Safeguarding Policy
Introduction
The purpose of this policy is to outline what the Under the Stars team will do to promote the wellbeing and safety of the people we support. Under the Stars is committed to safeguarding adults from abuse and doing all we possibly can to minimise the risk of abuse for the people that attend our services.
This policy will outline what we will do to prevent people with learning disabilities from harm, abuse or neglect. Our procedure will also detail how staff will respond and raise concerns about individuals.
Under the Stars is committed to working alongside other professionals and agencies to stop the abuse of adults. We will fulfil and follow the relevant local authority’s policies and procedures after any safeguarding concern. Under the Stars staff will work alongside and in partnership with any other professionals involved in a safeguarding concern.
Under the Stars recognises the importance of training and support for staff and volunteers so that people recognise abuse and understand their responsibilities within the adult protection process. Staff and volunteers will all attend safeguarding training annually and will be offered a refresher if requested earlier.
What is safeguarding?
“Protecting an adult’s right to live in safety, free from abuse and neglect”. Care Act 2014
More information can be found here - https://www.scie.org.uk/care-act-2014/
Who is a vulnerable adult?
A vulnerable adult is over 18. They are a person who may or may not be able to take care of themself and to protect themselves from exploitation. A vulnerable person may be at risk of abuse and neglect and maybe unable to protect themselves against either.
What is abuse?
Abuse can take place anywhere. Abuse means illegal, improper, or harmful practice. It can take several different forms, including:
- physical abuse
- sexual abuse
- psychological or emotional abuse
- financial abuse or material abuse
- neglect and acts of omission are also forms of abuse
- domestic abuse
- organisational abuse
- cyber bullying
- mate crime
The person who is responsible for the abuse is often well known to the person abused. They could be:
- a paid carer or volunteer
- a health worker, social care or other worker
- a relative, friend or neighbour
- an occasional visitor or someone who is providing a service
- someone who deliberately exploits vulnerable people
- someone who uses services
- online acquaintance
Taken from https://www.mencap.org.uk/advice-and-support/social-care/what-do-if-you-think-someone-being-abused
Further reading:
How can you tell if someone with a learning disability is being abused?
The signs of abuse are not always obvious, and a victim of abuse may not tell anyone what is happening to them - sometimes they may not even be aware they are being abused.
If you know someone well, you may notice changes in their behaviour or appearance. These might be big or small changes and might happen over a long period of time or suddenly.
This is not a full list, but these are some of the things you can look out for:
- they have physical injuries without explanation
- they become withdrawn, tearful, or anxious
- they show signs of fear or talk about not feeling safe
- they are hungry or dehydrated
- they start self-harming, are engaging in risk taking behaviour
- they start communicating differently or stop communicating altogether
- their needs change, for example they need or ask for different types of care or different levels of care
- their skills change, for example self-care or continence management skills
- running away or going missing
- they behave differently or
- seem more or less happy and relaxed with different staff or in different environments e.g. at their day centre compared to their home. Or has poor bond or relationship with close family members, or caregivers, whilst maintaining stable relationships with others.
It can be difficult to be sure that someone is being abused, but if you are concerned that abuse might be going on, it is always encouraged for you to raise your concerns. Please raise these with your line manager.
Six Key Principles of Safeguarding (Care Act 2014):
- Empowerment – People being supported and encouraged to make their own decisions and informed consent
- Prevention – It is better to take action before harm occurs
- Proportionality – The least intrusive response appropriate to the risk presented
- Protection – Support and representation for those in greatest need
- Partnership – Local solutions through services working with their communities. Communities have a part to play in preventing, detecting and reporting neglect and abuse
- Accountability – Accountability and transparency in delivering safeguarding
What to do if you have a safeguarding concern
If you have any concerns at all of a potential safeguarding issue, or just a suspicion please report it to your line manager. Even small worries should be reported into your line manager.
Supporting the person making the disclosure
- Deal with any of the person’s immediate needs and ensure the person is safe
- Take the person to a safe private space to listen to their concerns and document everything in writing
- Listen, ask open questions and record everything that the person is saying and their non verbal cues
- Give support and explain that you have to pass this information on. Reassure the person
- Report and record all the information you heard on an Adult at Risk Safeguarding Form (found in the Policies and Procedures folder) safeguarding alert form. Attach your original notes too
- Contact Emergency Services if medical attention is needed or if a crime has taken place
- Watch for non-verbal clues and record these (e.g. appearance, presenting emotions).
- Feel comfortable with silences
- Make someone else aware of where you are and what you are doing.
Open questions that you can use when collecting the information about an alleged safeguarding incident:
- Tell me more about…
- How did it happen?
- Where did this happen? (Date and time if possible)
- What happened?
- And then what happened?
- Who was there?
- How do you feel about it?
- How often has it happened?
- How does the other person react?
- Have you spoken to anyone else about this? And who are they?
If an adult makes an allegation to you asking that you keep it confidential, you should inform the person that you will respect their right to confidentiality as far as you are able to, but, that you are not able to keep the matter secret. Always say what will happen next.
Report it to your line manager immediately
If appropriate – the manager will make a decision to contact the persons family or carers.
How to report an adult safeguarding concern with the local authority
Fill out the Safeguarding adults concern form. Please provide as much detail as possible
email it to [email protected]
If you want to report a concern over the phone call 0114 273 4908.
The council may contact you and other people involved to ask for more information.
We maintain confidentiality in line with GDPR and work in partnership with other organisation and statutory bodies.
Safeguarding Children
Remember you may be involved with the adult at risk but there may be times when the adult at risk is part of a larger family. There may be other adults at risk but also children who are being abused or neglected or at risk of abuse or neglect. We have a duty of care to ensure we are aware of others at risk and report any concerns we may have.
If you have any concerns about a child, you can contact the safeguarding children’s team 24 hrs a day:
The Sheffield Safeguarding Hub
phone: 0114 273 4855 (24 hours)
email: [email protected]
Staff training
All staff and volunteers will attend safeguarding training as part of their induction. This will be refreshed regularly and earlier if requested or identified as a training need.
Training will cover:
- recognising indicators of abuse
- confidentiality
- recording and reporting a safeguarding incident
- whistleblowing
- during Staff 1-1 people will also be asked to raise any concerns
Board of Trustees
It is the responsibility of the Board of Trustees to review all safeguarding concerns raised by Under the Stars Staff.
Trustees will be notified by the Chief Executive Officer of any safeguarding concerns at meetings. If they are urgent and involving Under the Stars, the safeguarding trustee will be notified as soon as possible.
All safeguarding alerts will be reviewed and advice and guidance offered if needed.
The board of trustees will be made aware of all safeguarding alerts at Under the Stars. The board will consider what learning we can take from incidents and if there’s anything we can do to prevent it happening again. Board will also review if there is anything we could have done to deal with safeguarding concerns better the next time.
Where a member of staff is the alleged source of harm the Disciplinary Procedure will be implemented immediately.
What are the responsibilities of a trustee for safeguarding?
These include:
- ensuring safeguarding policies, procedures and measures are fit for purpose and up-to-date
- making sure everyone in the organisation is aware of their safeguarding responsibilities and knows how to respond to concerns
- having a lead trustee for safeguarding and child protection
- trustees will also be asked to attend safeguarding training.
USEFUL CONTACT DETAILS:
South Yorkshire Police: 0114 2202020
[email protected] (for advice regarding any concerns)
Useful resources, further learning
https://www.mencap.org.uk/sites/default/files/2016-08/Out-of-Sight-Report.pdf
https://www.sheffieldasp.org.uk
Easy Read documents to use to explain safeguarding to adults with learning disabilities
https://www.sheffieldasp.org.uk/sasp/sasp/for-the-public-carers/types-of-abuse-and-easyread
https://www.anncrafttrust.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/staying-safe-online-1.pdf
https://www.anncrafttrust.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/I-have-made-a-new-friend-online-F.pdf
