COMMONWEALTH COLLEGE OF EXCELLENCE (CCE)

Safegurding Policy

Safeguarding Adults Policy Statement

This policy will enable Commonwealth College to demonstrate its commitment to keeping safe the vulnerable adults with whom it works alongside. Commonwealth College acknowledges its duty to act appropriately to any allegations, reports or suspicions of abuse.

It is important to have the policy and procedures in place so that staff, volunteers, service users and careers, and management committee can work to prevent abuse and know what to do in the event of abuse.

The Policy Statement and Procedures have been drawn up in order to enable Commonwealth College to:

Promote good practice and work in a way that can prevent harm, abuse and coercion occurring.
To ensure that any allegations of abuse or suspicions are dealt with appropriately and the person experiencing abuse is supported.
And to stop that abuse occurring.

The Policy and Procedures relate to the safeguarding of vulnerable adults. Vulnerable adults are defined as:

People aged 18 or over
Who are receiving or may need community care services because of learning, physical or mental disability, age, or illness
Who are or may be unable to take care of him or herself, or unable to protect him or herself against significant harm or exploitation.

(No Secrets, Department of Health, 2000)

The policy applies to all staff, including senior managers, management committee members, trustees, paid staff, volunteers, seasonal workers, agency staff, students and anyone working on behalf of Commonwealth College.

It is acknowledged that significant numbers of vulnerable adults are abused and it is important that Commonwealth College has a Safeguarding Adults Policy, a set of procedures to follow and puts in place preventative measures to try and reduce those numbers.

In order to implement the policy the Commonwealth College will work:

To promote the freedom and dignity of the person who has or is experiencing abuse
To promote the rights of all people to live free from abuse and coercion
To ensure the safety and well being of people who do not have the capacity to decide how they want
To respond to abuse that they are experiencing
To manage services in a way which promotes safety and prevents abuse
Recruit staff and volunteers safely, ensuring all necessary checks are made
Provide effective management for staff and volunteers through supervision, support and training

Commonwealth College

Will ensure that all management committee members, trustees, staff, volunteers, service users, and carers/families are familiar with this policy and procedures
Will work with other agencies within the framework of the Newcastle Safeguarding Adults Board Policy and Procedures, issued under No Secrets guidance (Department of Health, 2000)
Will act within it’s confidentiality policy and will usually gain permission from service users before sharing information about them with another agency
Will pass information to Adult and Culture Services when more than one person is at risk. For example: if the concern relates to a worker, volunteer or organisation who provides a service to vulnerable adults or children
Will inform service users that where a person is in danger, a child is at risk or a crime has been committed then a decision may be taken to pass information to another agency without the service user’s consent
Will make a referral to the Adult Social Care Direct team as appropriate
Will endeavour to keep up to date with national developments relating to preventing abuse and welfare of adults
Will ensure that the Designated Named Person understands his/her responsibility to refer incidents of adult abuse to the relevant statutory agencies (Police/Adult and Culture Services Directorate)

The Designated Named Person for Safeguarding Adults in Commonwealth College is Admin Manager.

Procedures

Introduction

Commonwealth College provides a Education service to Adult people. These procedures have been designed to ensure the welfare and protection of any adult who accesses services provided by Commonwealth College. The procedures recognise that adult abuse can be a difficult subject for workers to deal with. Commonwealth College is committed to the belief that the protection of vulnerable adults from harm and abuse is everybody’s responsibility and the aim of these procedures is to ensure that all managers, trustees of the organisation, management committee members, staff and volunteers act appropriately in response to any concern around adult abuse.

Preventing abuse

Commonwealth College is committed to putting in place safeguards and measures to reduce the likelihood of abuse taking place within the services it offers and that all those involved within Commonwealth College will be treated with respect.

Therefore this policy needs to be read in conjunction with the following policies:

Equal Rights and Diversity
Volunteers
Complaints
Whistle Blowing
Confidentiality
Disciplinary and Grievance
Data Protection
Recruitment and Selection
Any other policies which are relevant that the organisation has in place (e.g. Challenging Behaviour, Handling Money)

Commonwealth College is committed to safer recruitment policies and practices for paid staff, trustees and volunteers. This may include CRB disclosures for staff and volunteers, ensuring references are taken up and adequate training on Safeguarding Adults is provided for staff and volunteers.

Management committee members/trustees will be required to provide two references and where appropriate have a Criminal Records Bureau disclosure.

The organisation will work within the current legal framework for reporting staff or volunteers that are abusers.

Service users will be encouraged to become involved with the running of the organisation. Information will be available about abuse and the complaints policy.

Recognising the signs and symptoms of abuse

Commonwealth College is committed to ensuring that all staff, the management committee, trustees and volunteers undertake training to gain a basic awareness of signs and symptoms of abuse. Commonwealth College will ensure that the Designated Named Person and other members of staff, trustees and volunteers have access to training around Safeguarding Adults.

“Abuse is a violation of an individual’s human and civil rights by any other person or persons” (No Secrets: Department of Health, 2000)

Abuse includes:

physical abuse: including hitting, slapping, punching, burning, misuse of medication, inappropriate restraint
sexual abuse: including rape, indecent assault, inappropriate touching, exposure to pornographic material
psychological or emotional abuse: including belittling, name calling, threats of harm, intimidation, isolation
financial or material abuse: including stealing, selling assets, fraud, misuse or misappropriation of property, possessions or benefits
neglect and acts of omission: including withholding the necessities of life such as medication, food or warmth, ignoring medical or physical care needs
discriminatory abuse: including racist, sexist, that based on a person’s disability and other forms of harassment, slurs or similar treatment
institutional or organisational: including regimented routines and cultures, unsafe practices, lack of person-centred care or treatment

Abuse may be carried out deliberately or unknowingly. Abuse may be a single act or repeated acts.
People who behave abusively come from all backgrounds and walks of life. They may be doctors, nurses, social workers, advocates, staff members, volunteers or others in a position of trust. They may also be relatives, friends, neighbours or people who use the same services as the person experiencing abuse.

Designated Named Person for safeguarding adults

Commonwealth College has an appointed individual who is responsible for dealing with any Safeguarding Adults concerns. In their absence, a deputy will be available for workers to consult with.
The Designated Named Person(s) for Safeguarding Adults within Commonwealth College is Admin Manager.

The roles and responsibilities of the named person(s) are:

To ensure that all staff including volunteers and trustees are aware of what they should do and who they should go to if they have concerns that a vulnerable adult may be experiencing, or has experienced abuse or neglect.
To ensure that concerns are acted on, clearly recorded and referred to an Adult Social Care Direct team or to the allocated social worker/care manager where necessary.
To follow up any referrals and ensure the issues have been addressed.
Consider any recommendations from the Safeguarding Adults process
To reinforce the utmost need for confidentiality and to ensure that staff and volunteers are adhering to good practice with regard to confidentiality and security. This is because it is around the time that a person starts to challenge abuse that the risks of increasing intensity of abuse are greatest.
To ensure that staff and volunteers working directly with service users who have experienced abuse, or who are experiencing abuse, are well supported and receive appropriate supervision.
If appropriate staff or volunteers will be given support and afforded protection if necessary under the Public Interest Disclosure Act 1998: they will be dealt with in a fair and equitable manner and they will be kept informed of any action that has been taken and it’s outcome

Responding to people who have experienced or are experiencing abuse

Commonwealth College recognises that it has a duty to act on reports, or suspicions of abuse or neglect. It also acknowledges that taking action in cases of adult abuse is never easy.

How to respond if you receive an allegation:

Reassure the person concerned
Listen to what they are saying
Record what you have been told/witnessed as soon as possible
Remain calm and do not show shock or disbelief
Tell them that the information will be treated seriously
Don’t start to investigate or ask detailed or probing questions
Don’t promise to keep it a secret

If you witness abuse or abuse has just taken place the priorities will be:

To call an ambulance if required
To call the police if a crime has been committed
To preserve evidence
To keep yourself, staff, volunteers and service users safe
To inform the Designated Named Person in your organisation

All situations of abuse or alleged abuse will be discussed with the Designated Named Person or their deputy. If a member of the management committee, a trustee, staff member or volunteer feels unable to raise this concern with the Designated Named Person or their deputy then concerns can be raised directly with Adult Social Care Direct. The alleged victim will be told that this will happen. This stage is called the alert.

If it is appropriate and there is consent from the individual, or there is a good reason to override consent, such as risk to others, a referral (alert) will be made to Adult Social Care Direct team.

If the individual experiencing abuse does not have capacity to consent a referral will be made without that person’s consent, in their best interests. The Designated Named Person may take advice at the above stage from Adult Social Care Direct and/or the Safeguarding Adults Unit and/or other advice giving organisations such as Police.

Managing allegation made against member of staff or volunteer

Commonwealth College will ensure that any allegations made against members or member of staff will be dealt with swiftly.

Where a member of staff/volunteer is thought to have committed a criminal offence the police will be informed. If a crime has been witnessed the police should be contacted immediately.

The safety of the individual(s) concerned is paramount. A risk assessment must be undertaken immediately to assess the level of risk to all service users posed by the alleged perpetrator. This will include whether it is safe for them to continue in their role or any other role within the service whilst the investigation is undertaken.

The Designated Named Person will liaise with Adult Social Care Direct to discuss the best course of action and to ensure that the Commonwealth College’s disciplinary procedures are coordinated with any other enquiries taking place as part of the ongoing management of the allegation.

Commonwealth College has a whistle blowing policy and the staff is aware of this policy. Staff will be supported to use this policy.

Recording and managing confidential information

Commonwealth College is committed to maintaining confidentiality wherever possible and information around Safeguarding Adults issues should be shared only with those who need to know. For further information, please see Commonwealth College’s confidentiality policy.

The information that is recorded will be kept secure and will comply with data protection.

This information will be secured in a locked filing cabinet in the organisation. Access to this information will be restricted to the Designated Named Person.

Date of next review: May, 2025