Vulnerable Adults Protection Policy Statement

 

STS Community believes that it is always unacceptable for a vulnerable adult to experience abuse of any kind and recognises its responsibility to safeguard the welfare of all vulnerable adults by a commitment to practice which protects them.

 

We recognise that:

• The health, safety and welfare of vulnerable adults is paramount.

• All vulnerable adults, regardless of disability, sex, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, sexual orientation or identity, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity have the right to equal protection from all types of harm or abuse.

• Working in partnership with vulnerable adults, their parents/guardians, carers and their supporting agencies is essential in promoting vulnerable adult’s welfare.

 

The purpose of the policy:

• To provide protection for the vulnerable adults who receive STS Community services or who are impacted by STS Community actions or omissions, including the children or family of adult members or users.

• To provide protection for staff, volunteers and trustees and provide them with guidance on procedures they should adopt in the event that they suspect a vulnerable adult may be experiencing, or be at risk of harm.

 

This policy applies to all Trustees and Committee members, and volunteers or anyone helping on behalf of or representing STS Community.

 

We will seek to safeguard vulnerable adults by:

• Valuing them, listening to and respecting them.

• Adopting vulnerable adult protection guidelines through procedures and a code of conduct for staff and volunteers.

• Recruiting staff and volunteers safely, ensuring all necessary checks are made and reviewed as appropriate.

• Sharing information about vulnerable adult protection and good practice with the vulnerable adults, parents, staff and volunteers.

• Sharing information about welfare concerns of the vulnerable adult with agencies who need to know, as appropriate.

• Providing effective management of staff and volunteers through supervision, support and training.

 

We are also committed to reviewing our policy and good practice on an annual basis.

 

Aim

All STS Community Trustees, Committee members and volunteers, have a responsibility for safeguarding vulnerable adults.

 

Purpose

To provide advice and guidance to help protect both vulnerable adults and all staff, volunteers, trustees and representatives working with vulnerable adults who may identify abuse and exploitation and may be vulnerable to allegations of misconduct (abuse).

 

Definition of Vulnerable Adults

A vulnerable adult is a person aged 18 years or over who has needs for care and support (whether or not the local authority is meeting any of those needs); and is experiencing, or at risk of, abuse or neglect; and as a result of those care and support needs is unable to protect themselves from either the risk of, or the experience of abuse or neglect.

 

This may include a person who:

• Is elderly and frail.

• Has a mental illness including dementia.

• Has a physical or sensory disability.

• Has a learning disability.

• Has a severe physical illness.

• Has recently experienced a trauma.

• Is a substance misuser.

• Is homeless.

• Is in an abusive relationship.

 

Guidelines for interacting in person with Vulnerable Adults

• No one involved with STS Community should not spend excessive amounts of time alone with vulnerable adults away from others.

• Ratios should be reviewed as part of the risk assessment procedure for each new activity organised.

• STS Community representatives and volunteers must not make unnecessary or inappropriate physical contact with vulnerable adult. However, there may be occasions where physical contact is unavoidable and appropriate. In all cases physical contact should only take place with the consent of the vulnerable adult and kept to the extremities such as hands, head, and shoulders as far as possible. For example, physical contact will normally be necessary when administering first aid. If it is possible first aid should be administered in the presence of another responsible adult. 

• STS Community representatives and volunteers should not take vulnerable adults alone in a car on journeys, however short.

• STS Community representatives and volunteers should not meet with vulnerable adults outside of organised activities unless it is with the knowledge and consent of parents/guardians and the person in charge of the organisation.

• STS Community Trustees do not allow representatives or volunteers to give gifts or to receive gifts from vulnerable adults. However, gifts may be provided by the organisation as part of a planned activity.

• Personal relationships between a member of STS Community or volunteers with a person who is a current member of our online forum is prohibited. This includes relationships through social networking sites. 

 

Sharing information

STS Community is committed to making information about the organisation, its activities and policies easily accessible to volunteers, parents, organisations and anyone else in contact with them.

 

Discussion between Trustees and Committee Members regarding safeguarding issues can be discussed at committee meetings and board meetings.

 

When organising events which may involve vulnerable adults, we will:

• Have a named responsible person for the activity.

• Provide information about the activity, any risk associated with it, and the name of the person to contact in the event of concerns or complaints.

 

Make available to parents / guardians /carers a copy of this information along with relevant guidelines.

• Gain any relevant consent, including consent for emergency medical treatment, from parents / guardians/ carers prior to starting the activity.

• Social media and IT policy must be adhered to at all times.

• All STS Community representatives and volunteers attending any events will have  DBS checks.

 

Professional Practice

STS Community representatives, volunteers and trustees must ensure that they act appropriately at all times including:

• The use of appropriate language.

• Appropriate dress and appearance according to the event or role.

• Acting in an appropriate manner, being an ambassador for STS Community.

 

The following list is an example of inappropriate behaviour, but the list is not exhaustive:

 

• Use of abusive/foul/inappropriate language.

• Inappropriate conversation including giving inappropriate advice.

• Use of punishment or chastisement.

• Passing on service users’ personal contact details.

• Taking family members to a client’s home.

• Selling to or buying items from a service user.

• Accepting responsibility for any valuables on behalf of anyone.

• Accepting money as a gift/ borrowing money from or lending money to service users.

• Accepting gifts/ rewards or hospitality from STS Community as an inducement for either doing/ not doing something in their official capacity.

• Do not engage in any “rough and tumble” or other horseplay.

• Physically restrain or restrict liberty of a vulnerable adult except in exceptional circumstances (i.e. to control or prevent harmful behaviour) and then only use the minimal restraint necessary.

• Allow or engage in inappropriate touching/contact of any kind.

• Not to be inappropriately involved in any personal care of the vulnerable adult.

• Allow anyone to use inappropriate language or behaviour unchallenged.

•  Make sexually suggestive comments.

 

Procedures for reporting suspected abuse

STS Community is responsible for all matters related to safeguarding. Any concerns must be reported to the safeguarding officer or committee members in attendance who have senior responsibility for this.

 

Concerns about vulnerable adults may arise in different situations:

• You may witness or observe something.

• Hear it from others, in person or on the phone, or by email or letter.

• Be told directly.

 

It is everyone’s responsibility to report a concern. The protection of vulnerable adults is the paramount focus and this overrides any loyalty, friendships etc. If an allegation of abuse or breach of safeguarding is made against you, you must inform your line manager immediately.

 

The procedure for reporting disclosures

Should a vulnerable adult disclose abuse:

 

• Let the vulnerable adult know that they have done the right thing (reassurance can have a big impact) and tell them the matter will be taken seriously.

• Remind the vulnerable adult of STS Communities duty around confidentiality and disclosure.

• Listen to the vulnerable adult rather than question them directly. Offer them reassurance without making promises (e.g. about keeping secrets).

• Do not overreact, question or interrogate the vulnerable adult or contact the alleged abuser.

• Never stop a vulnerable adult who is freely recalling significant events.

• Explain clearly what you have to do and whom you have to tell, that it is your responsibility to report what they are disclosing.

• Check your understanding of the situation, without being investigative.

• Record the discussion accurately, as soon as possible after the event.

• If there is a fear of immediate risk or harm to the vulnerable adult, a safeguarding officer, trustee, or committee member must be contacted immediately after the vulnerable adult has finished their disclosure. 

• The representative must make a record of  the disclosure and act  in the best interests of  the vulnerable adult  making  a  referral  to an appropriate authority.

 

It is  neither  the  right  nor  the  role  of  committee members,  volunteers or trustees  of  STS Community to presume innocence or guilt in relation to any disclosure.

 

STS Community will ensure, where possible, if a vulnerable adult wishes to make a disclosure that a same gender listener is offered.

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Recruitment and selection of staff, volunteers & Trustees

 

STS Community recognises that while most people wanting to work with vulnerable adults are well motivated, it is important to have good recruitment and selection practices to help screen out those that are not suitable.

 

To this end we would:

 

• Inform candidates of our commitment to safeguarding those in our care.

• In regards to staff, we may carry out appropriate pre-employment checks (This includes DBS checks, qualification checks, online checks, reference checks and identity checks). We may also follow up references through telephone calls, if deemed appropriate. Gaps in employment history may be explored.

• Have clear job descriptions and person specifications for all paid opportunities and volunteering roles with the organisation.

• Ask all applicants to supply information in writing via an application form. This includes personal details, current work / volunteering experience, any qualifications or skills and a declaration of any, or no, past criminal record.

• Ask for photographic evidence of identity (e.g. passport, driving licence).

• Ask for two appropriate references.

• Meet with all applicants via informal or formal interviews.

 

Management and supervision of staff and volunteers

STS Community commitment to vulnerable adult’s safety includes ensuring that relevant staff and volunteers are supervised and supported in their work with vulnerable adults.