Vulnerable Adults Protection Policy
Agreed and passed at Chapeltown Youth Development Centre's Annual General Meeting (next review 13/12/2010).
Introduction
Chapeltown Youth Development Centre wants to protect all its young people, staff, vulnerable adults and all its volunteers who give their time so willingly for the furtherance of its activities. We aim to provide guidelines of 'Best Practice' in relation to vulnerable adults and their protection whilst in our charge and emphasis CYDC's firm commitment to ensuring a safe, friendly and fun environment for all. The Policy should be adopted and adapted using a common sense approach.
The aim of this policy is to outline the practice and procedures for paid and voluntary staff including coaches in CYDC. This policy will contribute to the prevention of abuse of vulnerable adults through raising awareness and providing a clear framework for action when abuse is suspected. It is aimed at protecting the vulnerable adult and the worker, recognising the risks involved in lone working. The policy covers all staff and areas of work with specific guidance for projects regularly in contact with vulnerable adults.
The aim of the Vulnerable Adult's Protection Policy is also to promote good practice by:
- Providing vulnerable adults with appropriate safety and protection whilst in the care of Chapeltown Youth Development Centre.
- Allow all staff/volunteers to make informed and confident responses to specific child and vulnerable adults protection issues.
Position Statement
Chapeltown Youth Devlopment Centre has a duty of care to safeguard all vulnerable people involved in all aspects of it's activities from harm. All vulnerable people have a right to protection, and the needs of those who may be particularly vulnerable must be taken into account. Chapeltown Youth Development Centre will also ensure the safety and protection of all vulnerable people involved in sport through the adherence to the guidelines adopted by all involved in any aspect of sport.
DEFINITION OF VULNERABLE
The Police Act 1997 (Enhanced Criminal Record Certificates) (Protection Of Vulnerable Adults) Regulations 2000.
In these Regulations "vulnerable adult" means a person aged 18 or over who is recieving services of a type listed in paragraph (2) below and in consequence of a condition of a type listed in paragraph (3) below has a disability of a type listed in paragraph (4) below.
The services are:
- Accommodation and nursing or personal care in a care home.
- Personal care or nursing or support to live independently in his/her own home.
- Any services provided by an independent hospital, independent clinic, independent medical agency or NHS body, Social care services.
- Any services provided in an establishment catering for a person with learning difficulties.
The conditions are:
- A learning or physical disability.
- A physical or mental illness, chronic or otherwise, including an addiction to alcohol or drugs.
- A treduction in physical or mental capacity.
The disabilities are:
- A dependency upon others in the performance of, or a requirement or assistance in the performance of, basic physicial functions.
- Severe impairment in the ability to communicate with others.
- Impairment in a person's ability to protect him/herself from assault, abuse or neglect.
Law Commission, 'Making Decision', Lord Chancellors Dept 1999.
A VULNERABLE ADULT is defined as someone over 16 who is or may be in need of community care services by reason of mental or other disability, age or illness and who is or may be unable to take care of him/herself or unable to protect him/herself against significant harm or exploitation.
All vulnerable people regardless of age, gender, racial origin, religious belief or sexual identity, have a right to be protected from abuse.
DEFINITION OF ABUSE
"Abuse is the harming of another individual usually by someone who is in a position of power, trust, or authority over that individual. The harm may be physical, psychological, or emotional or it may be directed at exploiting the vulnerability of the victim in more subtle ways (for example, through denying access to people who can come to the aid of the victim, or through misuse or misappropriation of his or her financial resources). The threat or use of punishment is also a form of abuse. In many cases, it is a criminal offence."
Centre for Policy on Ageing (1996)
Types of Abuse
Physical Abuse:
- Bodily assaults resulting in injuries, e.g. hitting, slapping, pushing, kicking, misuse of medication, restraint or inappropriate sanctions.
- Bodily impairment, e.g. malnutrition, dehydration, failure to thrive.
- Medical/healthcare maltreatment.
Sexual abuse:
- Rape, incest, acts of indecency, sexual assault.
- Sexual harassment or sexual acts to which the vulnerable adult has not consented, or could not consent or was pressured into consenting.
- Sexual abuse might also include exposure to pornographic materials, being made to witness sexual acts and encompasses sexual harassment and non-contact abuse.
Psychological/emotional abuse also includes:
- Threats of harm, controlling, intimidation, coercion, harassment, verbal abuse, enforced isolation or withdrawal from services or supportive networks, humiliation, bullying, shouting or swearing.
Neglect
- Including ignoring medical or physical care needs, failure to provide access to appropriate health, social care or educational services.
- The witholding of the necessities of life, such as medication, adequate nutrition, and heating.
Financial or material
- Including theft, fraud.
- Exploitation, pressure in connection with wills property or inheritance or financial transactions, or the misuse or misappropriation of property, possessions, or benefits.
Discriminatory
- Including racist, sexist, or based on a person's disability, and other forms of harassment, slurs or similar treatment.
IDENTIFICATION OF ABUSE
Physical abuse signs
Note: Some ageing processes can cause changes which are hard to distinguish from some aspects of physical assault, e.g. skin bruising can occur very easily due to blood vessels becoming fragile.
- A history of unexplained falls or minor injuries.
- Bruising in well-protected areas, or clustered from repeated striking.
- Finger marks.
- Burns of unusual location or type.
- Injuries found at different states of healing.
- Injury shape similar to an object.
- Injuries to head/face/scalp.
- History of GP or agency hopping, or reluctance to seek help.
- Accounts which vary with time or are inconsistent with physical evidence.
- Weight loss due to malnutrition, or rapid weight gain.
- Ulcers, bed sores and being left in wet clothing.
- Drowsiness due to too much medication or lack of medication causing recurring crises/hospital admissions.
Sexual abuse signs
- Disclosure or partial disclosure (use of phrases such as "It's a secret")
- Medical problems, e.g. Genital infections, pregnancy, difficulty walking or sitting.
- Disturbed behaviour e.g. depression, sudden withdrawal from activities, loss of previous skills, sleeplessness or nightmares, self-injury, showing fear or aggression to one particular person, repeated or excessive masturbation, inappropriately seductive behaviour, loss of appetite or difficulty in keeping food down.
- Behaviour of others towards the vulnerable adult, circumstances - e.g. two service users found in toilet area, one in distressed state.
Psychological/emotional signs:
- Isolation.
- Unkempt, unwashed, smell.
- Over meticulous.
- Inappropriately dressed.
- Withdrawn, agitated, anxious, not wanting to be touched.
- Change in appetite.
- Insomnia, or need for excessive sleep.
- Tearfulness.
- Unexplained paranoia, or excessive fears.
- Low self-esteem.
- Confusion.
Neglect signs
- Physical condition poor.
- Clothing in poor condition.
- Inadequate diet.
- Untreated injuries or medical problems.
- Failure to be given prescribed medication.
- Poor personal hygiene.
Financial or material signs
- Unexplained or sudden inability to pay bills.
- Unexplained or sudden withdrawal of money from accounts.
- isparity between assets and satisfactory living conditions.
- Extraordinary interest by family members and other people in the vulnerable person's assets.
Discriminatory signs
- Lack of respect shown to an individual.
- Signs of substandard service offered to an individual.
- Exclusion from rights afforded to others, such as health, education, criminal justice.
Other signs of abuse
- Inappropriate use of restraints.
- Sensory deprivaton, e.g. spectacles or hearing aid.
- Denial of vistors or phonecalls.
- Failure to ensure privacy or personal dignity.
- Lack of flexibility or choice, e.g. bedtimes, choice of food.
- Restricted access to toilet or bathing facilities.
- Lack of personal clothing or possessions.
- Controlling relationships between care staff and service users.
PEOPLE WHO MIGHT ABUSE
- Abuse can happen anywhere and can be carried out by anyone e.g.:
- Informal carer's, family, friends, neighbours.
- Paid staff, volunteers.
- Other service users or tenants.
- Strangers.
WHAT TO DO
To act or not to act?
All allegations or suspicions are to be treated seriously. No abuse is acceptable and some abuse is a criminal offence and must be reported to the police as soon as possible. To determine the appropriate action it is important to consider:
- RISK - Does the vulnerable adult, staff member or volunteer understand the nature and consequences of any risk they may be subject to, and do they willingly accept such a risk?
- SELF-DETERMINATION - Is the vulnerable adult able to make teir own decisions and choices, and do as they wish to do.
- SERIOUSNESS - A number of factors will determine whether an intervention is required. The perception of the victim must be a starting point. Factors informing assessment of seriousness will include:
- The perception by the individual and their vulnerability
- The extent of the abuse
- The length of time it has been going on
- The impact on the individual
- The risk of repetition or escalation involving this or other vulnerable adults
- Is a criminal offence being committed?
SUMMARY
- The staff, coach or volunteer's primary responsibility is to protect the vulnerable adult if they are at risk.
- Each employee or volunteer has a duty to take action.
- Employees or volunteers should not have to cope alone.
STATEMENT OF INTENT
Chapeltown Youth Development Centre will:
- Respect the rights, wishes and feelings of the people the policy intends to protect.
- Ensure that effective procedures are in place, regularly reviewed and updated in line with legislation.
- Protect all staff, coaches and volunteers, etc.
- Ensure those working within the organisation are safe to do so.
- Ensure all staff and volunteers are equipped to implement the policies and procedures.
- Strive to ensure that any partner organisations have appropriate policies and procedures in place.
- Actively promote the policies and procedures.
- Ensure that all incidents of suspicious poor practice and allegations should be taken seriously and handled effectively.
- Commit to provide appropriate support to: Those at risk of abuse, those accused, and those reporting concerns/incidents.
Multiple forms of abuse may occur in an ongoing relationship or abusive service setting to one person, or to more than one person at a time, making it important to look beyond single incidents or breaches in standards, to underlying dynamics and patterns of harm. Any or all of these types of abuse may be perpetrated as the result of deliberate intent and targeting of vulnerable people, negligence or ignorance.
No abuse is acceptable and some abuse is a criminal offence and must be reported to the police as soon as possible.
RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Responsibilities of Chapeltown Youth Development Centre
To ensure staff and volunteers are aware of the adult protection policy and are adequately trained.
To notify the appropriate agencies if abuse is identified or suspected.
To support and where possible secure the safety of individuals and ensure that all referrals to services have full information in relation to identified risk and vulnerability.
To CRB check volunteers and employees that have access to or work with Vulnerable Adults.
Responsibilities of Chapeltown Youth Devlopment Centre's staff, coaches and volunteers
- To be familiar with the adult protection policy and procedures.
- To take appropriate action in line with the policies of CYDC.
- To promote the principles and good practice to other voluntary organisations.
- To declare any existing or subsequent convictions. Failure to do so will be regarded as gross misconduct, possibly resulting in dismissal.
Support for those who report abuse
All those making a complaint or allegation or expressing concern, whether they be staff, service users, carers or members of the general public should be reassured that:
- They will be taken seriously.
- Their comments will usually be treated confidentially, but their concerns may be shared if they or others are at significant risk.
- If service users, they will be given immediate protection from the risk of reprisals or intimidation.
- If staff, they will be given support and afforded protection if necessary in line with the Public Interest Disclosure Act 1998.
The Vulnerable Adult has the right:
To be made aware of this policy.
To have alleged incidents recognised and taken seriously.
To recieve fair and respectful treatment throughout.
To be involved in any process as appropriate.
To recieve information about the outcome.
PRACTICE GUIDE
Actions and Considerations
THE FIRST PRIORITY SHOULD ALWAYS BE TO ENSURE THE SAFETY AND PROTECTION OF VULNERABLE ADULTS. TO THIS END IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF ALL STAFF TO ACT ON ANY SUSPICION OR EVIDENCE OF ABUSE OR NEGLECT AND TO PASS ON THEIR CONCERNS TO A RESPONSIBLE PERSON OR AGENCY.
In situations of immediate danger, take urgent action by calling teh relavant emergency services (e.g. Police, ambulance, GP)
Remember to have reagrd to your own safety. Leave teh situation if its not safe for you.
Listen to vulnerable adult, offer necessary support and reassurance.
Issues of confidentiality must be clarified erly on. For example staff or volunteers must make it clear that they will have to discuss the concerns with their supervisor.
Where a vulnerable adult expresses a wish for concerns not to be pursued then this should be respected wherever possible. However, decisions about whether to respect the service use's wishes must have regard to teh level of risk to teh individual and others, and their capicity to understand teh decision in question. In some circumstances teh vulnerable adults's wishes may be overridden in favour of considerations of safety.
Decision to override teh vulnerable adult's wish not to take teh matter further should if possible be the product of discussion with appropriate line management.
Note your concerns and any information given to you or witnessed by you.
Report concerns to the appropriate line manager.
REMEMBER IT IS NOT NECESSARY OR ADVISABLE FOR YOU TO SEEK EVIDENCE. By supporting the vulnerable adult and carefully logging any information given to you at this stage, you will lay teh foundations for an effective formal invesitgation. Understand teh need not to contaminate, or to preserve evidence if a crime may have been committed.
Refer or not to Refer
THE DECISION TO REFER OR NOT TO REFER SHOULD BE MADE BY CYDC'S WELFRE OFFICER AND THE CHAIRPERSON SHOULD BE INFORMED.
When considering teh decision as to whether to refer elsewhere (e.g. Police, Social Services, Nation Care Standards Commission) teh following should be taken into account:
The wishes of the vulnerable adult, their right to self determination
The mental capacity of teh vulnerable adult
Known the indicators of abuse
Definitions of abuse
Level of risk to this individual
The seriousness of the abuse
The effect of the abuse on the indvidual
Level of risk to others
The effect of the abuse on others
Whether a criminal offence has been committed
Whether other statutory obligations have been breached (e.g. NCSC)
The need for others to know
The ability of others (e.g. Police, Social Services) to make positive contrubution to the situation.
Issue of Mental Capacity and Consent
The consent of teh vulnerable adult must be obtained except where:
The vulnerable adult lacks the mental capacity to make decisions, and a risk assessment indicates that refferal would be in their best interests
Others may be at risk
A crime has been commited
INFORMATIONS, IF KNOWN, WHICH WILL BE REQUIRED WHEN YOU MAKE A REFERRAL OR REPORT YOUR CONCERNS
Details of alleged victim - name, adress, age, gender, ethnic background including principle language spoken, details of any disability
Details of GP and any known medication
Whether the individual is aware of and has consented to teh refferal/report
The mental capacity of the individual (are there are any concerns/doubts about this?)
If appropriate advise agency on preffered/advised method or environment when approaching the alleged victim or perpetrator. Also, any relevant information, for example:
- Reasons for concerns and therfore this referral
- Details of how these concerns came to light
- Specific infomration relating to these concerns
- Details of any arrangements which have been already been made for th protection of the vulnerable adult or may immediate action taken
- Detials of anyone ese to whom this referral has also been mane
- Details of the alleged abuse and information about suspicions
- Detials of any otehr background information
- An impression of how serious the situation might be
- Details of any [rofessional involved
- Details of carers and any siginicant family members, neighbours, friends
INFORMATION PASSED ON MUST BE RELEVANT, NECESSARY AND UP TO DATE CONFIRM IN WRITING INFORMATION GIVEN VERBALLY PRACTICE
Do's and Don'ts
Staff, coach or volunteer should:
Stay calm
Listen patiently
Reassure the person they are doing the right thing by telling you
Explaing what you are goign to do
Report to relevant Manager
Write a factual account of what you have seen, immediately
Staff member or volunteer should not:
Appear shocked, horrified, disgusted or angry
Press the individual for details (unless requested to do so)
Promise to keep secrets
Confront the abuser
Risk contaminating evidence
Discuss with the Relevant CYDC Official who will:
Ascertain whether the situation might fall within teh definitions of abuse outlined in this policy
Consider the vulnerable adult's capacity to make decisions
Ascertain whether an advocate or appropriate adult might be necessary
Ascertain any immediate action required
Ascertain whether an investigation is necessary in accordance with internal personnel polocies and procedures
Where abuse is suspected conclude that a referral to be made to the appropriate agency
CYDC DESIGNATED PERSON
If there are any issues regarding Vulnerable Adults then contact The Child Protection Officer Ernest Bass , who is Designated Person within Chapletown Youth Development Centre.
Telephone: 07876268120
Email: ernestbass.cfydc@yahoo.co.uk
The child Protection Officer, Ernest Bass, shall be known to young people, staff, coaches, volunteers and parents alike; as the designated person to whom concerns will be addressed. If the concern is about teh designated person please report to CYDC's Chairperson.
CHAPELTOWN YOUTH DEVELOPMENT CENTRE
DECLARATION (All Officers To sign)
As a CYDC Official I agree to abide by and enforce the rules of CYDC's Vulnerable Adults Protection Policy and Procedures and office which I hold.
Lutel James
Chairperson
Dume Ekundayo
Vice Chairperson
Terry Holness
Secretary
Terence Holness
Treasurer
William Bowler
Director Of Sport
Ernest Bass
Child Protection officer
Coaching Director (vacant)