Safeguarding Adults Policy & Procedure
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The Rees Foundation aims to support care experienced people thrive. While the Rees Foundation provides a confidential service to care experienced adults throughout the UK, all staff, volunteers, and beneficiaries have a duty and a responsibility to promote and safeguard the welfare of children and adults and must take appropriate action if they become aware of any disclosures, allegations, or concerns about inappropriate behaviour towards adults with care and support needs or towards children and young people from others.
The Rees Foundation’s Safeguarding Adults Policy This Policy applies to all staff, including senior managers and the board of directors, Trustees, self-employed consultants, volunteers, or sessional workers; indeed, anyone working or acting in any capacity on behalf of The Rees Foundation. The purpose of this policy is:
Principles: The Care Act 2014 extends a duty to promote wellbeing when carrying out any care and support functions in respect of an individual. This is sometimes referred to as “The Wellbeing Principle” because it is a guiding principle that puts wellbeing at the heart of all that we do and the care and support we provide. The Rees Foundation’s Safeguarding Adults Policy incorporates the wellbeing principle together with the six principles of safeguarding adults as set out in the Statement of Government Policy on Adult Safeguarding (DoH, May 2015), as follows:
Lead Responsibility: Melody Douglas, Chief Executive Officer, has lead responsibility for safeguarding arrangements at The Rees Foundation. The Rees Foundation Directors/Trustees have overarching responsibility for ensuring that the safeguarding arrangements at The Rees Foundation are fit for purpose. Legal Framework This policy has been drawn up on the basis of law and guidance that seeks to protect adults with care and support needs and with reference to the West Midlands Adult Safeguarding Board Policy and Procedure (April 2015) in whose area The Rees Foundation is based. Relevant legislation and guidance follows:
Definitions Used The Care Act 2014, which came into force on 1st April 2015, contains the following definitions which are used throughout this policy: Adults with care and support needs? The adult safeguarding duties under the Care Act 2014 apply to an adult, aged 18 or over, who:
Care and support is the mixture of practical, financial, and emotional support for adults who need extra help to manage their lives and be independent – including older people, people with a disability or long-term illness, people with mental health problems, and carers. Care and support includes assessment of people’s needs, provision of services and the allocation of funds to enable a person to purchase their own care and support. It could include care home, home care, personal assistants, day services, or the provision of aids and adaptations. Transitions (Care Leavers) Where someone is over 18 but still receiving children’s services such as being in a ‘Staying Put’ arrangement, and a safeguarding concern is raised, this should be dealt with through adult safeguarding procedures. Where appropriate, this should involve the local authority’s children’s safeguarding colleagues as well as any relevant partners (e.g., police or NHS) or other persons relevant to the case. This also applies where someone is moving to a different local authority area after receiving a transition assessment but before moving to adult social care. Abuse Defining abuse is complex and rests on many factors. The term “abuse” can be subject to wide interpretation. However, abuse is often defined as:
Abuse may be physical, verbal, or psychological, it may be an act of neglect or occur where a vulnerable person is persuaded to enter into a financial or sexual transaction to which they have not or cannot consent. Please refer to Appendix 2 for the different signs and indicators of adult abuse. The Rees Foundation Safeguarding Adults Procedure:
The findings from these risk assessments will inform the creation and implementation of tailored safeguarding measures and the appropriate services being informed. Staff involved in the process will receive appropriate training to carry out these assessments effectively and in line with legal and regulatory requirements. By adhering to this process, the charity demonstrates its commitment to proactively identifying and managing risks, thereby upholding the highest standards of care and safeguarding for vulnerable adults.
Abuse can take place anywhere and in any relationship. It may occur when in a person’s own home, whether living alone or with others. It may occur in a work setting, educational establishment or in the community. A person may be at risk from a relative or family member or a risk to themselves if their situation appears hopeless to them. The Rees Foundation provides support to care experienced adults, many of whom are facing difficult and emotionally stressful situations, such as mental health difficulties, financial hardship, unemployment, relationship difficulties and face the risk of homelessness. Therefore, it is not surprising that people may be at risk during these times, either from themselves or from others. The Rees Foundation support may take place over the telephone, or face to face. Any intervention will therefore need to be determined by the environment or the context in which the alleged abuse or perceived risk has occurred, and the wishes and feelings of the person concerned. Assessment of the environment or context is relevant as it may be important for the person concerned to be interviewed away from the sphere of influence of the alleged abuser or the setting in order to be able to make a free choice as to how they wish to proceed. Consent: It is always essential in adult safeguarding to consider whether the adult has capacity to make informed consent in all aspects of their life. REMEMBER- It is best practice to always seek the views and wishes of the adult involved at the earliest opportunity as possible, unless it is not safe or if in doing so will increase the risk to the person. This should help to guide what next steps should be taken and whether the concern should be reported as an adult safeguarding concern or should be dealt with by another means. Safeguarding Log: The Rees Foundation will maintain a log of all concerns raised with them under this procedure, together with a record of the discussion that took place and decisions made. If a Safeguarding referral is made, contact details of the local authority adult services team to whom the referral was made, and the action taken by them will be recorded. The Board will be notified of any safeguarding referrals made. How do you decide if a concern should be reported? The possibility of abuse can come to light in various ways, for example:
If you have any concerns about the welfare of an adult or a child, or a child or an adult makes an allegation of abuse to you, you must share these with your line manager at The Rees Foundation immediately. Your line manager will decide, in discussion with you and the designated lead for safeguarding, whether the criteria for a safeguarding referral are met. In an emergency you should not wait to contact managers or the duty team but should contact the appropriate emergency service, e.g., police or ambulance and seek immediate assistance. If abuse by a The Rees Foundation employee or a person working with a child or an adult is alleged or suspected, the same procedure should be followed. The Rees Foundation whistleblowing policy and complaints procedure may also apply. Good Practice Guide – Responding to Disclosures Remember, it may have taken a great amount of courage for the person to tell you that something has happened or that they are at risk, and fear of not being believed can cause people not to tell.
said seriously.
said- this can make them feel they are not being believed.
Good Practice Guide – Recording It is vital that a written record of any incident or allegation of crime is made as soon as possible after the information is obtained. Written records must reflect as accurately as possible what was said and done by the people involved in the incident or concern. The report will need to include:
Remember to:
3. The Rees Foundation Referral Process - Reporting Concerns 3.1 All concerns about the safety or wellbeing of anyone should be reported immediately to your line manager at The Rees Foundation who will discuss and agree next steps with you. 3.2 The line Manager at The Rees Foundation will discuss your concerns with the Chief Executive Officer who will consider whether this meets the criteria for a safeguarding referral to the local authority. 3.3 If the matter is considered to be a safeguarding issue, the line manager will request a written report from the worker who has reported the concerns and inform that worker of the action to be taken. The concerns, discussion and agreed action will be recorded into The Rees Foundation Safeguarding Log by the line manager. 3.4 The line manager at The Rees Foundation will refer the concern/allegation to the relevant adult safeguarding team within 24 hours of the issue being raised with them by the worker. A verbal referral to Adult Social care must be followed up in writing within 24 hours. A record will be made of the name and designation of the person to whom The Rees Foundation passes on the information of concern (referral) and confirmation of any action taken with reference to said referral will be requested. 3.5 The adult social care safeguarding team will decide on the appropriate response and will inform the line manager of the action to be taken. If no acknowledgement of the referral is received within 3 days, the line manager will chase the referral. 3.6 The line Manager will update the Safeguarding Log with action being taken and advise The Rees Foundation worker of any further action or input required from them. 3.7. All referrals must follow Data Protection policy and GDPR (General Data Protection Regulations). For more information, please refer to The Rees Foundation’s policy. See Flowchart: Responding & Reporting (WMASB) - Appendix 1: Dealing with Safeguarding Concerns. 4. Allegations or concerns about employees The Rees Foundation has clear policies in line with West Midlands Adult Safeguarding Policy and Procedures for dealing with allegations or concerns about people who work with adults at risk (persons in a position of trust). Any or all such allegations or concerns will be reported to the Adult Safeguarding Board for Worcestershire within whose jurisdiction The Rees Foundation is located. 5. Whistleblowing The Rees Foundation also has a Whistleblowing Policy, which reflects the principles in Sir Robert Francis’s Freedom to Speak Up Review, under which staff can raise concerns about the behaviour of workers or managers, without fear of redress. (https://freedomtospeakup.org.uk) Anyone employed or deployed by The Rees Foundation, including self- employed workers, volunteers, workers who have concerns about a colleague should report these immediately to Melody Douglas, Chief Executive Officer, for the appropriate action to be taken. 6. Referral to the Disclosure and Barring Service If the Rees Foundation removes an individual from post, (paid worker or unpaid volunteer) due to concerns about their behaviour or would have done so if the individual had still been employed, The Rees Foundation will make a referral to the Disclosure and Barring Service. 7. Safer Recruitment The Rees Foundation operates Safe Recruitment practices in relation to staff and the deployment of self-employed workers and volunteers. All staff, self-employed workers and volunteers are subject to Disclosure and Barring Service checks, and are subject to application, CV, proof of identity and address, interview and 2 referees, who are contacted directly for verbal confirmation of their reference. In addition, The Rees Foundation;
The Rees Foundation is committed to reviewing this policy annually. This Policy was created in November 2018 with reference to the Care Act 2014 and the West Midlands Adults Safeguarding Policy and Procedure April 2019. The policy was last reviewed in January 2024. Availability of this Procedure: The Rees Foundation will make this Policy available to all Rees Foundation staff, self-employed workers, volunteers, service users, or other person upon request. Contact details for The Rees Foundation: General Email: [email protected] - Chief Executive Officer – Melody Douglas – 07970 740085 – [email protected] Contact Details for Worcestershire Safeguarding Board: Telephone: 01905 768053 (10am-4pm Mon to Friday) Email: [email protected] To make an adult safeguarding referral use this link: Worcestershire Adults Portal If there is a threat to life or immediate risk situation call 999, or 101 for non-immediate risks. References: West Midlands Adults Safeguarding Policy and Procedures http://www.worcestershire.gov.uk/downloads/file/5646/west_midlands_adult_safeguarding_policy_and_procedures Freedom to Speak Up: Department of Health (Sir Robert Francis, 2014) (https://freedomtospeakup.org.uk) The Care Act 2014 http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2014/23/contents/enacted Revised Prevent duty guidance: for England and Wales - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) Signposting to National agencies: Domestic abuse: how to get help - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) I need help - information and support on domestic abuse (womensaid.org.uk) Domestic violence and abuse - getting help - Citizens Advice Let's stop 'cuckooing' | Crimestoppers (crimestoppers-uk.org) Home - Victim Support Personal safety | Crimestoppers (crimestoppers-uk.org) County Lines - National Crime Agency Protecting children from radicalisation | NSPCC I hereby confirm that his policy is current and effective, Melody Douglas, Chief Executive Officer Suspicion or concern that something is not right Disclosure from a third party SAFEGUARDING ALERT (Timescale – same day) Is the Adult in immediate danger? An abusive act is witnessed Adult makes a disclosure Evidence of possible abuse or neglect Take any immediate actions to safeguard anyone at immediate risk of harm, including calling emergency services summoning medical assistance. Has a criminal offence occurred, or be likely to occur? Contact the police immediately Refer the concern to your local lead agency Refer to Children’s Services if a child is identified as being at risk of harm Adult Social Care will guide the formation of the assessment strategy, and will inform the referrer of the outcome and next steps Anyone can become aware of abuse or neglect of adult with care and support needs Unless it is not safe, speak to the adult concerned to get their views on the concern or incident and what they would like to happen next. Appendix 1: Responding & Reporting: SAFEGUARDING REFERRAL (Timescale – same day) No Yes Yes No Appendix 2 Signs and Indicators of Adult Abuse Indicators are the main signs and symptoms, which suggest that some form of abuse may have occurred, but caution is suggested against establishing adult abuse merely due to the presence of one or more of these indicators without further detailed assessment/investigation. Typically, an abusive situation will involve indicators from a number of groups in combination. It is important to remember that these signs are not exhaustive and may not always indicate abuse. However, any concerns should be taken seriously and reported in accordance with this policy. Physical Abuse Physical injuries which have no satisfactory explanation or where there is a definite knowledge, or a reasonable suspicion that the injury was inflicted with intent, or through lack of care, by the person having custody, charge or care of that person, including hitting, slapping, pushing, misuse of or lack of medical/chemical restraint, or inappropriate sanctions. Possible indicators of physical abuse
Domestic Violence and Abuse Domestic violence and abuse includes physical, psychological, sexual, financial, emotional, and so called “honour” based violence, including female genital mutilation, and forced marriage. Domestic Abuse Act 2021: overarching factsheet - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) Examples of domestic abuse can involve: undermining an individual’s self-confidence; threats to others including children; controlling behaviour such as isolation from friends and family; restricting access to money, personal items, food, telephone etc.; and stalking. Possible indicators of domestic violence and abuse
Sexual abuse - including rape and sexual assault or sexual acts to which the person has not or could not consent and/or was pressured in to consenting. Other sexual acts which might be abusive include non-contact abuse such as looking, pornographic photography, indecent exposure, harassment, unwanted teasing or innuendo, or contact such as touching or penetration. Possible Indicators of sexual abuse
Psychological, or emotional abuse, includes the use of threats of harm or abandonment, verbal or racial abuse, fears or bribes to negate a vulnerable adult’s choices, independent wishes and self-esteem; Cause isolation or over-dependence (as might be signalled by impairment of development or performance) or prevent a vulnerable adult from using services or supportive networks, which would provide help. Possible Indicators of emotional or psychological abuse
Financial or Material Abuse Including theft, fraud, exploitation and coercion, financial or material abuse usually involves an individual’s funds or resources being inappropriately used by a third person. It includes the withholding of money or the inappropriate or unsanctioned use of a person’s money or property or the entry of the vulnerable adult into financial contracts or transactions (including that in relation to property, wills, inheritance, possessions or benefits) that they do not understand, to their disadvantage. Possible Indicators of financial or material abuse
Neglect / Acts of Omission Neglect can be both physical and emotional it is about the failure to keep a vulnerable adult clean, warm and promote optimum health, or to provide adequate nutrition, medication, and being prevented from making choices. Neglect of a duty of care or the breakdown of a care package may also give rise to safeguarding issues i.e. where a carer refuses access or if a care provider is unable, unwilling or neglects to meet assessed needs. Possible Indicators of neglect
Discriminatory Abuse Discriminatory abuse is abuse targeted at a perceived vulnerability or on the basis of prejudice including racism or sexism or based on a person’s disability. It can take any of the other forms of abuse, harassment, slurs or similar treatment. Discriminatory abuse may be used to describe serious, repeated or pervasive discrimination, which leads to significant harm or exclusion from mainstream opportunities, provision of poor standards of health care, and/or which represents a failure to protect or provide redress through the criminal or civil justice system. Possible Indicators of discriminatory abuse
Organisational/Institutional Abuse Organisational/Institutional abuse happens when the rituals and routines in use, force residents or service users to sacrifice their own needs, wishes or preferred lifestyle to the needs of the institution or service provider. Abuse may be perpetrated by an individual or by a group of staff embroiled in the accepted custom, subculture and practice of the institution or service. It could include repeated instances of poor care of individuals or groups of individuals through neglect or poor professional practice as a result of structures, policies, processes, and practices within an organisation. Possible indicators of organisational/institutional abuse
Self-neglect covers a wide range of behaviour, neglecting to care for one’s personal hygiene, health or surroundings and includes behaviour such as hoarding. Self-neglect it is also defined as the inability (intentional or non-intentional) to maintain a socially and culturally accepted standard of self-care with the potential for serious consequences to the health and well-being of the individual and sometimes to their community. Possible indicators of self neglect
Human trafficking/modern slavery involves the acquisition and movement of people by improper means, such as force, threat or deception, for the purposes of exploiting them. It can take many forms, such as domestic servitude, forced criminality, forced labour, sexual exploitation and organ harvesting. Victims of human trafficking/ modern slavery can come from all walks of life; they can be male or female, children or adults, and they may come from migrant or indigenous communities. Possible indicators of human trafficking/modern slavery
Exploitation Exploitation – includes county lines, cuckooing, hate crime, mate crime, radicalisation. County Lines is where illegal drugs are transported from one area to another, often across police and local authority boundaries (although not exclusively), usually by children or vulnerable people who are coerced into it by gangs – Definition taken from National Crime Agency Cuckooing is where gangs use violence and abuse to target the homes of vulnerable people and use them as bases for drug dealing. – Definition taken from Crimestoppers A hate crime is any criminal offence that is motivated by hostility or prejudice based upon the victim's: • disability; • race; • religion or belief; • sexual orientation; • political opinion or gender identity. Exploitation by radicalisers who promote violence Individuals may be susceptible to recruitment into violent extremism by radicalisers. Violent extremists often use a persuasive rationale and charismatic individuals to attract people to their cause. The aim is to attract people to their reasoning, inspire new recruits, embed their extreme views, and persuade vulnerable individuals of the legitimacy of their cause. The Home Office leads on the anti-terrorism strategy. See Prevent Strategy 2011. – Taken from West Midlands Safeguarding Adults Policy and procedures. 
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