Independent Age

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Safeguarding TrainingOctober 2017

Learning outcomes

By the end of this training you should understand:

• What is safeguarding?

• What is abuse and neglect?

• How to recognise abuse and neglect

• What is mental capacity?

• Responding to

safeguarding concerns

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Safeguarding issues in context

Approximately 342,000 older people living in private households in the UK are abused each year (UK Study of Neglect and Abuse of Older People, Prevalence Survey Report

2004)

2.9 million older people (65+) in the UK feel they have no one to turn to for help and support (TNS survey for Age UK, December 2014)

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Care Act 2014 – the reason for this training

Until the Care Act 2014 there was no law specifically dealing with safeguarding adults who might be at risk of abuse.

The Care Act recognises and reinforces that all staff and volunteers in any organisation who have contact with adults who could be at risk of abuse or neglect, have a duty to act if they have any concern that an adult is being abused, neglected or exploited.

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The Care Act protects:

Adults who:

Have care and support needs,

are experiencing, or are at

risk of abuse and neglect; and

because of care and support needs, cannot

protect themselves against actual or potential

abuse or neglect.

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What is safeguarding?

Statutory guidance defines safeguarding as:

“Protecting an adult’s right to live in safety, free from abuse and neglect.”

Aim:

• To stop abuse and neglect where possible

• To prevent harm and reduce the risk of neglect to adults

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Six principles of safeguarding

Empowerment – people being supported and encouraged to make their own decisions with informed consent

Prevention – it is better to take action before harm occurs

Proportionality – the least intrusive response appropriate to the risk presented

Protection – support and representation for those in greatest need

Partnerships – local solutions through services working in their communities

Accountability – accountability and transparency in delivering safeguarding

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What is abuse?

“A violation of an individual’s human and civil rights by any other persons.”

A single act or repeated acts

Affect one or more people

Can be carried out by anyone including family members, friends, professionals and strangers

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Who is at risk of abuse?

Anyone, but much higher risk for

– The elderly infirm

– People who need day-to-day care

– Adults in care homes and hospitals

– Those living in violent relationships

– People with mental health issues, physical or learning disabilities

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Examples of perpetrators of abuse

• Family and friends

• Paid and informal carers

• Neighbours

• People in positions of trust

• Partners or ex-partners

• People who target vulnerable people to exploit them

• Strangers

• Organisations

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Recognising abuse - categories

• Physical

• Sexual

• Psychological (emotional)

• Financial/material

• Domestic violence

• Discriminatory

• Organisational

• Neglect/Acts of Omission

• Self-harm

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Indicators of abuse

An older person may tell you that they are:

frightened or stressed,

are having difficulty sleeping, or/ and

are feeling depressed

You may also notice during the conversation

unexplained changes in behaviour, or

the older person is unusually quiet or talkative.

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Why an older person may not disclose

They are:

• Afraid of retribution

• Believe it is their fault

• Are ashamed

• Believe no one can help them

• Assume no one will believe

them

• Think they will be put in a

care home

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Indicators of neglect – by self and others

It is difficult to identify these indicators over the phone but an older person may disclose:

• Personal, medical and social needs not being met

• The person is not well cared for, cold, poorly dressed or hungry

• Unhygienic living conditions

• Reluctance to engage with medical and/or social care support

• Changes in mental health or indications of self-harm

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What is mental capacity?

Mental capacity is an individual’s ability to make decisions for themselves

Independent Age will work on the assumption that the older person has the mental capacity to make their own decisions unless it is known otherwise

It is not the responsibility of volunteers or staff to assess this capacity.

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Statutory principles of mental capacity

• A person must be assumed to have mental capacity

• A person must be helped to make decisions

• A person must be allowed to make an unwise decision

• Actions taken for or on behalf of a person must be done in their best interests

• Actions or decisions made on behalf of a person must be the least restrictive option

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Responding to concerns

• Stay calm

• Listen carefully

• Be sympathetic

• Let the person know

– They did the right thing to tell you

– You are treating the information seriously

– It was not their fault

– You will have to share the information within the organisation

• Record what you were told as soon as possible

• Report the information to your Independent Age contact immediately

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Things to avoid

• Asking intrusive questions

• Promising to keep something secret

• Contacting the alleged abuser

• Being judgemental

• Discussing the concern with those who don’t need to know

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How to report a concern

Ensure the person is safe, if there is an immediate threat, contact emergency services

Contact Independent Age who will conduct any investigation

Document the incident, be brief, factual and relevant

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Who to contact

If you have a safeguarding concern about the older person you support.

During working hours Monday to Friday, please get in touch with your Independent Age contact.

Outside of those times, call the Safeguarding concerns out of hours line:

T 020 7605 4455 (Monday to Sunday, 8am- 9pm)

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What happens next

Your Independent Age contact will inform you of the outcome if possible, although Adult Social Care rarely give out details of outcomes.

You may be contacted for further information.

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Your responsibilities

• To be aware of the signs of abuse and neglect

• To contact your Independent Age contact if you have any concerns or suspicions

• To understand and follow Independent Age Safeguarding Policy and Procedures

• Know the contact details for your Independent Age contact and Safeguarding concerns Out of Hours Line

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Safeguarding quiz

Please complete the Safeguarding quiz.

Answers are given on a separate sheet, but you should attempt the quiz before looking at the

answers.

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Learning outcomes – to recap

This presentation has covered:

• What is safeguarding?

• What is abuse and neglect?

• How to recognise abuse and neglect

• What is mental capacity?

• Responding to safeguarding concerns

If you have any questions on this training you should contact your Independent Age contact.

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