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Safeguarding Adults at Risk Course

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Course Objectives

At the end of the session care workers should:

Explain what is meant by the term ‘an adult at risk'
List the forms abuse may take
Recognise signs and symptoms of abuse
Understand how to respond appropriately to disclosures of abuse
Understand the legislation and guidance concerning safeguarding adults at risk.

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Adult safeguarding is the process of protecting adults with care and support needs from abuse or neglect

It is an important part of what many public services do, but the key responsibility is with local authorities in partnership with the police and the NHS.

The Care Act 2014

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Empowerment
Prevention
Proportionality
Protection
Partnerships
Accountability.

Six Principles of Safeguarding

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Who is an Adult at Risk?

“Any person aged 18 and over who is or may be in need of community care services by reason of mental or other disability, age or illness and who is or maybe unable to take care of himself or herself, or unable to protect himself or herself against harm or serious exploitation.”

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“The violation of an individual's human and civil rights by any other person or persons.”

Adult Abuse is…

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Adult Abuse may...

consist of a single act or repeated acts. It may be physical, verbal or psychological, it may be an act of neglect or an omission to act, or it may occur when a vulnerable person is persuaded to enter into a financial or sexual transaction to which he or she has not consented or cannot consent. Abuse can occur in any relationship and may result in significant harm to, or exploitation of, the person subjected to it.

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Some Categories of Abuse

Physical
Sexual
Financial or Material
Emotional or Psychological
Neglect or acts of omission
Discriminatory.

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Organisational Abuse

Organisational abuse is mistreatment or abuse by a regime or the individuals within an organisation

Organisational abuse occurs when the routines, systems and norms of an organisation take precedence over the preferred lifestyle and cultural diversity of the service users in its care.

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Organisational Abuse

Managers and staff should ensure that the operation of the service is centred on the needs of the service users and not on those of the organisation. The systems in place to ensure the smooth running of the organisation should be flexible, they can become abusive if they are dogmatic and non-negotiable.

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Responding:

do...

Remain calm
Listen
Acknowledge regret, show concern
Reassure
Treat seriously
Explain what happens next
Allow someone to talk - ask 'open' questions.

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Responding:

don't...

Press the person for more details
Promise to keep secrets
Make promises you are unable to keep
Be judgemental
Stop someone who is freely recalling significant events
Contact the alleged perpetrator or victim (depending on who is sharing the information)
Gossip about it
Destroy evidence
PANIC!!!.

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Reporting

If you see, hear about or suspect abuse, you have a duty to report the information to your line manager, or to a relevant manager, as soon as possible.

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Recording

Accurate and detailed recording is essential:

Where......
When.......
What; Date, Time, Setting

Witnesses

What was said - persons own words

What was observed

Separate fact from opinion
Date & sign your report
Make it legible.

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Safeguarding Adults at Risk

Level 2 Discussion covering the following:

How to support people to keep themselves safe
Responding to safeguarding alerts / referrals
How to identify and reduce potential and actual risks after disclosure or an allegation has been made
How to develop protective strategies for those that decline services
The levels or thresholds for investigating in response to a safeguarding referral and the requirements of gathering initial information
Applying local and national policy and procedural frameworks when undertaking safeguarding activity
The legislation that is relevant to undertaking safeguarding activity
How to support service users and carers to understand safeguarding issues to maximise their decision making
When to use emergency systems to safeguard adults
How to maintain accurate, complete and up to date records
How best evidence is achieved
The purpose of Safeguarding Adults investigations and how to apply the duties and tasks involved
The roles and responsibilities of the different agencies involved in investigating allegations of abuse.