Safeguarding Policy 2019 Our Barn Community

This policy has been formulated with resources and guidance from the London Community Foundation.

Our Barn Community (Our Barn) will take all necessary actions to prevent and stop any harm and neglect experienced by adults at risk, in partnership with statutory agencies, no matter whether that harm or neglect is caused by Our Barn staff or other representatives, family or other carers, the general public or other Our Barn service users.

As an over-riding principle at Our Barn we believe:

The action we take to promote the welfare of vulnerable adults and protect them from harm is everyone’s responsibility. Everyone who comes into contact with vulnerable adults has a role to play.

The Safeguarding Officer for Our Barn is: Karen Adams

The safeguarding Trustee for Our Barn is: Bev Stansby

The Safeguarding Trustee will be fully informed and advised of all safeguarding concerns as they arise. In case of concerns regarding the Safeguarding Officer those raising concerns may contact the Safeguarding Trustee directly.

Further information and contact details are found in Appendix 1

Definition

Vulnerable adults are people who are over 18 years of age and are getting or may need help and services to live in the community. Vulnerable adults may be unable to take care of themselves and unable to protect themselves from harm or exploitation by other people.

Our Barn will extend these principles to its service-users in the 16 to 18 age range, in addition to any statutory Children’s Safeguarding duties.

Abuse can include:

• physical,

• sexual,

• psychological,

• financial or material,

• neglect and acts of omission,

• discriminatory,

• institutional,

• multiple forms of abuse, domestic abuse.

   

  See Appendix 2 for definitions of abuse.

  Abuse can take place in any setting, public or private, and can be perpetuated by anyone. See Appendix 3 for Possible signs of abuse.

   

  Rights & Responsibilities

  Responsibilities of Our Barn Community Trustees:

• To ensure volunteers and staff are aware of vulnerable adult’s need for protection

• To notify the appropriate agencies if abuse is identified or suspected

• To support and where possible secure the safety of individuals and ensure that all referrals to services have full information in relation to identified risk and vulnerability

• To DBS check staff and volunteers that have access to or work with Vulnerable Adults

   

  Responsibilities of Our Barn Community Staff and Volunteers:

• To be familiar with the vulnerable adult protection policy

• To take appropriate action in line with the policy of Our Barn

• To declare any existing or subsequent convictions.

   

  Support for those who report abuse

  All those making a complaint or allegation or expressing concern, whether they are staff, volunteers, service users, carers and/or members of the general public should be reassured that:

• They will be taken seriously

• Their comments will usually be treated confidentially, but their concerns may be shared with the appropriate authorities if they or others are at significant risk

   

  See Appendix 4 – Guidance on how to respond to a person disclosing abuse.

   

  The Vulnerable Adult has the right:

• 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

We are also committed to reviewing our policy and good practice annually. Adopted on: 23 March 19

Next review date: March 20

Please note: Appendices 2-4 are extracted from The London Community Foundation resource pack for groups: Developing your Safeguarding Policy, Practice and Procedures for Vulnerable Adults.

Appendix 1

Contact Details

If you think a person is in immediate danger call 999

Safeguarding concerns are reported to the local authority where the person who appears to be at risk resides. In most cases for Our Barn service users this will be the London Borough of Hounslow.

Hounslow has dedicated contact details to enquire about adults safeguarding and Deprivation of Liberties Safeguards issues:

For general safeguarding queries and advice 020 8583 4515

Or email the safeguarding team safeguardingadults@hounslow.gov.uk

More information can be found on Hounslow Council’s website:

https://www.hounslow.gov.uk/info/20130/safeguarding_adults_at_risk

The relevant contact details for other local authorities will be found by searching the council website.

Appendix 2

Definitions of abuse

Abuse may consist of a single act or repeated acts. It may be physical, verbal or psychological, it may be an act of neglect or an omission to act, or it may occur when a vulnerable person is persuaded to enter into a financial or sexual transaction to which he or she has not consented, or cannot consent.

Abuse can occur in any relationship and it may result in significant harm to, or exploitation of, the person subjected to it.

The Department of Health in its ‘No Secrets’ 2000 report suggests the following as the main types of abuse:

Physical abuse - including hitting, slapping, pushing, kicking, misuse of medication, restraint, or inappropriate sanctions.

Sexual abuse - including rape and sexual assault or sexual acts to which the vulnerable adult has not consented, could not consent or was pressured into consenting.

Psychological abuse - including emotional abuse, threats of harm or abandonment, deprivation of contact, humiliation, blaming, controlling, intimidation, coercion, harassment, verbal abuse, isolation or withdrawal from services or supportive networks.

Financial or material abuse - including theft, fraud, exploitation, pressure in connection with wills, property or inheritance or financial transactions, or the misuse or misappropriation of property, possessions or benefits.

Neglect and acts of omission - including ignoring medical or physical care needs, failure to provide access to appropriate health, social care or educational services, the withholding of the necessities of life, such as medication, adequate nutrition and heating.

Discriminatory abuse - including race, sex, culture, religion, politics, that is based on a persons disability, age or sexuality and other forms of harassment, slurs or similar treatment and hate crime.

Institutional abuse - Institutional abuse although not a separate category of abuse in itself, requires specific mention simply to highlight that adults placed in any kind of care home or day care establishment are potentially vulnerable to abuse and exploitation. This can be especially so when care standards and practices fall below an acceptable level.

Multiple forms of abuse - Multiple forms of abuse may occur in an ongoing relationship or an abusive service setting to one person, or to more than one person at a time, making it important to look beyond single incidents or breaches in standards, to underlying dynamics and patterns of harm. Any or all of these types of abuse may be perpetrated as the result of deliberate intent and targeting of vulnerable people, negligence or ignorance.

Domestic abuse

Home Office Definition 2004

‘Any incident of threatening behaviour, violence or abuse (psychological, physical, sexual, financial or emotional) between adults who are, or have been intimate partners or family members, regardless of gender or sexuality.’

Women’s Aid Definition

‘Domestic violence is physical, sexual, psychological or financial violence that takes place within an intimate or family-type relationship and that forms a pattern of coercive and controlling behaviour. This can also include forced marriage and so-called “honour crimes”.

Domestic violence may include a range of abusive behaviours, not all of which are in themselves inherently “violent”.

Most research suggests that domestic violence occurs in all sections of society irrespective of race, culture, nationality, religion, sexuality, disability, age, class or educational level.

Both definitions would therefore also include incidents where extended family members may condone or share in the pattern of abuse e.g. forced marriage, female genital

mutilation and crimes rationalized as punishing women for bringing ‘dishonour’ to the family.

It is important to recognise that Vulnerable Adults may be the victims of Domestic Abuse themselves or be affected by it occurring within their household. This is likely to have a serious effect on their physical and mental wellbeing.

Where Vulnerable Adults are victims of Domestic Abuse, they may need extra support to plan their future. The violence or threat of violence may continue after a victim has separated from the abuser. It is important to ensure that all the vulnerable people in this situation have appropriate support to enable them to maintain their personal safety.

A separate Domestic Abuse Protocol is in place between Police, Social Services and Health.

Incidents reported by the police through the domestic abuse protocols will be addressed under the adult protection processes if it is considered that a vulnerable adult may be at risk of abuse. (See your local authorities joint Police, Social Services and Health protocol for dealing with cases of domestic abuse where vulnerable adults are involved).

Appendix 3

Possible signs of abuse

Physical abuse signs

Note: Some ageing processes can cause changes which are hard to distinguish from some aspects of physical assault e.g. skin bruising can occur very easily due to blood vessels becoming fragile.

• A history of unexplained falls or minor injuries

• Bruising in well protected areas, or clustered from repeated striking

• Finger marks

• Burns of unusual location or type

• Injuries found at different states of healing

• Injury shape similar to an object

• Injuries to head/face/scalp

• History of GP or agency hopping, or reluctance to seek help

• Accounts which vary with time or are inconsistent with physical evidence

• Weight loss due to malnutrition, or rapid weight gain

• Ulcers, bed sores and being left in wet clothing

• Drowsiness due to too much medication, or lack of medication causing recurring crises/hospital admissions

   

  Sexual abuse signs

• Disclosure or partial disclosure (use of phrases such as ‘It’s a secret’)

• Medical problems, e.g. Genital infections, pregnancy, difficulty walking or

• sitting

• Disturbed behaviour e.g. depression, sudden withdrawal from activities,

• Loss of previous skills, sleeplessness or nightmares, self-injury,

• Showing fear or aggression to one particular person, repeated or excessive masturbation, inappropriately seductive behaviour,

• Loss of appetite or difficulty in keeping food down.

• Behaviour of others towards the vulnerable adult

• Circumstances – e.g. two service users found in a toilet area, one in a distressed state

   

  Psychological/emotional signs

• Isolation

• Unkempt, unwashed, smell

• Over meticulous

• Inappropriately dressed

• Withdrawn, agitated, anxious or not wanting to be touched

• Change in appetite

• Insomnia, or need for excessive sleep

• Tearfulness

• Unexplained paranoia, or excessive fears

• Low self esteem

• Confusion

   

  Neglect signs

• Poor physical condition

• Clothing in poor condition

• Inadequate diet

• Untreated injuries or medical problems

• Failure to be given prescribed medication

• Poor personal hygiene

   

  Financial or material signs

• Unexplained or sudden inability to pay bills

• Unexplained or sudden withdrawal of money from accounts

• Disparity between assets and satisfactory living conditions

• Extraordinary interest by family members and other people in the vulnerable person’s assets

   

  Discriminatory signs

• Lack of respect shown to an individual

• Signs of substandard service offered to an individual

• Exclusion from rights afforded to others, such as health, education, criminal justice

   

  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

Appendix 4 Guidance on how to respond to a person disclosing abuse

DO

• Make sure the individual is safe

• Assess whether emergency services are required and if needed call them

• Listen

• Offer support and reassurance

• Ascertain and establish the basic facts

• Make careful notes and obtain agreement on them

• Ensure notation of dates, time and persons present are correct and agreed

• Take all necessary precautions to preserve forensic evidence

• Follow correct procedure

• Explain areas of confidentiality; immediately speak to your manager for support and guidance

• Explain the procedure to the individual making the allegation

• Remember the need for ongoing support.

   

  DON’T

   

• Confront the alleged abuser

• Be judgmental or voice your own opinion

• Be dismissive of the concern

• Investigate or interview beyond that which is necessary to establish the basic facts

• Disturb or destroy possible forensic evidence

• Consult with persons not directly involved with the situation

• Ask leading questions

• Assume Information

• Make promises

• Ignore the allegation

• Elaborate in your notes

• Panic

It is important to remember that the person who first encounters a case of alleged abuse is not responsible for deciding whether abuse has occurred. This is a task for the professional adult protection agencies, following a referral from the designated Vulnerable Adult Protection Officer.