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Safeguarding Vulnerable Adults Policy
Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility:
Purpose
The purpose of this policy is to protect people, particularly vulnerable adults, and beneficiaries of assistance, from any harm that may be caused due to their coming into contact with Adewunmipraise Foundation. This includes harm arising from:
• The conduct of volunteers or personnel associated with Adewunmipraise Foundation
• The design and implementation of Adewunmipraise Foundation’s programmes and activities
Definition of Abuse:
Abuse is defined as any action that intentionally harms or injures another person.
The aims of adult safeguarding:
stop abuse and neglect where possible
prevent harm and reduce the risk of abuse and neglect
safeguard people in a way that supports them in making choices and having control about how they want to live
concentrate on improving life for the person concerned
raise public awareness so communities play a role alongside professionals
provide accessible information, advice and support about how to stay safe and how to raise a concern
address the cause of the abuse and neglect.
Who is adult safeguarding for?
Safeguarding duties seek to protect all adults who:
have needs for care and support (whether or not the local authority meets any of those needs), and are experiencing, or at risk of, abuse or neglect, and as a result of those care and support, needs are unable to protect themselves from the risk of, or the experience of, abuse or neglect.
Types of Abuse:
Physical abuse
Types of physical abuse
Assault, hitting, slapping, punching, kicking, hair-pulling, biting, pushing
Rough handling
Scalding and burning
Physical punishments
Inappropriate or unlawful use of restraint
Making someone purposefully uncomfortable (e.g. opening a window and removing blankets)
Involuntary isolation or confinement
Misuse of medication (e.g. over-sedation)
Forcible feeding
Unauthorised restraint, restricting movement (e.g. tying someone to a chair)
Possible indicators of physical abuse
No explanation for injuries or inconsistency with the account of what happened
Injuries are inconsistent with the person’s lifestyle
Bruising, cuts, welts, burns and/or marks on the body or loss of hair in clumps
Frequent injuries
Unexplained falls
Subdued or changed behaviour in the presence of a particular person
Signs of malnutrition
Failure to seek medical treatment or frequent changes in GP
Domestic violence or abuse
Types of domestic violence or abuse
Domestic violence or abuse can be characterised by any of the indicators of abuse outlined in this briefing relating to:
psychological
physical
sexual
financial
emotional.
Domestic violence and abuse include any incident or pattern of incidents of controlling, coercive or threatening behaviour, violence or abuse between those aged 16 or over who are or have been, intimate partners or family members regardless of gender or sexuality. It also includes so called 'honour’ -based violence, female genital mutilation and forced marriage.
Coercive or controlling behaviour is a core part of domestic violence. Coercive behaviour can include:
acts of assault, threats, humiliation and intimidation
harming, punishing, or frightening the person
isolating the person from sources of support
the exploitation of resources or money
preventing the person from escaping abuse
regulating everyday behaviour.
Possible indicators of domestic violence or abuse
Low self-esteem
Feeling that the abuse is their fault when it is not
Physical evidence of violence such as bruising, cuts, broken bones
Verbal abuse and humiliation in front of others
Fear of outside intervention
Damage to home or property
Isolation – not seeing friends and family
Limited access to money
Sexual abuse
Types of sexual abuse
Rape - attempted rape or sexual assault
Inappropriate touch anywhere
Non- consensual masturbation of either or both persons
Non- consensual sexual penetration or attempted penetration of the vagina, anus or mouth
Any sexual activity that the person cannot consent to
Inappropriate looking, sexual teasing or innuendo or sexual harassment
Sexual photography or forced use of pornography or witnessing of sexual acts
Indecent exposure
Possible indicators of sexual abuse
Bruising, particularly to the thighs, buttocks and upper arms and marks on the neck
Torn, stained or bloody underclothing
Bleeding, pain or itching in the genital area
Unusual difficulty in walking or sitting
Foreign bodies in genital or rectal openings
Infections, unexplained genital discharge, or sexually transmitted diseases
Pregnancy in a woman who is unable to consent to sexual intercourse
The uncharacteristic use of explicit sexual language or significant changes in sexual behaviour or attitude
Incontinence not related to any medical diagnosis
Self-harming
Poor concentration, withdrawal, sleep disturbance
Excessive fear/apprehension of, or withdrawal from, relationships
Fear of receiving help with personal care
Reluctance to be alone with a particular person
Psychological or emotional abuse
Types of psychological or emotional abuse
Enforced social isolation – preventing someone accessing services, educational and social opportunities and seeing friends
Removing mobility or communication aids or intentionally leaving someone unattended when they need assistance
Preventing someone from meeting their religious and cultural needs
Preventing the expression of choice and opinion
Failure to respect the privacy
Preventing stimulation, meaningful occupation or activities
Intimidation, coercion, harassment, use of threats, humiliation, bullying, swearing or verbal abuse
Addressing a person in a patronising or infantilising way
Threats of harm or abandonment
Cyberbullying
Possible indicators of psychological or emotional abuse
An air of silence when a particular person is present
Withdrawal or change in the psychological state of the person
Insomnia
Low self-esteem
Uncooperative and aggressive behaviour
A change of appetite, weight loss/gain
Signs of distress: tearfulness, anger
Apparent false claims, by someone involved with the person, to attract unnecessary treatment
Financial or material abuse
Types of financial or material abuse
Theft of money or possessions
Fraud, scamming
Coercing a person who is benefiting from the charity for money or items belonging to them.
Preventing a person from accessing their own money, benefits or assets
Employees taking a loan from a person using the service
Undue pressure, duress, threat or undue influence put on the person in connection with loans, wills, property, inheritance or financial transactions
Arranging less care than is needed to save money to maximise inheritance
Denying assistance to manage/monitor financial affairs
Denying assistance to access benefits
Misuse of the personal allowance in a care home
Misuse of benefits or direct payments in a family home
Someone moving into a person’s home and living rent-free without agreement or under duress
False representation, using another person's bank account, cards or documents
The exploitation of a person’s money or assets, e.g. unauthorised use of a car
Misuse of a power of attorney, deputy, appointees or other legal authority
Rogue trading – eg. unnecessary or overpriced property repairs and failure to carry out agreed repairs or poor workmanship
Possible indicators of financial or material abuse
Missing personal possessions
Unexplained lack of money or inability to maintain a lifestyle
Unexplained withdrawal of funds from accounts
Power of attorney or lasting power of attorney (LPA) being obtained after the person has ceased to have the mental capacity
Failure to register an LPA after the person has ceased to have the mental capacity to manage their finances so that it appears that they are continuing to do so
The person allocated to manage financial affairs is evasive or uncooperative
The family or others show an unusual interest in the assets of the person
Signs of financial hardship in cases where the person’s financial affairs are being managed by a court-appointed deputy, attorney or LPA
Recent changes in deeds or title to a property
Rent arrears and eviction notices
A lack of clear financial accounts held by a care home or service
Failure to provide receipts for shopping or other financial transactions carried out on behalf of the person
The disparity between the person’s living conditions and their financial resources, e.g. insufficient food in the house
Unnecessary property repairs
Modern slavery
Types of modern slavery
Human trafficking
Forced labour
Domestic servitude
Sexual exploitation, such as escort work, prostitution and pornography
Debt bondage – being forced to work to pay off debts that realistically they never will be able to
Possible indicators of modern slavery
Signs of physical or emotional abuse
Appearing to be malnourished, unkempt or withdrawn
Isolation from the community, seeming under the control or influence of others
Living in dirty, cramped or overcrowded accommodation and or living and working at the same address
Lack of personal effects or identification documents
Always wearing the same clothes
Avoidance of eye contact, appearing frightened or hesitant to talk to strangers
Fear of law enforcers
Organisational or institutional abuse
Types of organisational or institutional abuse
Run-down or overcrowded establishment
Withholding aid due to stigma, race, gender orientation, age,
Authoritarian management or rigid regimes
Lack of leadership and supervision
Abusive and disrespectful attitudes towards people using the organisation
Lack of respect for dignity and privacy
Not providing adequate food and drink as agreed in a project
Not offering choice or promoting independence
Not taking account of individuals’ cultural, religious or ethnic needs
Failure to respond to abuse appropriately
Interference with personal correspondence or communication
Failure to respond to complaints
Possible indicators of organisational or institutional abuse
Lack of flexibility and choice for people using the service
Inadequate staffing levels
People being hungry or dehydrated
Poor standards of care
Lack of personal clothing and possessions and communal use of personal items
Lack of adequate procedures
Poor record-keeping and missing documents
Absence of visitors
Few social, recreational and educational activities
Public discussion of personal matters
Unnecessary exposure during bathing or using the toilet
Absence of individual care plans
Lack of management overview and support
Neglect and acts of omission
Types of neglect and acts of omission
Failure to provide or allow access to food, shelter, clothing, heating, stimulation and activity, personal or medical care
Providing care in a way that the person dislikes
Failure to administer medication as prescribed
Refusal of access to visitors
Not taking account of individuals’ cultural, religious or ethnic needs
Not taking account of educational, social and recreational needs
Ignoring or isolating the person
Preventing the person from making their own decisions
Preventing access to glasses, hearing aids, dentures, etc.
Failure to ensure privacy and dignity
Possible indicators of neglect and acts of omission
Poor environment – dirty or unhygienic
Poor physical condition and/or personal hygiene
Pressure sores or ulcers
Malnutrition or unexplained weight loss
Untreated injuries and medical problems
Inconsistent or reluctant contact with medical and social care organisations
Accumulation of untaken medication
Uncharacteristic failure to engage in social interaction
Inappropriate or inadequate clothing
Self-neglect
Types of self-neglect
Lack of self-care to an extent that it threatens personal health and safety
Neglecting to care for one’s hygiene, health or surroundings
Inability to avoid self-harm
Failure to seek help or access services to meet health and social care needs
Inability or unwillingness to manage one’s personal affairs
Indicators of self-neglect
Very poor personal hygiene
Unkempt appearance
Lack of essential food, clothing or shelter
Malnutrition and/or dehydration
Living in squalid or unsanitary conditions
Neglecting household maintenance
Hoarding
Collecting a large number of animals in inappropriate conditions
Non-compliance with health or care services
Inability or unwillingness to take medication or treat illness or injury
Safeguarding vulnerable adults is a part of the wider role of safeguarding and promoting welfare. This refers to the activity which is undertaken to protect specific vulnerable adults who are suffering or are at risk of suffering significant harm. As adults and/or professionals or volunteers, everyone has a responsibility to safeguard vulnerable adults and promote their welfare.
Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of vulnerable adults – and in particular, protecting them from significant harm - depends upon effective joint working between agencies and professionals that have different roles and expertise. Some of the most vulnerable adults and those at greatest risk of social exclusion will need coordinated help from health, education, social care, and quite possibly the voluntary sector and other agencies, including justice services.
For those vulnerable adults who are suffering, or at risk of suffering significant harm, joint working is essential, to safeguard and promote their welfare and – where necessary – to help bring to justice the perpetrators of crimes against them. All volunteers and professionals should:
be alert to potential indicators of abuse or neglect;
be alert to the risks which individual abusers, or potential abusers, may pose to vulnerable adults;
Share and help to analyse information so that an assessment can be made of the individual's needs and circumstances;
contribute to whatever actions are needed to safeguard and promote the individual's welfare;
take part in regularly reviewing the outcomes for the individual against specific plans; and
work co-operatively with parents and/or other carers unless this is inconsistent with ensuring the individual's safety.
As one of its major activities, the organisation seeks to serve the needs of vulnerable adults, promoting holistic development to pregnant women, mothers and single-parent families. In doing so the charity takes seriously the welfare of all vulnerable adults who come onto its premises or who are involved in its activities. The organisation aims to ensure that they are welcomed into a safe, caring environment with a happy and friendly atmosphere.
The organisation recognises that it is the responsibility of each one of its staff, paid and unpaid, to prevent the neglect, physical, sexual or emotional abuse of vulnerable adults and to report any abuse discovered or suspected. The organisation recognises its responsibility to implement, maintain and regularly review procedures, which are designed to prevent and to be alert to such abuse.
The organisation is committed to supporting, resourcing and training those who work with vulnerable adults and to providing supervision. The organisation is committed to maintaining good links with the statutory social services authorities.
Procedures
For reasons of consistency and practicality, the charity's procedures for safeguarding vulnerable adults will be the same as those for safeguarding children and young people except where the law, or the specific circumstances of an individual's need require otherwise.
How to report:
If you suspect any form of abuse this has to be reported immediately. You should report an actual or alleged incident promptly. This means as soon as is reasonably possible after it happens, or immediately after you become aware of it.
If something does go wrong, you should take immediate action to:
prevent or minimise any further harm, loss or damage
report it in writing and verbally to the safeguarding Lead contact- Omowunmi Gidigbi (adewunmipraisef@gmail.com) or 07939913905.
We will then:
Aim to immediately safeguard the individual.
Report to necessary contacts such as Social Services, Care Services, the NHS and other organisations that may be involved with the individual.
report it to the police (and/or other relevant agencies) once it has been suspected that a crime has been committed, and to any other regulators the charity is accountable to.
Inform volunteers, members, the public, the media and other stakeholders, such as funders
Review what happened and prevent it from happening again – this may include reviewing internal controls and procedures, internal or external investigation and/or seeking appropriate help from professional advisers responsibility for reporting serious incidents to the Charity Commission rests with the charity’s trustees.
The responsibility for reporting serious incidents rests with the charity’s trustees. However, if you feel that the organisation has not addressed the incident correctly or the suspected abuse is by one of the trustees or chair, you should report your concerns directly to the police (999) and the Charity Commission (0300 066 9197).
Reviewing the Policy and Procedure
This policy and procedure will be reviewed every year, this will include checking telephone numbers, the accuracy of personnel details, and any updates required by a change in local or national.
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