1. Safeguarding Adults Recognition and Referral

2. and then seeking appropriate advice
Safeguarding Adults
A safeguarding alert is not about being sure, it is about being unsure.....
and then seeking appropriate advice

3. Introduction This is a basic introduction called
‘Recognition and Referral’
Once completed you should still consider further safeguarding learning by attending a Safeguarding Awareness one day event

4. Everyone has a right to live a life free from violence and abuse
Human rights
Everyone has a right to live a life free from violence and abuse
No-one has to tolerate being abused – all of us have a responsibility to support people to exercise their right to be free from violence and abuse

5. Types of abuse Physical Sexual Financial Emotional Neglect
Discriminatory
Institutional
Cover each type of abuse in further detail

6. Physical abuse
Any form of hitting, slapping, punching, kicking, burns, scalds, fractures, attempted strangulation or smothering, poisoning, pushing, rough handling, dragging

7. Sexual abuse Penetration Attempted penetration Inappropriate touching
Sexual comments
Being made to look at sexual material
Exposure
Issues of capacity in relation to sexual abuse may be raised - e.g.: someone with capacity may look at erotic material from choice. HOWEVER – it is NEVER appropriate for a professional – whatever role – to take part in sexual activities with an adult at risk

8. Signs and symptoms Change in behaviour – fearful, withdrawn
Sexualised behaviour – not usual
Soreness, bruising injury to genital area
Blood, fluids on underwear
Reluctance to be left alone

9. Financial abuse Preventing access to own money/property
Taking over access to money
Theft
Fraud
Forcing someone to purchase items
Fraudulent selling
Look for: never having money, problems paying bills, changed behaviour – worried about money,

10. Emotional/psychological abuse
Includes: threatening, undermining, bullying, making someone afraid, threats of abandonment , threats to withdraw medication

11. Neglect
Lack of food, lack of medication, inappropriate clothing, inadequate heating, being left in soiled/wet clothing, medical needs not met, pressure ulcers grade 3+

12. Discriminatory
Different treatment based on race, age, gender, ethnicity, disability
Verbal abuse in relation to any of above
Being prevented from being involved in activities based on any of the above
Indirect discrimination

13. Institutional abuse
Can be any of other types – but in a residential setting
Rigid, inflexible routines
Organised for convenience of staff
No choice or control
Covert medication
Treated as children

14. Family Carers Caring is not easy – may be under pressure.
Carers may have to give up important parts of life – resentment
May also be at risk of harm
Look for warning signs of stress
Help and support for carers – not judgement
Having difficult times as carer is normal

15. Confidentiality
Be clear about confidentiality, when a service user is telling you something, they are telling the organisation you are working for. It is not ‘Your secret’
Must ‘whistleblow’ concerns about colleagues/organisation. First concern is always vulnerable adult

16. Responsibilities in the Workplace
Duty of care
To exercise duty of care – must understand abuse and know signs and symptoms
Must raise your concerns and alert adult social care on (Initial Assessment Team)
Services are expected to write down concerns and forward this to Initial Assessment Team
The more detail the better
A duty of care is the requirement to consider the consequences of acts and omissions and to ensure that acts/omissions do not give rise to a foreseeable risk of injury/harm to another person. This a common law ‘duty of care’. This means putting the interests of the people who use their services first. Also means having to do everything in their power to keep people safe from harm.
Duty of care underpins any professional activity; it is what underlies the Codes of Practice and it should be built in to practice on a day-to-day level. Exercising a duty of care is also a legal requirement, and is tested in court in the event of a case of negligence or malpractice. People have a right to expect that when a professional is providing support that they will be kept safe and not be neglected or exposed to any unnecessary risks.
Having a duty of care towards the people you work with is not unique to social care, all professions who work with people have a duty of care. This includes doctors, teachers, nurses, midwives and many others.

17. Responsibilities (2)
The best safeguarding approach starts with good quality care. Apply policies on:
Following care and support plans
Recording and reporting
Personal care
Responding to challenging behaviour
Observe professional boundaries, etc
Care work can be stressful, seek support
It is sometimes hard to keep caring about someone when you have to care for them.

18. Actions
A safeguarding alert is not about being sure – it’s about being unsure
Alerts are checked out and a decision made on next steps
If necessary there will be an investigation and a case conference – you will be kept informed
Sometimes - you need to think the unthinkable

19. Further Information
Safeguarding web link:
Walsall Safeguarding Adults Partnership Board
If unsure about a possible safeguarding situation call

20. Further Learning
One day Safeguarding Awareness Training is available through Walsall Council’s Workforce Development Team
Safeguarding Learning and Improvement Framework