POLICY STATEMENT
1. The CAIA is committed to safeguarding adults in line with national legislation, namely the Care Act 2014 and the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006, and relevant national and local guidelines.
2. The CAIA believes in protecting an adult’s right to live in safely, free from abuse and neglect. We recognise that many of the individuals for whom we provide services or come into contact are adults at risk. It is our policy to ensure that these people are protected and kept safe from harm; and that our trustees, staff and volunteers play a part in promoting their safety and ensuring their protection.
3. To these ends we will implement and maintain this policy and procedures vigorously, and will work to ensure that staff and volunteers are aware of their responsibilities to:
- be familiar with this policy and procedures
- be aware of the different forms of abuse (Appendix A)
- be aware of who the abusers might be (Appendix A)
- recognize signs and indicators of abuse (Appendix A)
- be aware of the six principles set out in the Care Act 2014 (Appendix B)
- know how to act on any concern of abuse
- treat all abuse or potential abuse seriously
4. Trustees, staff and volunteers have a duty to report concerns if they think that someone is being abused or if poor standards of care are giving rise to conditions in which there is a risk of abuse to adults using our services.
5. The CAIA will work with other agencies to prevent the abuse of adults at risk and will respond quickly when abuse is suspected.
6. The CAIA 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.
SCOPE
7. This policy applies to all services and activities of the CAIA.
DEFINITIONS AND FURTHER INFORMATION
8. The definition of an adult at risk is given at Appendix A, along with examples of where abuse can occur and by whom, and of signs and indicators of abuse.
PRINCIPLES UNDERLYING ADULT SAFEGUARDING
9. Actions taken by the CAIA will be consistent with the principles of adult safeguarding set out in Appendix B ensuring that any action taken is prompt, proportionate and that it includes and respects the voice of the adult concerned.
FORM FOR RECORDING/REPORTING SUSPECTED ABUSE
10. The form on which all records should be made and which shall form the basis of any necessary external reports is at Appendix C.
PROCEDURE FOR REPORTING ABUSE
11. What to do if you suspect abuse:
- Make sure the person is not in immediate danger
- If required, seek medical help, including the ambulance service (999) in the event of serious illness or injury, or a risk to life
- Contact the Police if a crime has been committed
- Do not disturb anything that may be evidence
12. Listen
- Assure the person making the complaint that they will be taken seriously
- Listen to what is being said
- Stay calm
- Do not probe for detail
- Empathise but do not jump to conclusions
- Do not promise complete confidentiality. Explain that you have a duty to report the concern to your manager
- Do not attempt to question the alleged abuser
13. Inform
- Inform the Designated Lead for Safeguarding or in his/her absence the Deputy Lead for Safeguarding (see Important Contacts below). This must be done immediately or within 4 hours at the most. If uncontactable by phone, send a high priority email.
- Tell the facts that you have been told or observed. Try not to give your interpretation but do share your instincts.
14. Record
- Within 24 hours, accurately record details of the allegations or the grounds for suspecting abuse, using the form at Appendix C to this procedure. Be prepared to cooperate as requested in any activities to do with the adult protection enquiry.
15. Reporting
- The Designated Lead for Safeguarding, or other appropriate person must act (within the same 24 hours period) to report the concerns externally.
- In the case of alleged/suspected abuse in the London Borough of Ealing area, the report must be made as follows:
- Monday – Friday (9.00-5.00) Ealing New Referral Adult Contact Centre (Telephone (020) 8825 8000)
- Outside Normal Office hours: The Emergency Duty Team (Telephone (020) 8825 8000 or 5000)
CAVEAT
16. If Staff are in any doubt about whether or not someone is being abused, they should discuss it at an early time with their line manager or the Chief Executive Officer, in order to clarify the best course of action. It is better that we are proved wrong about a situation than to ignore it.
17. IMPORTANT CONTACTS
Designated Lead for Safeguarding
Name: Misak Ohanian
Email address: hayashen@caia.org.uk
Telephone number: 07947 586226
Deputy Lead for Safeguarding
Name: Armine Sargsyan
Email address: acpg@caia.org
Telephone number: 07969 323249
Trustee for Safeguarding
Name: Alexandra Sarkis
Email address: alex.sarkis@talk21.com
Telephone number: 07740 932602Appendix A:
CAIA POLICY AND PROCEDURE FOR THE PROTECTION OF ADULTS AT RISK (DEFINITIONS AND FURTHER INFORMATION)
CARE ACT 2014 DEFINITION OF AN ADULT AT RISK
An adult at risk is any person who is aged 18 or over who:
- has needs for care and support (whether or not the local authority is meeting any of those needs),
- is experiencing, or is at risk of, abuse or neglect, and
- as a result of those needs is unable to protect himself or herself against the abuse of neglect or the risk of it.
TYPES OF ABUSE
Abuse is a violation of an individual’s human and civil rights by another person or persons. It can be a single act or repeated acts. It can occur in any relationship and may result in significant harm to, or exploitation of, the person subjected to it. Any or all of the following types of abuse may be perpetrated as the result of deliberate intent, negligence, omission or ignorance.
There are different types and patterns of abuse and neglect and different circumstances in which they may take place.
The Care Act 2014 defines the following ten areas of abuse:
- Physical
- Sexual
- Emotional/Psychological/Mental
- Neglect and acts of Omission
- Financial or material abuse
- Discriminatory
- Organisational/Institutional (including neglect and poor care practice within an institution or specific care setting such as a hospital or care home, or in relation to care provided in one’s own home)
- Self-neglect
- Domestic abuse (including coercive control)
- Modern slavery
Examples of abuse are:
- Hitting, slapping, rough handling
- Giving medication incorrectly
- Deprivation of warmth, food, clothing health care etc.
- Any kind of sexual activity that the person has not consented to or cannot consent to.
- Shouting, swearing
- Neglect of medical or physical need
- Discrimination or harassment
WHERE ABUSE CAN HAPPEN
Abuse can happen anywhere – in the person’s own home, a residential or nursing home, a hospital, in supported or sheltered housing, at a day centre or an educational establishment, in the workplace or on the street.
WHO CAN ABUSE?
Abuse or neglect could be carried out by:
- A spouse, partner or family member
- Neighbours or fellow residents
- Friends, acquaintances or strangers
- People who deliberately exploit adults they perceive as vulnerable
- Paid staff, professionals or volunteers providing care and support
Often the perpetrator is known to the adult and may be in a position of trust and/or power.
SIGNS AND INDICATORS OF ABUSE AND NEGLECT
There are many signs and indicators that may suggest someone is being abused or neglected. There may be other explanations, but they should not be ignored. The signs and symptoms include but are not limited to:
- Unexplained bruises or injuries – or lack of medical attention when an injury is present
- Person has belongings or money going missing
- Person is not attending/no longer enjoying their sessions.
- Someone losing or gaining weight/an unkempt appearance.
- A change in the behaviour of confidence of a person. For example, looking quet and withdrawn when someone comes to collect them
- Self-harm
- A fear of a particular group of people or individual
- A carer always speaks for the person and doesn’t allow them to make their own choices
- They may tell you/another person they are being abuses – i.e. a disclosure
Appendix B:
KEY PRINCIPLES WHEN WORKING WITH ADULTS AT RISK
In the safeguarding of adults, CAIA is guided by the six key principles set out in The Care Act 2014. CAIA aims to demonstrate and promote these six principles in our work:
- Empowerment
People being supported and encouraged to make their own decisions and give 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.
- Accountability
Accountability and transparency in delivering safeguarding.
Appendix C:
CAIA POLICY AND PROCEDURE FOR THE PROTECTION OF VULNERABLE ADULTS (REPORTING ALLEGED/SUSPECTED ABUSE)
The appropriate person reporting the alleged/suspected abuse externally should complete sections 1 – 3, and the person reporting the alleged/suspected abuse internally should complete sections 4 – 21.
Person reporting the alleged/suspected abuse externally
1. Date of report and to whom:
2. Name and role of reporter:
3. Contact details: (telephone, address, email)
Person reporting/informing the alleged/suspected abuse internally
4. Date of report and to whom:
5. Name and role of informant:
6. Contact details (telephone, address, email)
Details of the alleged/suspected abused adult
7. Name
8. Contact details: (telephone, address, email)
9.Gender: ……………………………………..…. (as self-identified)
10. Age…………………………………(Approximate if not known)
Details of the person/institution alleged/suspected of the abuse
11. Name of person/institution:
12. Contact details (telephone, address, email):
Relationship to the alleged/suspected abused person:
(Delete as appropriate)
13. Partner/Parent/Daughter/Son/Other Family Member/Care Worker/Non-Related carer.
14. Other (Please State)
Details of the alleged/suspected abuse
15. Date:
16. Location:
17. Type of abuse (please delete as appropriate) Physical/sexual/Psychological/Financial or material/ Neglect or omission/Discriminatory
18. Other (Please state)
19. The vulnerable person is aware the abuse is being reported: Yes/No……………….(Delete as appropriate)
20. Brief description of the alleged/suspected abuse (including any injuries)
21. Details of any immediate action taken as a result of the alleged/suspected abuse: (including any reports made)
Signed: ……………………………………………………………………………..(Person internally informing)
Date………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
Signed: ……………………………………………………………………………..(Person externally reporting)
Date………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
(Policy approved by CAIA Board on 19/7/2006 & reviewed on 21/06/2016 and 10/04/2017; Reviewed and adopted 13/02/2020; Reviewed and adopted 25/02/23; Updated and adopted 18/ 11 /23; Reviewed and adopted 12/11/2024.
