Adult Safeguarding Policy

1. AIMS AND STATEMENT 

This policy is intended to support staff and volunteers working within Nai’s House to understand their role and responsibilities in safeguarding adults. All staff and volunteers are expected to follow this policy. 

Nai’s House recognises the duty of care to safeguard vulnerable adults as detailed under the Care Act 2014. We are fully committed to safeguarding and protecting an adult’s right to live in safety, free from abuse and neglect. We will act appropriately with regards to any allegations towards anyone working on its behalf, or towards any disclosures or suspicion of abuse. We will ensure that adults are empowered to make their own choices and include them in any decision making. 

Nai’s House will also ensure that staff and volunteers receive appropriate training and that safe and effective working practices are in place. 

This policy takes into account: 

  • The Care Act 2014 and the Care and Support Statutory Guidance 
  • Oxfordshire Safeguarding Adults Board (OSAB) protocols and guidance. 

2. WHO DO ADULT SAFEGUARDING DUTIES APPLY TO? 

The Care Act 2014 sets out that adult safeguarding duties apply to any adult who: 

  • has care and support needs, 
  • is experiencing, or is at risk of, abuse and neglect, and 
  • is unable to protect themselves from either the risk of, or the experience of abuse or neglect, because of those needs. 

3. KEY PRINCIPLES 

Nai’s House staff and volunteers will adhere to the six key principles that underpin adult safeguarding: 

  1. Empowerment 
  2. Prevention 
  3. Proportionality 
  4. Protection 
  5. Partnership 
  6. Accountability 

Staff and volunteers should ensure that their work reflects the principles above and, in particular, that an adult with care and support needs is involved in decision making and gives informed consent. 

Any safeguarding action agreed should be the least intrusive, appropriate response to the risk. Partners from the community should be involved in any safeguarding work in preventing, detecting and reporting neglect and abuse. Nai’s House staff and volunteers must be transparent and accountable in delivering safeguarding actions. 

4. TYPES AND SIGNS OF ADULT ABUSE 

The Care and Support Statutory Guidance sets out these main types of abuse: 

  • Physical abuse 
  • Neglect 
  • Sexual abuse 
  • Psychological 
  • Financial abuse 
  • Discriminatory 
  • Organisational 
  • Domestic violence 
  • Modern Slavery 
  • Self-neglect. 

Abuse and neglect can be difficult to spot. Staff and volunteers should be alert to the following possible signs of abuse and neglect: 

  • Depression, self-harm or suicide attempts 
  • Difficulty making friends 
  • Fear or anxiety 
  • The person looks dirty or is not dressed properly 
  • The person never seems to have money 
  • The person has an injury that is difficult to explain (such as bruises, finger marks, ‘non-accidental’ injury, neck, shoulders, chest and arms) 
  • The person has signs of a pressure ulcer 
  • The person is experiencing insomnia 
  • The person seems frightened, or frightened of physical contact 
  • Inappropriate sexual awareness or sexually explicit behaviour 
  • The person is withdrawn, changes in behaviour. 

It is good practice to ask the person involved if you are unsure about their well-being. 

5. WHAT SHOULD I DO IF I’M CONCERNED? 

Staff and volunteers at Nai’s House who have any adult safeguarding concerns should: 

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Respond 

  • Take emergency action if someone is at immediate risk of harm/in need of urgent medical attention. Dial 999 for emergency services if necessary. 
  • Get brief details about what has happened and what the adult would like done about it, but do not probe or conduct a mini-investigation. 
  • Seek consent from the adult to take action and to report the concern. Consider whether the adult may lack capacity to make decisions about their own and other people’s safety and wellbeing. If you decide to act against their wishes or without their consent, you must record your decision and the reasons for this 
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Report 

  • Report any potential safeguarding concerns to the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL). 

Record 

  • All safeguarding concerns and actions must be recorded using Nai’s House Incident Report template found here and shared with the DSL. The information recorded must be factual, accurate and up to date. 
  • As far as possible, records should be written contemporaneously, dated, signed, and kept confidential and secure. 

6. DESIGNATED RESPONSIBILITIES

Designated Safeguarding Lead: Gem Barrett Tel: 07437 497697 

Deputy Safeguarding Lead: Shirin McGregor Tel: 07741 774065 

All staff and volunteers should contact the DSL with any concerns/queries they have in regards to safeguarding adults. A log of the concern must be kept. 

The DSL is responsible for decisions about notifying Adult Social Services and/or alternative actions and referrals, taking into account: 

  1. the adult’s wishes and preferred outcome; 
  2. whether the adult has mental capacity to make an informed decision about their own and others’ safety; 
  3. the safety or wellbeing of children or other adults with care and support needs; 
  4. whether there is a person in a position of trust involved; 
  5. whether a crime has been committed. 

The DSL should keep a record of the reasons for referring, or not referring, the concern. 

The DSL will also ensure that this policy and the associated procedures are up to date. 

In the event of an allegation against one of the Safeguarding Leads, seek advice from the other or contact one of the Nai’s House Trustees. 

7. RELATED POLICIES AND PROCEDURES 

  • Anti-harassment and Bullying 
  • Codes of Behaviour 
  • Data Protection (inc. GDPR) 
  • Health and Safety 
  • Incident Report template
  • Safer Recruitment 
  • Supervision 
  • Whistleblowing 
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