Vulnerable Adult Safeguarding Policy

Purpose of the Policy

This Policy defines Mediation Buckinghamshire’s (MB) commitment to the safeguarding of vulnerable adults and ensuring their wellbeing. MB recognises safeguarding means protecting an adult’s right to live in safety, free from abuse and neglect.

Policy Definition

MB recognises that everyone has a responsibility to help prevent the physical, sexual, psychological, financial, and discriminatory abuse and neglect of vulnerable adults and to report any such abuse that we discover or suspect.
We recognise the personal dignity and rights of vulnerable adults and will ensure all our policies and procedures reflect this.

Aim

The Care Act 2014 provides a definition and framework for Safeguarding Adults Safeguarding means protecting an adult’s right to live in safety, free from abuse and neglect. It is about people and organizations working together to prevent and stop both the risks and experience of abuse or neglect, while at the same time making sure that the adult’s wellbeing is promoted including, where appropriate, having regard to their views, wishes, feelings and beliefs in deciding on any action. This must recognise that adults sometimes have complex interpersonal relationships and may be ambivalent, unclear or unrealistic about their personal circumstances. The principle aims of adult safeguarding are to stop abuse or neglect wherever possible and to:

• prevent harm and reduce the risk of abuse or neglect to adults with care and support needs.
• safeguard adults in a way that supports them in making choices and having control about how they want to live
• promote an approach that concentrates on improving life for the adults concerned
• raise public awareness so that communities, alongside professionals, play their part in preventing, identifying and responding to abuse and neglect
• provide information and support in accessible ways to help people understand the different types of abuse, how to stay safe and what to do to raise a concern about the safety or well-being of an adult
• address what has caused the abuse or neglect

Implementation

Through the implementation of this policy MB aims to ensure that:

• All people who may be in vulnerable situations and who interact with the service do so through people they can trust.
• All risks that may arise through interaction with people who may be in vulnerable situations are carefully assessed and all necessary steps are taken to minimise and manage them

This policy is based on the following general principles:

• All adults who may be in vulnerable situations have a right to protection – including from the law – and their decisions respected, even if that decision involves risk.
• Adults may choose to take risks, but they do not choose to be abused;
• So far as they are able, adults who may be in vulnerable situations or who have been abused will be enabled to protect themselves from abuse or neglect.
• Where someone declines to take action on abuse, and there are no justifiable factors to disregard those wishes, MB will work with adults to assist them to reach a point where they feel able to take any necessary action.
• MB provides a confidential service. However, there may be occasions when it may be necessary to make decisions about sharing information in appropriate circumstances. This will be undertaken in accordance with the confidentiality policy.

There are several scenarios in which MB may have to consider Adult Safeguarding intervention:

• There is an allegation that an employed member of staff, or a volunteer for one of the services, has exploited their position to abuse an adult who is in a vulnerable situation.
• Someone using our services, discloses abuse and:
  a) Does not wish any action to be taken beyond that disclosure – the abuse only affects them and is a threat to life or limb or a serious
  crime
  b) Does not wish any action to be taken beyond that disclosure – the abuse affects more than them or is a threat to life or limb or is a serious
  crime
  c) Wishes to pursue the matter further

Issues of Choice

An adult’s right to make choices about their own safety has to be balanced with the rights of others to be safe. Things to consider when making decisions about sharing information include:

• Risks to children: for example, a person who is causing harm to an adult may also present a risk to a child, or an adult’s parenting capacity may be adversely affected by the stress of the abuse they or others in the home are experiencing
• Risks to other adults: e.g., other adults within the person’s home
• Risk of serious harm or homicide: information may be shared without consent if there is a public interest in sharing the information to prevent a crime or protect others from harm
• Legal restrictions: there may be exceptional circumstances where someone intends to act in a way that is unlawful
• Mental capacity and impaired decision making: you should not assume a person lacks capacity merely because they appear to be vulnerable. Where a caller to MB discloses abuse and does not wish any action to be taken beyond that disclosure, but the abuse affects more than them or is a threat to life or limb, or is a serious crime, MB will consider over-ruling the wishes of the caller. If someone is in immediate danger of harm, MB will consider whether the emergency services need to be contacted.

Reporting Procedures

The following procedure refers to abuse or suspicion of abuse of that staff and
volunteers become aware of during their work with Mediation Buckinghamshire.
Any member of staff or volunteer who becomes aware that an adult is or is at risk of,
being abused or has safeguarding needs should raise the matter immediately to a
member of staff or to the designated safeguarding lead.
Early sharing of information is the key to providing an effective response where there
are emerging concerns To ensure effective safeguarding arrangements no member
of staff or volunteer should assume that someone else will pass on information which
they think may be critical to the safety and wellbeing of the adult.
MB will:

• inform the adult of the action we propose to take.
• Seek their agreement for any referral unless there is a risk of significant harm to them or others
• Ensure that they are kept informed about what will happen next, so they can be reassured about what to expect.
• Endeavour to ensure that they are safe and supported before proceeding with any other action.
• Inform the adult if MB are planning to seek advice from or report concerns to an external agency.

In most situations there will not be an immediate threat and the decision about protecting the person with safeguarding needs will be taken in consultation with themselves and/or Social Services.

Safeguarding Leads

Should you have any concerns you must raise your concerns with our Safeguarding Lead who provides a direct point of contact, they will provide all staff and volunteers with support, record any concerns clearly and securely, and ensure that the appropriate action is taken.
They will also ensure that the Safeguarding Vulnerable Adults and Child and young person Protection Policy is being fully adhered too.
MB Safeguarding lead is: Rita Jackson
They can be contacted on: jacksonrita6@gmail.com during office hours or on 07903 374 935 at other times. If you are emailing please do not put the names of the client and relevant others in the email and please mark it urgent safeguarding query.
If the Safeguarding Lead is not available (due to annual leave, sickness etc.), staff and volunteers should report to the Deputy Safeguarding Lead who is: Anthea Beeks
They can be contacted on: anthea.beeks@alternativestoconflict.org.uk. If neither the Safeguarding Lead nor Deputy Safeguarding Lead is available, advice should be immediately sought from: The First Response Team on 01296 383962 (outside of office hours call: 0800 999 7677) email: secure-cypfirstresponse@buckscc.gov.uk

NB. There are some cases that require an urgent response:

• If you suspect a serious criminal act has taken place, telephone 999. Tell them if you think it might be adult abuse.
• If the individual is injured seek immediate medical treatment. Tell the ambulance personnel or A&E staff that this is a potential adult abuse situation.

Child Protection

If at any time you become concerned that a Child might be at risk you need to follow the Child Protection Procedure outlined in MB Children & Young Person Protection/Safeguarding Policy and Procedure.
If neither the Safeguarding Lead nor Deputy Safeguarding Lead is available, advice should be immediately sought from: The First Response Team on 01296 383962 (outside of office hours call: 0800 999 7677) email: secure-cypfirstresponse@buckscc.gov.uk NB.
Or if a child is in immediate danger of being harmed, the police should be called on 999.

Responsibilities

The Trustees have ultimate responsibility for ensuring that this Policy and Procedure is adhered to but has delegated the responsibility for its implementation to its Chief Executive Officer (CEO) to ensure that practice meets the highest standards and that we adhere to safeguarding best practice.
MB will ensure that MB staff and volunteers will:

• For all required staff roles have checks carried out under DBS or PVG services
• For required volunteer roles have checks carried out under, DBS, or PVG services
• have two references provided before they will have direct contact with people who use the service
• be required to read this Policy and the Safeguarding Procedures
• be required to attend safeguarding awareness training

MB Partners and Suppliers will:

• act in accordance with this policy and guidance provided by Mediation
  Buckinghamshire.
• have checks carried out on their staff or volunteers under DBS, or PVG services and appropriate references provided before they will have direct contact with people who use the service.
• have in place mandatory safeguarding training for their staff which is repeated on a regular basis.
• make this policy accessible to all staff, their volunteers and people who contact them.
• have clear policies against discrimination and harassment towards any person (staff, volunteers and people who use the service) on any grounds including disability, age, race, faith, culture, gender, or sexuality.
• have clear, accessible and well-publicised complaints procedures – including information about how to complain to external bodies.

Confidentiality

All information will be handled sensitively and in line with MB Policy and Procedure and following any relevant data protection requirements.