Adult Safeguarding Policy

Adult Safeguarding Policy for Rainbow Pooch Pride

Introduction:

Rainbow Pooch Pride believes in protecting an adult’s right to live in safety, free from abuse, and neglect. This policy is to make sure that Rainbow Pooch Pride has all the right things in place to protect and safeguard adults who engage with the organisation. For the purposes of this policy, the term adult at risk refers to someone who:

  • is aged 18 years and over 
  • is or may be in need of community care services because of frailty, learning or physical or sensory disability or mental health issues 
  • is or may be unable to take care of themselves, or take steps to protect themselves from significant harm or exploitation

At risk’ means that even if abuse, neglect, or other kinds of harm have not actually occurred, they are likely to occur without support from services. 

Rainbow Pooch Pride currently does not work with anyone under 18 years of age.

This policy and related procedures are applicable to the management committee, freelancers/contractors, volunteers, and members of Rainbow Pooch Pride. Individuals should be made aware of how this policy can be accessed, and have an understanding that failure to comply with the policy (and related procedures) will be addressed without delay and may ultimately result in dismissal/exclusion from the organisation.

Key Principles of Adult Safeguarding:                   

In the safeguarding of adults, Rainbow Pooch Pride is guided by principles set out in The Care Act 2014. Rainbow Pooch Pride aims to demonstrate and promote these six principles in our work: 

    • Empowerment – People being supported and encouraged to make their own decisions and informed consent.
    • Prevention – It is better to take action before harm occurs.
    • Proportionality – The least intrusive response appropriate to the risk presented. 
    • Protection – Support and representation for those in greatest need. 
    • Partnership – Local solutions through services working with their communities. Communities have a part to play in preventing, detecting and reporting neglect and abuse.
  • Accountability – Accountability and transparency in delivering safeguarding.

Designated Safeguarding Person (DSP)

Rainbow Pooch Pride believes safeguarding adults at risk is paramount, and strives to keep all adults safe by appointing a nominated Designated Safeguarding Person (DSP). This ensures that all who are associated with Rainbow Pooch Pride have direct access to specialist advice and are able to discuss concerns about any adult at risk. Everyone within the organisation should understand what to do, and where to go to get help, support and advice.

The DSP will know whether to raise a safeguarding concern with the local authority and will manage any immediate actions to ensure the individual at risk is safe from abuse. They are accountable for: 

  • Ensuring compliance with Rainbow Pooch Pride’s safeguarding policies and procedures in order to safeguard adults at risk. 
  • Reporting to the management committee on relevant safeguarding matters. 
  • Promoting a culture and environment whereby all those who work with Rainbow Pooch Pride and engage in Rainbow Pooch Pride’s activities are able to raise concerns and understand their safeguarding responsibilities. 
  • Ensuring that appropriate policies, training and support are in place so that people are suitable to act in their roles. 
  • Ensuring that all those who work with Rainbow Pooch Pride know to recognise and record concerns, plus that there is a clear system of referring or reporting safeguarding concerns and disclosures. 
  • Ensuring that there is ongoing monitoring and review of safeguarding implementation at Rainbow Pooch Pride, and building a culture of learning and improvement in safeguarding practice. 
  • Communicating any changes in policy and procedures to staff.

Recognising the signs of abuse: 

Recognising harm, or risk of harm, can be complicated. It is not Rainbow Pooch Pride’s responsibility to decide whether harm has occurred, but it is our responsibility to look out for signs of abuse and harm and act if there are any concerns. A safeguarding concern may arise in several ways:

  • You may witness abuse or harm taking place.
  • An adult at risk or other person may tell you that they have suffered abuse or harm, or are fearful of suffering abuse or harm.
  • You may notice behaviour which gives rise to a suspicion that an adult at risk has been harmed or is at risk of harm. 

Types of abuse: 

Types of abuse include:

    • Physical abuse: including hitting, slapping, punching, burning, misuse of medication, inappropriate restraint. 
    • Domestic abuse: including psychological, physical, sexual, financial, or emotional abuse. It also covers so-called ‘honour’-based violence. 
    • Sexual abuse: including rape, indecent assault, inappropriate touching, exposure to pornographic material, abuse of a position of trust. 
    • Psychological or emotional abuse: including belittling, name-calling, threats of harm, intimidation, coercive control, isolation, and ‘conversion’ therapy. 
    • Bullying, harassment, cyber bullying or discriminatory abuse: including racist, sexist, biphobic, homophobic, transphobic abuse; abuse based on a person’s disability and/or other protected characteristics, and other forms of harassment; slurs or similar treatment. 
    • Criminal exploitation: including by criminal gangs and organised crime groups such as county lines, trafficking, online abuse, sexual exploitation and the influences of extremism leading to radicalisation. 
    • Financial or material abuse: including stealing, selling assets, fraud, misuse or misappropriation of property, possessions or benefits. 
    • Modern slavery: covering slavery (including domestic slavery), human trafficking and forced labour. Traffickers and slave masters use whatever they can to pressurise, deceive and force individuals into a life of abuse and inhumane treatment. 
    • Neglect and acts of omission: including withholding the necessities of life such as medication, food or warmth; ignoring medical or physical care needs. 
    • Self-neglect: covering a wide range of behaviour which shows that someone isn’t caring for their own personal hygiene, health or surroundings. It includes behaviour such as hoarding. 
    • Institutional or organisational abuse: including regimented routines and cultures, unsafe practices, lack of person-centred care or treatment. 
  • Female genital mutilation, forced marriage, and other ‘honour-based’ violence.
  • Radicalisation: including violent extremism and terrorism. Vulnerable adults can be at risk of exploitation by extremist or terrorist ideologies. 

This list is not exhaustive; abuse is any language or behaviour that causes mental, emotional or physical harm to the person against which it is perpetrated.  

Disclosure of suicidal behaviour: 

Where an adult clearly expresses suicidal thoughts and intentions and/or discloses recent suicide behaviours, they will be considered an adult at risk and a safeguarding concern form will be submitted for consideration of disclosure to the relevant authority. Wherever possible, we will do this with the consent of the adult at risk, by supporting them to seek help from mental health services. However, we will always raise a concern and disclose risk of suicide to the relevant authorities, whether or not consent is given.

Reporting Concerns: 

Early sharing of information is the key to providing an effective response where there are emerging concerns. Rainbow Pooch Pride expects that any person on the management committee, freelancer/contractor, volunteer, or member who becomes aware that an adult is at risk must:

  1. Record without delay what the adult has said (using their exact words), and the circumstances in which they made the allegation or communicated the information that resulted in the concern being raised. 
  2. Contact the organisation’s Designated Safeguarding Person (DSP) immediately (and no later than 24 hours after recording the concern). If the DSP is not available, or the DSP is implicated or may have a conflict of interest in relation to the concern, concerns should be reported to the Deputy DSP.   
  3. Record the date, time, place, and people who were present using the Adult at Risk Report Sheet, upload it to the secure database, and inform the DSP immediately to say that you have done so.
  4. Following this the DSP will determine the actions required and, if appropriate, report the concern to social services/police. 

When reporting, individuals must be sure to separate fact from opinion and should never report directly to social services without going through the DSP or Deputy DSP. 

Recording and Record Keeping:

A written record must be kept about any concern regarding an adult with safeguarding needs. This must include details of the person involved, the nature of the concern and the actions taken, decisions made and why they were made. All records must be signed, dated, and be securely and confidentially stored in line with General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR). 

Confidentiality and Information Sharing: 

Rainbow Pooch Pride expects all management committee members, volunteers, individuals paid to deliver services for Rainbow Pooch Pride and members to maintain confidentiality in accordance with the General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR) and Data Protection. However, information should be shared with the Local Authority if an adult is deemed to be at risk of harm or contact the police if they are in immediate danger, or a crime has been committed. 

Limits to Confidentiality

All people associated with Rainbow Pooch Pride are made aware of Rainbow Pooch Pride’s limits to confidentiality for the purpose of safeguarding and should not make promises about holding information confidentially. Where possible, Rainbow Pooch Pride will always aim to seek consent from the individual and work in collaboration with the individual. However, in some circumstances, it may be considered that reporting would put the client at further risk of harm, and therefore the DSP may work further with the individual on ways to provide support that is appropriate to the circumstances. Where a decision is made not to seek consent from the adult, relevant circumstances for this decision must be recorded and could include:

  • the possibility that the adult would be put at further risk
  • the possibility that an adult would be threatened or otherwise coerced into silence
  • the possibility that important evidence would be destroyed/lost
  • if a carer or family member is identified as the alleged abuser
  • where there is a duty to report
  • the individual lacks capacity to consent
  • if, by not sharing the information, that adult is likely to be at risk of serious harm
  • other people may be at risk
  • the suspicion that a crime has been committed
  • when there are concerns about a failure in care and a breach of regulation or professional conduct organisational or institutional abuse, or allegations against a practitioner
  • where it appears that the individual is under the undue influence of another individual

Is there a Person in a Position of Trust Involved?

In any instance of safeguarding, consideration must be given as to whether an allegation has been made against a Person in a Position of Trust (PiPoT) and who may be a risk to others. In such cases the Management Committee should be informed in writing at ????

Whistleblowing:

Rainbow Pooch Pride is committed to ensuring that employees and volunteers who, in good faith, whistle-blow in the public interest, will be protected from reprisals and victimisation. 

Safe Recruitment & Selection:

Rainbow Pooch Pride is committed to safe employment and safe recruitment practices that reduce the risk of harm to adults with care and support needs from people unsuitable to work with them. All freelancers, contractors, and volunteers are treated on an equal footing, subject to a DBS police check to ensure their suitability for working with vulnerable adults, and undergo safeguarding training during induction that is renewed annually.

Training and Awareness:

Rainbow Pooch Pride will ensure an appropriate level of safeguarding training is available to its management committee, freelancers/contractors, volunteers, members, and any relevant persons linked to the organisation who requires it.

For all individuals who are working or volunteering with adults at risk this requires them as a minimum to have awareness training that enables them to: 

  • Understand what safeguarding is and their role in safeguarding adults.
  • Recognise an adult potentially in need of safeguarding and take action.
  • Understand how to report a safeguarding alert.
  • Understand dignity and respect when working with individuals.
  • Have knowledge of the Safeguarding Adults Policy.

Mental Capacity Act 2005:

The Mental Capacity Act 2005 defines someone as lacking capacity if, because of an illness or disability such as a mental health problem, dementia or a learning disability, they cannot do one or more of the following four things:

Rainbow Pooch Pride will need to involve an advocate if the person lacks capacity to make decisions about a safeguarding concern. 

Should anyone have concerns regarding an adult’s capacity, support and guidance will be sought from:

Birmingham Safeguarding Adults (England)

Wales Safeguarding Procedures (Wales)

Social Media:

All employees, volunteers and members should be aware of Rainbow Pooch Pride’s Values and the Code of Conduct for behaviour towards the adults we support.

Legislation and guidance that applies to this policy:

The Care Act 2014 and The Care Act 2014 Statutory Guidance

Sexual Offences Act 2003

Mental Capacity Act 2005 and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards

Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006

Disclosure and Barring Service 2013

Making Safeguarding Personal Guide 2014

Human Right Act 1998

Adult Support and Protection (Scotland) Act 2007

Adult Safeguarding: Prevention and Protection in Partnership 2015

Adult Safeguarding Operational Procedures 2016

Family Homes and Domestic Violence (NI) Order 1998 

The Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups (NI) Order 2007 

Justice Act (Northern Ireland) 2015 

Related Policies and Procedures

Health and Safety Policy

Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion Policy

Volunteering Policy

Data Protection Policy

Code of Conduct 

Confidentiality Statement

Important Contacts:

Designated Senior Person for Safeguarding
Name: Georgina Biggs
Email address: hello@rainbowpoochpride.com
Telephone number: 07812 398361

Deputy Senior Person for Safeguarding
Name: Jennie Walker 

Email address: NEED DIFFERENT

External Support for Safeguarding Persons:

  • Police
    Emergency – 999
    Non-emergency – 101

0808 2000 247

Helpline 24-hour helpline for advice on child protection matters for professionals and adults – 0808 800 5000 

Advice can be sought from NSPCC if the Rainbow Pooch Pride whistleblowing procedure has not resolved the concern:

Whistleblowing advice line (external) – 0800 028 0285

  • The UK Safer Internet Centre – Provides advice for professionals and responds to reports about sexual abuse images of children online – 0844 381 4772 
  • Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre (CEOP) Investigates inappropriate online behaviour, such as grooming online or sexual exploitation – 0870 000 3344 
  • Internet Watch Foundation removes images of child sexual abuse content and criminally obscene content online – 01223 203030 
  • Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) – Advice line for criminal records checks – 03000 200 190 
  • Cardiff Adult Safeguarding Team 0808 8808 8141 / 029 2078 8570 (Emergency duty officer if call is outside office hours)
  • Birmingham Safeguarding Adults – https://www.bsab.org/contact
  • Adults Social Care (England): https://www.gov.uk/report-abuse-of-older-person 
  • Local authority Children’s Social Care (England): https://www.gov.uk/report-child-abuse-to-local-council 
  • Gov.wales https://gov.wales/safeguarding-guidance
  • Welsh Local Authorities https://www.safeguarding.wales/en/
  • Local Safeguarding Boards (Wales):

Reporting suspected abuse, harm or neglect (safeguarding) | GOV.WALES