What to do if abuse of an adult at risk is suspected, including how to raise concerns

You should know what to do and how to respond if you suspect abuse, or if abuse is disclosed or made known to you. All suspicions have to be followed up in a formal way. It is your responsibility to respond to allegations or suspicions in line with Active’s safeguarding policy and procedure and whistleblowing procedure.

In an emergency situation you must take action to protect the safety and wellbeing of the individual. If they need medical assistance you should call for a suitably qualified worker, or dial 999 for an ambulance. If you suspect the injuries are not accidental, staff need to inform their manager immediately and preserve evidence that could be used in a criminal case. If an offence has been committed, it may be necessary to contact the police and a safeguarding investigation may need to be started immediately.

When abuse or neglect has taken place, it needs to be dealt with quickly and efficiently. Information about the safety and welfare of an individual must be shared with your line manager. It is important that you take matters further if your manager has failed to deal with it.

Report all concerns as soon as possible, so action can be taken ASAP to keep people safe

Designated Person for Safeguarding Adults

Active Social Care Limited has a designated person who is responsible for dealing with any Safeguarding Adults concerns. In their absence, a deputy will be available for workers to consult with. The named person(s) for Safeguarding Adults within Active Social Care Limited is/are:
 
Designated Person for Safeguarding Adults: Daisy Hall
Telephone number: 01484 544100 ext. 205
Email: [email protected]
 
Deputy Designated Person for Safeguarding Adults: Karen Pogson
Telephone number: 01484 544100
Email: [email protected]

If staff witness or suspect abuse is occurring they will need to complete the following form: Record of an allegation of suspected abuse. This form details step by step what information is required and it needs to be signed by a manager. This form allows Active to investigate any allegation of suspected abuse.

Record of an allegation of suspected abuse.

• Listen to what the person says
• Write down the exact words the person used when they disclosed it to you
• Do not bombard them with questions: listen to what they say. If you need to ask a question, make sure it’s an open one e.g. what happened? Closed questions usually have a one word answer such as Yes or No
• Make sure your record distinguishes between fact and opinion
• Record should be written in permanent ink and not pencil

Name of Client involved:

Name of person making the disclosure:

Relationship to client:

Does Active have their contact details?

Date and time the disclosure was made:

Date and time reported to Senior Staff Member:

Use to answer question 10.3a   of the Care Certificate

Details of the disclosure

What happened?

When did it happen? Where did it happen?

Who may be the perpetrator?

Did anyone else see it happen or know about it?

Signature of person to whom the disclosure was made:

Signature of Manager:

Where concerns have arisen within an organisation that provides care and support, the concern will usually be raised by the Designated Person for Safeguarding. This should happen immediately where it is urgent and serious, and on the same working day in relation to all other concerns.

Any person can raise their concerns with the local authority. This means that the adult experiencing abuse or neglect can raise their concerns themselves, but so can their friends, family members, unpaid carers, other members of the public, paid carers, professionals and organisations.

Essential Local Safeguarding Contacts

Designated person for Safeguarding Adults: Daisy Hall
Telephone: 01484 544100 ext. 205
Email: [email protected]

Deputy person for Safeguarding Adults: Karen Pogson
Telephone: 01484 544100
Email: [email protected]
 
Designated person for Safeguarding Children: Sarah Ellis
Telephone: 01422 361802
Email: [email protected]

Deputy person for Safeguarding Children: Daisy Hall 
Telephone: 01484 544100 ext. 205
Email: [email protected]

Adults Services Contact Details

Kirklees Safeguarding Team via Gateway to Care

Telephone: 01484 223000   Out of Hours Emergency: 01924 326489

Bradford Adult Protection Unit

Telephone: 01274 434442

Calderdale Gateway to Care

Telephone: 0845 11 11 103  Emergency Duty Team 0845 11 11 137

When abuse or neglect has taken place, it needs to be dealt with quickly and efficiently. All staff have:

• A duty to be proactive to prevent harm and abuse and to be ever vigilant and aware of the potential for abuse and harm
• A duty to report a concern: this includes reporting any concern without delay, using the correct procedure
• A duty to work collaboratively: this includes providing those investigating any alleged abuse with the information they require; attending safeguarding meetings and putting no barriers in the way of progressing the investigation
• A duty to involve the person who has or has allegedly been abused or could experience abuse if measures are not put into place to safeguard them: this involves enabling and supporting a person to raise a concern; supporting people through the process; involving them as far as they are able in the making of decisions arising out of the investigation with regards to managing their safety.

Raising a Safeguarding Concern means reporting your concerns that a person over 18 years of age:

• has or may have needs for care and support (whether or not the local authority is meeting any of those needs),
• is experiencing, or is at risk of, abuse or neglect, and
• as a result of those needs is unable to protect himself or herself against the abuse or neglect or the risk of it.