Adult Safeguarding Policy
Purpose
Our charitable activities may include working with vulnerable adults and as such this
document sets out what trustees, employees and volunteers of Kelsall Wellbeing Hub must
do when there are concerns that a vulnerable adult is at risk or has been abused. The charity
is required to act to safeguard vulnerable adults from abuse and neglect. This document is in
line with the legal framework set out in The Care Act 2014 to protect adults at risk.
Definitions
Adult at risk: A person aged 18 or above who is unable to look after their own wellbeing,
property, rights, or other interests, and is at risk of harm (either from another person’s
behaviour or their own behaviour) because they have a disability, mental disorder, illness, or
physical or mental infirmity. An adult at risk is more vulnerable to being harmed than other
adults.
Employees: Anyone employed by Kelsall Wellbeing Hub, including agency employees and
those on secondment or placement.
Volunteers: Anyone volunteering for Kelsall Wellbeing Hub, regardless of their role, including
trustees.
Roles:
For the purposes of this policy the following roles are led by:
Safeguarding Lead Trustee: Lorraine Hammond
Safeguarding Lead: Helen Ritchie
Cheshire West & Chester Referral Team Contact Numbers:
Integrated Access Referral Team
• Email (secure): i-ART@cheshirewestandchester.gcsx.gov.uk
• Email (ordinary): i-ART@cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk
• Opening hours: 8.30am to 5pm from Monday to Thursday, 8.30am to 4.30pm Friday
• Telephone: 0300 123 7047
If you have an urgent concern outside these hours, or over a Bank Holiday, please call the
Emergency Duty Team (out of hours) on 01244 977277
Alternatively call Cheshire Police: 0845 458 0000/01244 350000 (999 in an emergency)
Responsibilities
The charity will ensure that safeguarding is included, where appropriate, in the strategic
plans, risk assessments and communications. It will ensure that this policy is made available
to all trustees, employees, and volunteers and that they are trained and understand their
responsibilities and if or when abuse is suspected or disclosed, they are clear on what action
must be taken. The charity will ensure that all trustees, employees, volunteers, or any
associates who will be working with vulnerable adults consent to an enhanced Disclosure
Barring Service (DBS) check. Trustees will approve the Safeguarding Policy and have a duty of
care to the charity, which includes taking the necessary steps to safeguard those at risk from
abuse, managing risk and protecting the reputation of the charity. The trustees are mindful
of their reporting obligations to the Charity Commission in respect of Serious Incident. They
are aware of the Charity Commission guidance on handling safeguarding allegations.
Our values & commitment to Safeguarding
Everyone at the charity has a responsibility to make sure that vulnerable adults are
safeguarded and protected from abuse and neglect. The charity makes sure that trustees,
employees and volunteers are equipped to embed safeguarding within their day-to-day
practice and operations. They must read and understand the Safeguarding policy and
procedures and be aware of their safeguarding duties. They will also be supported in this
through training. Trustees, staff and volunteers will be trained in Level 2 Safeguarding and
will attend a refresher course every 2 years.
Associated Policies
Other policies and procedures related to safeguarding across the charity, which may also
apply in specific situations and may need to be considered, include:
• Disclosure and barring checks
• Induction procedure
• Health and Safety
• Whistleblowing Policy
• Complaints Policy
• Lone working policy
• GDPR
• ICT policy
Types of abuse
Abuse can take many forms, such as physical, psychological, or emotional, financial, sexual,
institutional, or online.
Types of physical abuse
• Assault, hitting, slapping, punching, kicking, hair-pulling, biting, pushing
• Rough handling
• Scalding and burning
• Physical punishments
• Inappropriate or unlawful use of restraint
• Making someone purposefully uncomfortable (e.g. opening a window and removing
blankets)
• Involuntary isolation or confinement
• Misuse of medication (e.g. over-sedation)
• Forcible feeding or withholding food
• Unauthorised restraint, restricting movement (e.g. tying someone to a chair)
Types of psychological or emotional abuse
• Enforced social isolation – preventing someone accessing services, educational and social
opportunities and seeing friends
• Removing mobility or communication aids or intentionally leaving someone unattended
when they need assistance
• Preventing someone from meeting their religious and cultural needs
• Ghosting
• Gaslighting
Types of financial or material abuse
• Theft of money or possessions
• Fraud, scamming
• Preventing a person from accessing their own money, benefits, or assets
• Employees taking a loan from a person using the service
• Undue pressure, duress, threat, or undue influence put on the person in connection with
loans, wills, property, inheritance or financial transactions
• Arranging less care than is needed to save money to maximise inheritance
• Denying assistance to manage/monitor financial affairs
• Denying assistance to access benefits
• Misuse of personal allowance in a care home
• Misuse of benefits or direct payments in a family home
• Someone moving into a person’s home and living rent free without agreement or under
duress
• False representation, using another person's bank account, cards, or documents
• Exploitation of a person’s money or assets, e.g. unauthorised use of a car
• Misuse of a power of attorney, deputy, appointeeship or other legal authority
• Rogue trading – e.g. unnecessary or overpriced property repairs and failure to carry out
agreed repairs or poor workmanship
• Preventing the expression of choice and opinion
• Failure to respect privacy
• Preventing stimulation, meaningful occupation, or activities
• Intimidation, coercion, harassment, use of threats, humiliation, bullying, swearing or verbal
abuse
• Addressing a person in a patronising or infantilising way
• Threats of harm or abandonment
• Cyber bullying
Types of sexual abuse
• Rape, attempted rape or sexual assault
• Inappropriate touch anywhere
• Non- consensual masturbation of either or both persons
• Non- consensual sexual penetration or attempted penetration of the vagina, anus or mouth
• Any sexual activity that the person lacks the capacity to consent to
• Inappropriate looking, sexual teasing or innuendo or sexual harassment
• Sexual photography or forced use of pornography or witnessing of sexual acts
• Indecent exposure
Types of neglect
• Failure to provide or allow access to food, shelter, clothing, heating, stimulation and activity,
personal or medical care
• Providing care in a way that the person dislikes
• Failure to administer medication as prescribed
• Refusal of access to visitors
• Not taking account of educational, social and recreational needs
• Ignoring or isolating the person
• Preventing the person from making their own decisions
• Preventing access to glasses, hearing aids, dentures, etc.
• Failure to ensure privacy and dignity
• Lack of self-care to an extent that it threatens personal health and safety
• Neglecting to care for one’s personal hygiene, health or surroundings
• Inability to avoid self-harm
• Failure to seek help or access services to meet health and social care needs
• Inability or unwillingness to manage one’s personal affairs
Types of organisational or institutional abuse
• Discouraging visits or the involvement of relatives or friends
• Run-down or overcrowded establishment
• Authoritarian management or rigid regimes
• Lack of leadership and supervision
• Insufficient staff or high turnover resulting in poor quality care
• Abusive and disrespectful attitudes towards people using the service
• Inappropriate use of restraints
• Lack of respect for dignity and privacy
• Failure to manage residents with abusive behaviour
• Not providing adequate food and drink, or assistance with eating
• Not offering choice or promoting independence
• Misuse of medication
• Failure to provide care with dentures, spectacles or hearing aids
• Not taking account of individuals’ cultural, religious or ethnic needs
• Failure to respond to abuse appropriately
• Interference with personal correspondence or communication
• Failure to respond to complaints
Types of online abuse
• Cyberbullying
• Emotional abuse
• Grooming
• Sexting
• Sexual abuse
• Sexual exploitation
Responding to the vulnerable adult when abuse is alleged, or signs are seen or heard
If a trustee, employee, volunteer, or any associate who is working with the charity suspects
that a vulnerable adult is at risk of harm or abuse, they should notify the Safeguarding Lead.
When responding to a disclosure of abuse from a vulnerable adult, employees and volunteers
should:
• Listen carefully to what is said and allow the vulnerable adult to talk at their own pace
• Be careful not to compromise potential evidence
• Stay calm and find an appropriate opportunity in the discussion to explain the likelihood
that information will need to be shared with other responsible people. Do not promise to
keep secrets
• Call the police if you believe the vulnerable adult is at risk of immediate significant harm
• Only ask questions for clarification and do not ask leading questions (leading questions may
elicit answers, which could compromise evidence)
• Reassure the vulnerable adult that they have done the right thing in telling you. Tell them
what you will do next and who you will inform
• As soon as possible after the discussions, make notes as a written record of what you have
heard or seen and complete Recording Form (Appendix 1). Discuss your concerns with the
Safeguarding Lead.
Note:
Some people with disabilities may find it difficult to express themselves verbally.
Communication difficulties may mean that it is hard for them to complain or be understood.
Sometimes it is difficult to distinguish the signs of abuse from the symptoms of some
disabilities or conditions, in relation to the nature of an individual’s impairment. However,
where there are concerns about the safety of a person, record what has been observed and
as much information as is possible and discuss your concerns with the Safeguarding Lead.
Reporting Safeguarding Concerns (A Flow Chart is included in Appendix 1 detailing the
processes to follow regarding referrals).
Adults being abused often don’t disclose what is happening to them, and when they do it’s
rarely directly to professionals. This could be due to lack of awareness of services or could
do with trust and a fear of losing control of a situation.
Where the allegations involve a member of staff or volunteer this must be raised with the
Safeguarding Lead. Any concerns involving the inappropriate behaviour of a staff member or
volunteer towards a vulnerable adult will be taken seriously and investigated. The situation
will be explained to the staff member (if deemed appropriate) who is at the centre of the
allegation, they may be asked to cease working on a temporary basis until the matter is
resolved formally, and after investigation this could lead to dismissal and further action being
taken against the member of staff. This will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
In all cases of an allegation, concern or disclosure of abuse inform Safeguarding Lead Helen
Ritchie or Safeguarding Lead Trustee, Lorraine Hammond as soon as possible.
For the purposes of this policy the following roles are led by:
Safeguarding Lead Trustee: Lorraine Hammond
Safeguarding Lead: Helen Ritchie
This policy was written: September 2022
The policy will be reviewed next: September
