Safeguarding Adults Policy

This policy sets out the roles and responsibilities of New Era in working to promote adults’ welfare, safeguarding them from abuse, neglect, and preventing people from being drawn into terrorism. This policy applies to all staff and volunteers of New Era, as well as all people who work on behalf of New Era.

This policy is intended to support staff and volunteers working within New Era. It does not replace, but is supplementary to the

Lancashire Safeguarding Adults Policy & Procedures
.

Policies linked with this will include whistleblowing, complaints, health & safety, recruitment, volunteers, prevent, and equality & diversity.

What is our commitment statement?

Every person has a right to live a life free from abuse and neglect, and New Era North West actively promotes this message. New Era has a clear policy of “zero-tolerance of abuse.” This policy is our commitment to the following principles:

  • People who are using our services are safe.
  • The welfare of adults is always paramount.
  • People’s choice, control, and inclusion are maximised.
  • Partnerships with others to safeguard vulnerable adults are established.
  • Effective working practices are in place.
  • Staff & volunteers within the organisation are supported.

What is the definition of a vulnerable adult?

A vulnerable adult is defined as:

  • Any person aged 18 or over.
  • Who is or may need community care services by reason of mental or other disability, age, or illness.
  • Who is or may be unable to take care of him or herself or unable to protect him or herself against significant harm or serious exploitation.

No Secrets (2000) – Department of Health

Thus, all adults who meet the above criteria may be defined as vulnerable adults.

Who abuses?

Abuse, wherever it happens and whoever perpetrates it, must not be ignored. Anyone can be an abuser, including:

  • Spouses/partners
  • Carers/care workers
  • Family members/relatives
  • Friends
  • Neighbours
  • Volunteer helpers
  • Professionals
  • Strangers

What is abuse?

  • When someone’s human and civil rights are violated by someone else.
  • A single or series of actions of abuse.
  • Deliberately or unknowingly causing harm or distress to someone else.
  • Failure to protect people from abuse.

What are the different types of abuse?

  • Physical
  • Sexual
  • Emotional
  • Psychological
  • Financial or material
  • Institutional
  • Discriminatory
  • Neglect

What do I do if someone tells me that they are being abused?

You must:

  • Stay calm and try not to show shock or disbelief.
  • Listen carefully to what is being said.
  • Do not ask detailed or probing questions.

What do I tell the vulnerable person who has disclosed abuse?

  • They were right to tell you.
  • The information is being treated seriously.
  • It was not their fault.
  • Give them information about the steps that will be taken, including any emergency action to address their immediate safety, health, and well-being.

Do not:

  • Stop someone who is freely recalling significant events, as they may not tell anyone again.
  • Promise to keep secrets; instead, explain the information will only be passed to those who “need to know.”
  • Make promises that you cannot keep, such as “this will not happen to you again.”
  • Contact the alleged perpetrator or anyone who might be in touch with them.
  • Be judgemental, e.g., “why did you not tell them to stop and go away.”
  • Tell anybody who does not need to know, i.e., gossip.

Who is the alerter?

Anybody can be an alerter. An alerter is someone who reports a concern that an adult may be experiencing abuse or neglect. You are not being asked to verify or prove that the information is true.

All staff & volunteers will have access to the safeguarding policy and procedures so that they know how to make alerts where appropriate.

You may be told about the abuse by the service user themselves, by someone else who knows or works with them, or you may notice signs that abuse or neglect is taking place.

Who do I tell and when?

  • Inform an appropriate manager/professional or someone in authority immediately (unless it is suspected that the line manager is implicated – in such circumstances, the whistleblowing policy should be followed).
  • Where appropriate, the manager will seek consent with the adult at risk and the line manager/professional or the person in authority and will make the alert.

If in doubt as to whether an alert should be made, the case can be discussed in the first instance with the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL). However, if the DSL is implicated in the disclosure, then speak with the Deputy Safeguarding Lead or the Board Safeguarding Lead.