Safeguarding
Vulnerable Adults Policy
Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility
Purpose
Immediate risk
If we feel from our conversation that you may be at risk as a vulnerable person, we may suggest that we help you obtain support.
• We will suggest you go to A/E or phone 999
• We will signpost you to appropriate agencies or helplines with your consent
• If we consider you or another person to be at imminent risk of harm we may contact other agencies on your behalf. We will always try to seek your consent first. This will be by exception and only after trustee approval is given.
Volunteer support
Volunteers must:
• be alert to potential indicators of abuse or neglect;
• be alert to the risks which individual abusers, or potential abusers, may pose to vulnerable adults;
• share and help to analyse information, where this is permitted, so that an assessment can be made of the individual’s needs and circumstances;
• contribute to whatever actions are needed to safeguard and promote the individual’s welfare;
Confidental recognises that it is the responsibility of each one of its staff, Trustees and Volunteers to prevent the neglect, physical, sexual or emotional abuse of vulnerable adults and to report, where permitted, any abuse discovered or suspected.
Confidental recognises its responsibility to implement, maintain and regularly review procedures, which are designed to prevent and to be alert to such abuse.
Confidental is committed to supporting, resourcing and training those who work with vulnerable adults and to providing supervision.
ConfIdental is a totally confidential listening and signposting service. Volunteers will maintain their anonymity and not disclose their identity to callers. Volunteers will never call a caller back if the caller discloses their number.
For reasons of consistency and practicality, the charity’s procedures for safeguarding vulnerable adults will be the same as those for safeguarding children and young people (qv) except where the law, or the specific circumstances of an individual’s need require otherwise.
The current safeguarding Lead is John Lewis who should be contacted in connection with the operation of this Policy on 07917881147
ConfiDental Safeguarding Statement
Safeguarding is a fundamental part of ConfiDental’s work and this commitment is reflected the values of our organisation, which inform and support all of our safeguarding activity:
• We are respectful
• We treat others as they would want to be treated
• We are inclusive
Guiding Principles
Everyone’s responsibility – Everyone at ConfiDental has a responsibility to keep volunteers and callers who need care and support safe from abuse and neglect.
Prevention – We will put sensible measures in place to prevent abuse, including the use of safe recruitment practices, promoting safe working practice and raising awareness of safeguarding.
Protection – We will provide policy, procedures, information and training to enable all ConfiDental volunteers to identify and respond appropriately to concerns about abuse.
Partnership – ConfiDental will work in Partnership with statutory, regulatory and other relevant organisations to ensure that safeguarding concerns are responded to appropriately.
Accountability – We aim to be transparent in our approaches and recognise the need for continuous learning and improvement.
Roles and Responsibilities
All staff and volunteers
Every individual working for and with ConfiDental, irrespective of their role, has a part to play in safeguarding callers who need care and support. All staff will undertake training and must familiarise themselves with our Safeguarding Policy and Procedures.
Trustees
ConfiDental trustees approve the Safeguarding Policy and have a duty of care to their charity, which includes taking the necessary steps to safeguard those at risk from abuse, managing risk and protecting the reputation of the charity.
Trustees have a responsibility to ensure that safeguarding is included, where appropriate, in the strategic plans, risk assessments, communications and quality assurance processes of the charity. In some cases they will be required to make decisions in relation to complex or serious safeguarding concerns, in consultation with the Safeguarding Lead
Safeguarding Lead
The Safeguarding Lead is the Designated Person for Safeguarding at ConfiDental . They are responsible for developing and quality assuring safeguarding activity across ConfiDental and supporting best practice . The current safeguarding Lead is John Lewis who should be contacted in connection with the operation of this Policy on 07917881147
Breaches of Policy
Failure to comply with the ConfiDental safeguarding policy may be managed in a number of ways, depending on the nature and consequences of any incident. In some cases a combination of responses may be required.
• Police investigation
• Referral to the Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS)
• People & Performance disciplinary process
• Serious incident reporting to The Charity Commission
• Internal review or co-operation with an external review
Associated documents
• ConfiDental volunteer support policy
• ConfiDental volunteer behaviours policy
• ConfiDental recruitment and selection procedure.
• ConfiDental safeguarding policy
• ConfiDental training policy
• ConfiDental trustee support