Safeguarding

• What does safeguarding mean?

  Safeguarding refers to the actions taken to protect a service users

  health and well-being to ensure they are not at risk of harm, danger

  or abuse.
• Who needs safeguarding?

  • Vunerable groups (such as homeless people)
  • children
  • people with physical disabilities
  • people with learning difficulties
  • people with mental health difficulties
  • older adults in residential care settings
  • children and elderly people in residential care who depend on carers
  • people who have a sensory impairment - sight loss, hearing loss
• Vulnerable groups

  Vulnerable groups include individuals such as homeless people.

  Homeless people need safeguarding because:

  • they may stay/sleep in unsafe places, e.g. they may be at risk of robbery, being physically abused, being exposed to dangers such as sharps and dirty environments
  • they may be isolated, e.g. from accessing health services, from family/friends, from accessing their local community.
• Children

  Children need safeguarding because:

  • they are totally dependent on their carers to have their physical, intellectual, language and emotional needs met when they are young their understanding of danger is limited.
• People with physical disabilities

  People with physical disabilities need safeguarding because:

  • They depend on others for their care or support
  • As such, they may be reluctant to report an abuser because they may fear they will lose their care or the abuser will get into trouble.
• People with learning disabilities

  People with learning disabilities need safeguarding because:

  • they may not understand dangers/risks that exist and because of their disability
  • they may also not be able to express that abuse is happening to them.
• People with mental health conditions

  People with mental health conditions need safeguarding because as

  part of their condition they may experience:

  • memory difficulties and be unable to recall whether they have been harmed or abused
  • false beliefs and hallucinations and therefore may not be believed by others about what has happened.
• Older adults in residential care settings

  Older adults in residential care settings need safeguarding because:

  • they may be frail and/or have poor mobility and be unable to defend themselves from others who try to harm them and may be more likely to fall, trip and/or slip
  • they may be living in settings that are poorly managed and/or lack resources and that are subject to poor working practices, with care provided by practitioners who may be stressed and over-worked.
• People who have a sensory impairment – sight loss, hearing loss

  People who have a sensory impairment need safeguarding because:

  • due to their impairment they may be targeted by an abuser and taken advantage of because they may be perceived as being unable to defend themselves or communicate what has happened
  • they may have difficulties moving around in settings and in unfamiliar environments and will not be aware of the dangers that exist.
• People in residential care dependent on carers – children, older adults

  People in residential care who are dependent on carers may need

  safeguarding because:

  • as they depend on others for their care, they may be reluctant to report an abuser because they may fear they will lose their care or the abuser will get into trouble
  • they may be living in settings where they are isolated from their families and friends and may not be visited regularly and so they may be targeted as there is less likelihood that anyone will recognise them being harmed/abused.
• Impacts for service users of a lack of safeguarding

  The impacts for service users if safeguarding is

  lacking can be:

  • Physical
  • Intellectual
  • Emotional
  • Social

  Remember the acronym PIES
• Intellectual impacts - lack of safeguarding

  • poor concentration due to feeling fearful and/or anxious about not being able to manage as a result of abuse such as emotional, financial, physical abuse
  • inability to make own decisions and choices due to an individual’s rights being denied to live safely and free from abuse and to access healthcare
  • confusion, inability to think logically due to neglect by others, such as malnutrition, untreated injuries and illnesses.
• Emotional impacts - lack of safeguarding

  • Low self-esteem, feeling under-confident and frustrated due to not being treated as an individual who has their own opinion and unique needs and preferences and fear of not being able to manage.
  • Feeling anxious, distressed, becoming upset easily due to being hurt, teased or humiliated.
  • Becoming withdrawn and fearful due to being in the presence of those who don’t safeguard them from danger, neglect, harm and abuse.
• Social impacts - lack of safeguarding

  • becoming withdrawn from socialising with others such as family and friends due to becoming isolated from others
  • fear of involvement by others such as practitioners and services due to having a poor experience of care
  • feeling anxious speaking to others due to low self-esteem and/or lack of trust in others such as practitioners.
• What safeguarding procedures are in care settings?

  Safeguarding Policy

  Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL)
• What is a Designated safeguarding Lead (DSL)

  Person with responsibility for safeguarding and the named individual

  who is the first point of contact for staff in a care setting if they have any concerns about an individual or need any advice about a safeguarding matter.

  What does a Designated Safeguarding Lead do?

  A Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) takes on extra responsibilities for safeguarding service users in care settings.
• Benefits of a DSL

  • someone to answer staff questions; give accurate advice
  • qualified to give support and advice
  • ensures staff will be working within the law and providing
  • appropriate care and support
• What is a safeguarding policy?

  A safeguarding policy makes it clear what the health, social care or

  early years setting will do to keep service users safe and to respond to safeguarding concerns.

  A safeguarding policy sets out the steps that will be taken to ensure

  service users are kept safe, such as carrying out checks when recruiting staff and providing staff training.
• Benefits of a safeguarding policy

  • guides staff in procedures to follow
  • gives staff confidence as they know the correct way to deal with safeguarding issues/situations
  • staff will know the current practices in safeguarding and protecting individuals
• What are the common safeguarding issues in adult care environments?

  • Maladministration of medication – late, incorrect dosage, inappropriate (sedatives)
  • Pressure sores
  • Falls – not being risk assessed, walking aids not provided
  • Poor nutritional care – chewing/swallowing problems, religious needs
  • Lack of social interaction – no stimulation, activities, opportunities to socialise
  • Physical abuse – between residents or staff and residents
  • Financial abuse – theft, inappropriately accepting gifts
  • Institutional abuse – poor routines result in poor care e.g. forcing people to bed
• Safeguarding training for all staff in care settings:

  • is a legal requirement to ensure children and adults are kept safe and protected from abuse, harm and neglect
  • helps staff know how to respond to safeguarding incidents when they arise.
• Safeguarding training is important for all staff so they-

  • Are aware of their duty to report a serious concern
  • Know the care settings procedures for reporting a disclosure of abuse or serious concern
  • Can recognise possible signs of abuse or harm
  • Know who to report to
• 5 R's

  • Recognise: possible signs of abuse or harm
  • Respond: listen, reassure, inform
  • Report: To DSL urgently
  • Record: Notes and quotes
  • Refer: DSL will investigate and contact police if necessary
• Safeguarding training – Recognise signs of abuse or harm

  All staff should be able to recognise possible signs of abuse or harm.

  However, sometimes it may be a direct disclosure from a service user.

  Consequences can include:

  • the abuse/harm/neglect continuing and/or worsening
  • the service user being placed in danger
  • the service user’s wellbeing worsening.
• Safeguarding training – Respond

  The issue MUST be reported, whether it’s a specific concern raised by the service user or just suspicion

  DO NOT ask questions

  Reassure them they have done the right thing

  Inform them their concerns must be recorded and passed on

  Consequences can include:

  • the abuse/harm/neglect continuing
  • the service user being placed in danger
  • evidence of the abuse/harm/neglect being compromised.
• Safeguarding training – Report

  Report your concerns urgently to the DSL, it is their responsibility to then take further action

  Consequences can include:

  • the abuse/harm/neglect continuing (e.g. if the staff member reports to the wrong person or to the abuser)
• Safeguarding training – Record

  The DSL will record the concern, including direct quotes. They may include notes on their physical and emotional state

  Consequences can include:

  • placing the service user in danger, as well as the staff member facing action from their employer and other authorities, e.g. the police.
• Safeguarding training – Refer

  The DSL will refer the incident to the necessary agency

  The other safeguarding partners are:

  Police

  Social care

  Health

  Consequences can include:

  • the abuse/harm/neglect continuing
  • Legal action against the service provider
• Benefits of safeguarding training

  • will equip staff with current knowledge of up-to-date practices in supporting and protecting individuals
  • training raises awareness of safeguarding issues best practice is shared
  • having regular meetings can create an open environment where concerns can be raised
• Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks

  A DBS check is:

  • a record of a person’s criminal convictions and cautions
  • a legal requirement for staff working with service users in health and social care settings to ensure they do not pose a danger/risk.
  • has to be completed by all staff within health and social care settings to help
  • to prevent unsuitable people working with vulnerable adults or with children.

  The minimum age at which someone can be asked to apply for a DBS check is 16.
• Disclosure and Barring Service checks

  There are three different levels of checks:

  Standard check

  Enhanced check

  Enhanced DBS check with Children’s and/or Adults’ Barred List check
• Standard check

  A Standard check provides details of spent and unspent convictions, cautions, final warnings and reprimands.

  A Standard DBS check is suitable for certain roles, such as a security guard.
• Enhanced check

  An Enhanced check provides the same information as a Standard

  check but can also include non-conviction information that the

  police believe is relevant to the workforce applied for and ought to

  be disclosed.

  An Enhanced check is only applied for when the person works with

  children and/or adults.

  Only an employer or recruiter can apply for an Enhanced DBS check,

  via an organisation registered with DBS (known as a Registered

  Body).
• Enhanced DBS check with Children’s and/or Adults’ Barred List check

  An Enhanced DBS check with Children’s and/or Adults’ Barred List

  check provides the same information as an Enhanced check and

  includes a check of the Children’s Barred List, which is a list of

  individuals recorded as being unsuitable for working with children

  or vulnerable adults