Safeguarding Adults

Staff and volunteers within Break share the common duty of all members of society to promote and safeguard the welfare of vulnerable adults. Where we have direct responsibility for the care of vulnerable adults then our part in discharging that duty is more significant and specific. This guidance is intended to assist staff and management to act positively, safely and appropriately where there are concerns of an adult protection nature.

This guidance must be read in the context of the relevant adult safeguarding procedure and policy for the local authority where the Break service user is located. This document can be found on:

• Norfolk Safeguarding Adults Board website;
• Suffolk Safeguarding Partnership: Safeguarding Adults website;
• Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Safeguarding Adults Board website.

All staff must read the document and be familiar with the contents.

The above documents provide clear definitions of abuse and gives guidance on signs which may indicate that a particular person is a victim of abuse as well as explaining the various agency roles in responding to allegations of abuse.

The Manager of each Break service is responsible for safeguarding matters and, in the Manager's absence, the Deputy Manager. It is the Manager's responsibility to ensure that staff understand the policies and procedures for safeguarding adults as part of their induction to the service.

Whenever adult abuse is suspected or recognised the comprehensive procedures agreed by the relevant Adult Safeguarding Board and interpreted as follows by Break, must be followed.

It is important that staff are open to the possibility that abuse may occur.

When it comes to service users, we need to recognise that abuse could come from a number of sources:

• Family and relatives;
• Other service users;
• Individuals in the community;
• Staff.

Staff must also be alert to possible vulnerable adults that we come in contact with as part of our work role but who are not Break service users e.g. siblings, parents, friends of people using our services. Staff also have a general duty of care to report any safeguarding concerns that they may become aware of.

Whatever the source of abuse, service users have a right to protection from it and whilst they are in our care Break has a duty to do all that we can to ensure and promote that protection.

It is intended that by training and good practice within the service, service users will be protected from abuse from fellow service users, the community and staff while living with us or using our day services.

Some individuals are more vulnerable than others. Some people have patterns of behaviour that pose a higher risk to other people. At a management level Break has in place arrangements for admission to our services designed to take account of risk and vulnerability.

Staff may have cause for concern that abuse may have happened as a result of observing some of the factors that may be signs of abuse – in the presentation of the service user, his or her behaviour, comments that could indicate an abusive or exploitative relationship. Sometimes, at the time of admission, the interaction with relatives may raise some concern.

Whenever a member of staff has this type of concern they should record what it is that has triggered this concern. They should immediately contact the Manager on duty to bring it to their attention and discuss the concerns.

Depending on the nature of the concern, the imminence of any perceived threat or source of abuse the manager may decide upon a range of actions:

• No further action – this decision should be recorded with the staff member's account of the concern and should indicate the reasons for that decision;
• To discuss this more fully with the staff member involved, to check with other colleagues and management to help evaluate the nature of the concern;
• To consult with their Head of Service for advice and guidance;
• To consult with the relevant Adult Safeguarding service:

If the concerns are felt to indicate the real possibility of current abuse, the Manager must consider what action may be necessary to eliminate the immediate threat – and take that action.

This is where there is a substantial basis to believe that abuse has taken place. For example, suspicious injuries may be observed, actual abusive incidents observed or allegations made.

In all cases, the staff must ensure that the person is safe from any immediate threat. Having done that, the staff member must immediately notify the Manager on duty and record precise details of the incident, injuries and/or allegations.

It is very important that staff do not ask further questions or investigate suspected abuse themselves. Such action could compromise subsequent investigations and potential criminal proceedings, and could leave a vulnerable person at risk.
Staff should listen to what a service user has to say and only seek clarification of what they are being told.

The Manager will then notify the relevant Adult Safeguarding service of the suspected abuse, giving precise details and timings of the allegation. There will inevitably be some discussion at this point as the worker within the relevant Adult Safeguarding service determines the nature of what is being communicated and the response required which may require onward referral to Adult Social Care or the Police.

If the decision is that there is a concern that they need to investigate, the action that they subsequently take will be governed by Safeguarding Adults processes and procedures.

The Manager will also inform any professional worker involved with the service user. The issue of informing relatives will be discussed at the initial point of contact with the Safeguarding Service: there are times when the allegation involves parents or carers and therefore the matter needs to be planned and handled sensitively.

Staff from the service may be invited to a Strategy Meeting at which the subsequent investigation of the allegation is planned. Normally the Manager or Deputy will attend, accompanied, wherever possible, by the worker involved.

Norfolk

Referrals should be made to Adult Social Services on: 0344 800 8020.

See also: Norfolk County Council website, Report a concern - safeguarding.

Suffolk

If you have an immediate safeguarding concern you should contact The Suffolk MASH Adult Protection Consultation line: 0345 6061499 (24 hours).

See also: Suffolk County Council website, Report abuse of an adult.

Cambridgeshire

Monday to Friday (8am to 6pm) and Saturday (9am to 1pm) 
Telephone: 0345 045 5202
Outside office hours: 01733 234 724.

See also: Cambridge County Council website, Report abuse of a vulnerable adult.