Designated Person immediately and will help to ensure accuracy in recalling events.

The Designated Person has login details for MyConcern and can support you with formally reporting your concern. Do not record opinions or interpretations, only stick to the facts of what you have been told or what you observed.

• Listen – do not ask questions or interrogate.
• Ask questions with sensitivity – do not ask leading questions
• Try and find out if anyone else saw the incident happen
• Remain calm, open and neutral – If you are shocked, upset or angry the person will sense this and this may prevent them from talking further.
• Reassure – The person has done nothing wrong – reassure them it is all right and safe to talk.
• Do not promise to keep it secret – Explain to the adult what they have said cannot be kept secret and that you will tell someone who can help.

Include as much information as possible including

• the date and 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 it is alleged has been abused,
• the nature of the alleged abuse,
• a description of any injuries observed,
• the account given of the allegation

Confidentiality

CASPA adult members have the right to expect sensitive and empathetic treatment from staff and volunteers. Confidentiality is essential, and information should be shared only on a need-to-know basis.

Promises of confidentiality must not be given as this may conflict with the need to ensure the safety and welfare of the individual.

The following flow chart outlines how to report safeguarding concerns: Safeguarding Vulnerable Adults Quick Guide to Reporting

Once a concern has been identified and reported, a safeguarding process takes place. You may need to take further action, but your designated person will support you.

The DSL or DDSL reports the matter to the appropriate body/agency if necessary. The telephone report must be confirmed in writing to the relevant local authority adult social services department within 24 hours (working days only).

Prompt referral allows more time to support the adult before the situation becomes severe.

If a vulnerable adult is believed to be in immediate danger, the police must be informed – dial 999 for immediate assistance or call the police on 101 if you suspect a crime has been committed. CASPA staff and volunteers will be led by the Local Authority / Social Services Team or the Police in all cases.

Appendix D shows contact details for Bromley Adult Social Services, Police and Extremism and Radicalisation contacts.

The chart below illustrates an overview of the CASPA Safeguarding Process.

Contact with the family

It is important to think of a whole-family approach to safeguarding. Therefore, where a safeguarding concern within a family is identified, it is important to have regard for the safety of any adult who may also be at risk and make a referral to adults services as appropriate.

Concern about a member of staff or volunteer

If you have concerns regarding the welfare of any vulnerable adult arising from suspected abuse or harassment by another member of staff or volunteer this should be reported immediately to your Designated Safeguarding Lead (or if the concerns are about them then report it to the CEO who then becomes the Designated Person handling the case).

Steps will be taken to support anyone who reports concerns about potential abuse. The designated person will support you to record the allegations.

Confidentiality will be prioritised and appropriate support considered for those involved.

The Designated Person will report any concerns or allegations regarding a member of staff or volunteer to the Adult social services team (See Appendix D). Any member of staff or volunteer who wishes to raise a concern outside of the organisation is enabled to access confidential advice from LBB Social Care.

It is a disciplinary matter both to victimise a bona fide whistle blower and for someone to maliciously make a false allegation.

Requests for assistance by other agencies

CASPA should assist local authority Social Services or the Police when they enquire about the welfare of adults at risk. Information about an adult must be shared on a ‘need to know’ basis.

When such requests are received by telephone, always maintain security by checking the telephone listing before calling back and record the conversations directly after they have taken place.

Always advise your Designated Person of this contact.

Appendix A

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.

Abuse can happen anywhere, including a person’s own home, in a hospital or a public place. Staff and volunteers must be vigilant on behalf of those people who are unable to protect themselves.

Abuse includes:

Institutional abuse – including neglect and poor care practice within an institution or specific care setting such as a care home, or in relation to care provided in one’s own home. This may range from one-off incidents to ongoing ill-treatment. It can be through neglect or poor professional practice as a result of the structure, policies, processes and practices within an organisation.

Physical abuse – includes assault, hitting, slapping, pushing, kicking, misuse of medication, restraint, or inappropriate sanctions.

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, sexual assault or sexual acts to which the adult has not consented or was pressured into consenting.

Forced marriage – a marriage without the full consent of both people and where pressure, threats or abuse is used. This is very different to an arranged marriage, which both people have agreed to. If we have concerns someone we support is in danger of a forced marriage, we should contact the Forced Marriage Unit for support and guidance.

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 withdrawal of services or supportive networks.

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.

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, and the withholding of the necessities of life, such as medication, adequate nutrition and heating.

Emotional and psychological abuse – this includes activity which makes people feel worthless, unloved or not good enough, ignoring their privacy and dignity, and teasing, shouting or threatening.

Discriminatory abuse – this includes forms of harassment, slurs or similar treatment; because of race, gender and gender identity, age, disability, sexual orientation or religion.

Exploitation – either opportunistically or premeditated, unfairly manipulating someone for profit or personal gain.

Domestic violence – an incident or pattern of incidents of controlling, coercive, threatening, degrading and violent behaviour, including sexual violence by a partner, ex- partner, or family member. It can also include economic abuse, which is behaviour that affects a person’s ability to acquire, use or maintain money or other property, or obtain goods or services.

Honour based violence (HBV)– violence committed by the extended family, which is motivated by a perceived need to restore standing within the community, which is presumed to have been lost through the behaviour of the victim.

Female genital mutilation (FGM) – the partial or total removal of external female genitalia for non-medical reasons. It’s also known as female circumcision or cutting. Incidences of FGM must be reported to the Police. Information on when and how to report can be found at: Mandatory reporting of female genital mutilation procedural information

Modern slavery – this includes slavery, human trafficking, and forced labour and domestic servitude. Further information on the signs that someone may be a victim of modern slavery, the support available to victims and how to refer them to the National Referral Mechanism can be found in the Modern Slavery Statutory guidance.

Self-neglect – this covers a wide range of behaviour neglecting care for one’s personal hygiene, health or surroundings and includes behaviour such as hoarding.

County lines – is a term used to describe gangs and organised criminal networks involved in exporting illegal drugs into one or more importing areas within the UK. Children, young people and vulnerable adults can be exploited to move and store drugs and money. Offenders will often use coercion, intimidation, violence and weapons to ensure compliance of victims.

Cuckooing is a form of crime where drug dealers take over the home of a vulnerable person in order to use it as a base for criminal activity. Organised criminal groups are increasingly targeting adults with care and support needs in this way.

Online abuse/cyber bullying – this includes the use of the internet, social networking websites or mobile phones to harass, intimidate, or cause harm to another. It can happen on its own or with other forms of bullying, and can occur 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Types of cyber-bullying include:

Sending threatening or disturbing text messages. Making silent, hoax or abusive calls.

Trolling: the sending of menacing or upsetting messages on social networks, chat rooms or online groups.

Appendix B

Possible signs of radicalisation include:

• A person’s views become increasingly extreme regarding anothersection of society or government policy
• A person becomes increasingly intolerant of more moderate views.
• A person expresses a desire/intent to take part in or support extremist activity.
• A person is observed downloading, viewing or sharing extremist propaganda from the internet.
• A person becomes withdrawn and focused on one ideology.
• A person changes their appearance, their health may suffer, and they may become isolated from family, friends, peers or social groups.

Appendix C

Appendix D

How to make an adult safeguarding concern online in Bromley

Reporting an Adult Safeguarding Concern

‌This online referral form should not be used for concerns that require an urgent response. If you need an urgent response please call Police on 999

‌If you need to contact a social worker outside of office hours please telephone 0300 303 8671.

Bromley Police

Telephone: 101

Extremism and Radicalisation Contacts

ACT Early Support Line on 0800 011 3764

Anti-Terrorism Hotline on 0880 789 321

London Borough of Bromley Community Safety: prevent@bromley.gov.uk