Introduction: 

This policy is to make sure that Residents Action Committee has all the right things in place to protect and safeguard adults.

Residents Action Committee believes in protecting an adult's right to live in safety, free from abuse and neglect. This policy sets out the roles and responsibilities of Residents Action Committee in working together in promoting the adult's welfare and safeguarding them from abuse and neglect. Employees, trustees and volunteers should be made aware of how this policy can be accessed.

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This policy and related procedures are applicable to the Chief Executive Officer, trustees, employees and volunteers of Residents Action Committee.  Failure to comply with the policy and related procedures will be addressed without delay and may ultimately result in dismissal/exclusion from the organisation.

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Care Act 2014 Definition of an Adult at Risk of Abuse:

Where a local authority has reasonable cause to suspect that an adult in its area (whether or not ordinarily resident there)

(a) has needs for care and support (whether or not the authority is meeting any of those needs),

(b) is experiencing, or is at risk of, abuse or neglect, and

(c) as a result of those needs is unable to protect himself or herself against the abuse or neglect or the risk of it.

 

Safeguarding as Part of the Deal:

In safeguarding adults, Residents Action Committee is committed to the principles of The Care Act 2014.

Key Principles of Adult Safeguarding:

In the safeguarding of adults, Residents Action Committee are guided by the six key principles set out in The Care Act 2014 and Making Safeguarding Personal. Residents Action Committee aims to demonstrate and promote these six principles in our work:

• 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.

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Recognising the signs of abuse:

Employees, trustees and volunteers are well-placed to identify abuse the adull say or do things that let you know something is wrong. It may come in the form disclosure, complaint, or an expression of concern. Everyone within the organis should understand what to do, and where to go to get help, support and advice.

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Types of Abuse:

The Care Act 2014 defines the following ten areas of abuse. Wigan borougt includes self-neglect as an additional category. These are not exhaustive but guide to behaviour that may lead to a safeguarding enquiry. This includes:

• Physical abuse - Including assault, hitting, slapping, pushing, misu medication, restraint or inappropriate physical sanctions.

• Domestic Violence/ Domestic Abuse - Including psychological, ph sexual, financial, emotional abuse; so called 'honour' based violence.

• Exploitation - Including sexual and/or criminal exploitation

• Sexual abuse - Including rape, indecent exposure, sexual harass inappropriate looking or touching, sexual teasing or innuendo, photography, subjection to pornography. Witnessing sexual acts, inc exposure and sexual assault or sexual acts to which the adult has not cons 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, cyber bullying, isolation or unreasonable and unjustified 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 of misappropriation of property, possessions or benefits.

• Modern slavery - Encompasses slavery, human trafficking, forced labour and domestic servitude. Traffickers and those who coerce, deceive and force individuals into a life of abuse, servitude and inhumane treatment.

• Discriminatory abuse - Including forms of harassment, slurs or similar treatment because you are, or are perceived to be different due to race, gender and gender identity, age, disability, sexual orientation or religion.

• Organisational abuse - Including neglect and poor care practice within an institution or specific care setting such as a hospital or care home, for example or in relation to care provided in one's own home. This may range from one off incidents to long-term ill treatment. It can be through neglect or poor professional practice as a result of the structure, policies, processes or practices within an organisation.

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

• Self-neglect - This covers a wide range of behaviour neglecting to care for one's personal hygiene, health or surroundings and includes behaviour such as hoarding.

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Radicalisation to Terrorism:

The Government through its PREVENT programme has highlighted how some adults may be vulnerable to exploitation and radicalisation and involvement in terrorism.

Signs and indicators of radicalisation may include:

• Being in contact with extremist recruiters.

• Articulating support for violent extremist causes or leaders.

• Accessing violent extremist websites, especially those with a social networking element.

• Possessing violent extremist literature.

• Using extremist narratives to explain personal disadvantage.

• Justifying the use of violence to solve societal issues.

• Joining extremist organisations.

• Significant changes to appearance and/or behaviour.

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Reporting Concerns:

Any employee, trustee or volunteer who becomes aware that an adult is or is at risk of, being abused must raise the matter immediately with their supervisor /or with the organisation's designated safeguarding person. If the adult requires immediate protection from harm, contact the police and Adult Social Care.

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Safe Recruitment & Selection:

Residents Action Committee is committed to safe employment and safe recruitment practices, that reduce the risk of harm to adults with care and support needs from people unsuitable to work with them.

Residents Action Hub has policies and procedures that cover the recruitment of all Trustees, employees and volunteers.

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Social Media:

All employees and volunteers should be aware of Residents Action Committee social media policy and procedures and the code of conduct for behaviour towards the adults we support.

Is there a Person in a Position of Trust Involved?

In any instance of safeguarding, consideration must be given as to whether an allegation has been made against a person in a position of trust (PiPoT) and who may be a risk to others.

This can be anyone from a formal employee or volunteer, to an informal carer. Wigan Adult Social Care have a process in place for relevant information sharing and for reporting individuals. For further guidance:

Training and Awareness:

Residents Action Committee will ensure an appropriate level of safeguarding training is available to its Trustees, Employees, Volunteers and any relevant persons linked to the organisation who requires it (e.g. contractors).

For all employees who are working or volunteering with adults at risk this requires them as a minimum to have awareness training that enables them to:

• Understand what safeguarding is and their role in Safeguarding Adults.

• Recognise an adult potential in need of safeguarding and take action.

• Understand how to report a safeguarding Alert.

• Understand dignity and respect when working with individuals.

• Have knowledge of the Safeguarding Adults Policy.

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Enfield Safeguarding Partnership provides free safeguarding training to community groups from www.enfield.gov.uk/safeguardingenfield 

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Similarly, employees and volunteers may encounter concerns about the safety and wellbeing of children/young people. For more information about children's safeguarding, refer to Enfield council Children and Young People's Safeguarding Policy.

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Mental Capacity:

The MCA defines someone is lacking capacity, because of an illness or disability such as a mental health problem, dementia or a learning disability, who cannot do one or more of the following four things:

• Understand information given to them about a particular decision

• Retain that information long enough to be able to make the decision

• Weigh up the information available to make the decision

• Communicate their decision. Refer to the Mental Capacity Act Code of Practice, www.enfield.gov.uk/safeguardingenfield

• Residents Action Hub will need to involve an advocate if the person lacks capacity to make decisions about a safeguarding concern

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Support and guidance will be sought from Enfield Council Adult Social Care team should anyone have concerns regarding an adults capacity.

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Confidentiality and Information Sharing:

Residents Action Hub expects all employees, volunteers and trustees to maintain confidentiality. Information will only be shared in line with the General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR) and Data Protection.

However, information should be shared with the Local Authority if an adult is deemed to be at risk of harm or contact the police if they are in immediate danger, or a crime has been committed. For further guidance on information sharing and safeguarding see Enfield Council's Safeguarding Policy and procedures.

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Recording and Record Keeping:

A written record must be kept about any concern regarding an adult with safeguarding neede This must include details of the person involved, the nature of the concern and the actions taken, decision made and why they were made.

All records must be signed and dated. All records must be securely and confidentially stored in line with General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR).

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Whistleblowing:

Residents Action Committee is committed to ensuring that employees and volunteers who in good faith whistle-blow in the public interest, will be protected from reprisals and victimisation. Code of conduct.