Policies, Procedures & Guidance
Multi-agency Policy and Procedures for the West Midlands
Worcestershire Safeguarding Adults Board has adopted the ‘Adult Safeguarding: Multi-agency policy and procedures for the protection of adults with care & support needs in the West Midlands’. All staff, in whatever setting, have a key role in preventing harm or abuse occurring and in taking action where concerns arise. The policy and procedures set simply and clearly how agencies and individuals should work together to protect adults at risk. Agencies are also required to have local guidance in place explaining to staff how the procedures will be implemented within their employing organisation.
West Midlands Adult Safeguarding Policy and Procedures
Worcestershire Safeguarding Adults Board Guidance
- Comprehensive policy on the implementation of the Mental Capacity Act
- Guidance to support professionals who need to convene or attend a Best Interest Decision meeting for complex cases
- MCA1 – Capacity Assessment Form
- MCA2 – Best Interest Assessment & Record of Actions Form
- Guidance for someone who has concern about an adult to decide if this needs a Safeguarding Referral or other actions
- Guidance for professionals working with individuals who may be self neglecting, what can you do and when should you get additional help
- Guidance on what to do if you are concerned about a person who is working/volunteering with adults who have support needs
- Procedure to follow if you believe that other agencies have not responded adequately to safeguarding adult concerns
- Policy to support individuals on the actions they need to take if they believe someone is planning to assist another to commit suicide
- Guidance to support residential and domiciliary care setting to minimise the risk of a person going missing and key action to take if someone does go missing
- Toolkit to support organisations in the self-assessment of their Safeguarding Adults Policy
- Toolkit to support organisations in the self-assessment of their Mental Capacity Act Policy
- Competency framework to support organisations to map training content to staff needs for Safeguarding Adults
- Competency framework to support organisations to map training content to staff needs for Mental Capacity Act and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguarding
- Non engagement flow chart
- Lead Practitioner Role
- West Midlands Adult Position of Trust Framework
- Escalation Policy – Resolution of Professional Concerns (updated July 2019)
- Joint Working Protocol Adult Social Care- West Mercia Women
- Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) pathway
- WSAB Communication and Engagement Strategy
- SAR Overview
- Making a SAR referral Flowchart FINAL
Types of Abuse
Abuse or neglect is an action, or lack of action, that leads to harm occurring to another person. Abuse or neglect may be deliberate or result from negligence or ignorance.
The Care Act 2014 sets out the following areas which are recognised forms of abuse and neglect;
- Physical abuse – including assault, hitting, slapping, pushing, misuse of medication, restraint or inappropriate physical sanctions.
- Domestic violence – including psychological, physical, sexual, financial, emotional abuse; so called ‘honour’ based violence.
- Sexual abuse – including rape, indecent exposure, sexual harassment, inappropriate looking or touching, sexual teasing or innuendo, sexual photography, subjection to pornography or witnessing sexual acts, indecent exposure and sexual assault or sexual acts to which the adult has not consented or was pressured into consenting.
- Psychological abuse – including emotional abuse, threats of harm or abandonment, deprivation of contact, humiliation, blaming, controlling, intimidation, coercion, harassment, verbal abuse, cyber bullying, isolation or unreasonable and unjustified withdrawal of services or supportive networks.
- Financial or material abuse – including theft, fraud, internet scamming, coercion in relation to an adult’s financial affairs or arrangements, including in connection with wills, property, inheritance or financial transactions, or the misuse or misappropriation of property, possessions or benefits.
- Modern slavery – encompasses slavery, human trafficking, forced labour and domestic servitude. Traffickers and slave masters use whatever means they have at their disposal to coerce, deceive and force individuals into a life of abuse, servitude and inhumane treatment.
- Discriminatory abuse – including forms of harassment, slurs or similar treatment; because of race, gender and gender identity, age, disability, sexual orientation or religion.
- Organisational abuse – including neglect and poor care practice within an institution or specific care setting such as a hospital or care home, for example, or in relation to care provided in one’s own home. This may range from one off incidents to on-going ill-treatment. It can be through neglect or poor professional practice as a result of the structure, policies, processes and practices within an organisation.
- Neglect and acts of omission – including ignoring medical, emotional or physical care needs, failure to provide access to appropriate health, care and support or educational services, the withholding of the necessities of life, such as medication, adequate nutrition and heating
- Self-neglect – this covers a wide range of behaviour neglecting to care for one’s personal hygiene, health or surroundings and includes behaviour such as hoarding.
Where does abuse and neglect happen?
Abuse is something that can happen at any time, anywhere including;
- In somebody’s own home
- In someone else’s home
- At a Day Centre
- In care homes
- In hospital
- At work
- At college
- In a public placeAn abuser is often a person who has a level of power over the person being abused and they can be well known to the person being abused. They could be a;
Who might cause the abuse or neglect?
- partner, relative or family member
- neighbour
- friend and/or another service user
- Carer
- staff member
- volunteer or
- stranger
Whistleblowing
- Details of the Department of Health Whistleblowing Helpline