Holy Cross Centre Trust
Procedures for Working with Vulnerable Adults and Protection from Abuse
Contents
Holy Cross Centre Trust’s commitmentPage 2
What is Abuse?Page 3
What are the categories of Abuse?Page 3
Who is at risk?Page 4
Who may be the Abuser?Page 4
When will services intervene?Page 4
How does Holy Cross Centre Trust work to prevent abuse?Page 5
What to do if you suspect AbusePage 6
Flowchart for reporting abusePage 7
Holy Cross Centre Trust’s commitment to protecting Vulnerable Adults from Abuse
Holy Cross Centre Trust is committed to actively promoting the empowerment and well being of vulnerable adults. The team works in a way that supports the rights of the service user to lead an independent life based on self-determination and personal choice.
Holy Cross Centre Trust recognises that providing a high quality service entails adequately training and supporting it’s staff to ensure that when the service user’s right to an independent lifestyle and choice is at risk, the individual concerned receives appropriate help, including advice, protection and support.
Staff and members of the public are encouraged to come forward with any concerns they may have without fear of reprisal, as supported by the organisation’s “whistle blowing” policy.
With guidelines provided in the Government document ‘No secrets’; Holy Cross Centre Trust has compiled the following procedures for working with vulnerable adults. Holy Cross Centre Trust is committed to working in partnership with other agencies including the local authority to ensure the rights of vulnerable adults are protected.
What is Abuse?
‘Abuse is a violation of an individual’s human and civil rights
by any other person or persons’.
(From No Secrets, issued by the Department of Health, 2000)
Abuse is the harming of another individual usually by someone who is in a position of power, trust or authority. It may be a single act or repeated acts and can be either deliberate or the result of ignorance, lack of training, knowledge or understanding. Some forms of abuse such as theft, fraud and assault are also a crime.
What are the categories of Abuse?
Physical abuse:
Rough handling or unnecessary physical force, either deliberate or unintentional, including hitting, slapping, pushing and misuse of medication, restraint or inappropriate sanctions. Injuries may not always be visible.
Sexual abuse:
Coercion to any sexual activity against his or her will. The force does not have to be physical. Undue emotional pressure placed on an individual may lead him or her to consent to behaviour he or she finds unacceptable.
Verbal, psychological or emotional abuse:
Includes shouting, swearing, blaming, name-calling, speaking to someone in a threatening way or ridiculing him or her. Also, isolation or withdrawal from services or supportive networks.
Financial abuse:
Includes theft, fraud, exploitation, the improper use or control of, or the withholding of a person’s money, property, bank account or other valuables.
Neglect:
Includes ignoring medical or physical care needs, failure to provide access to health, social care or education services and withholding the necessities of life such as food, shelter and medication.
Discriminatory abuse:
Includes racism, sexism, harassment based on a person’s disability or sexuality.
Institutional abuse:
The mistreatment of people brought about by poor or inadequate care, poor professional practice and neglect. Includes rigid routines and inappropriate confinement or medical procedures.
Who is at risk?
Vulnerable adults:
‘an adult person 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 not be unable to take care of
him or herself, or unable to protect him or herself against
significant harm or exploitation’.
(From Who decides?, issued by the Lord Chancellor’s Department, 1997)
Vulnerable adults include:
- Elderly people
- People with Mental Health problems
- People with Learning Disabilities
- People with Physical or Sensory Disabilities
- People with HIV/Aids
It is important to note that in some circumstances staff themselves may be the subject of abuse from service users. Regular supervision of staff is an important tool in identifying this.
Who may be the Abuser?
People who abuse vulnerable adults are often well known to the person. An abuser may be:
- A paid carer or volunteer
- A partner, friend or relative
- A social care worker or health worker
- A visitor or other contact
- Another vulnerable adult
When will services intervene?
The question of whether it is serious or justifies intervention depends on whether there is ‘significant harm’. Significant harm is defined as:
‘not only ill treatment’, but also ‘impairment or an
avoidable deterioration in physical or mental health’
(From Who decides?, issued by the Lord Chancellor’s Department, 1997)
How does Holy Cross Centre Trust work to prevent Abuse?
Holy Cross Centre Trust staff take part in a rigorous recruitment process prior to commencing employment. Two references, an enhanced CRB disclosure and successful participation in a group morning and induction day as well as an interview are compulsory before introduction to a service user.
Co-ordinators have regular weekly contact with support workers and review visits 6 weeks after introducing a new worker, then 6 monthly and annually thereafter. Compulsory supervision and training sessions also take place monthly.
Support workers do not provide personal care nor are they involved in the administration of a service user’s medication. Support workers are also instructed not to handle their client’s money.
In exceptional circumstances i.e., the service user is physically unable to leave the house due to illness and (for example) requires the support worker to do the shopping for them, the following procedure should take place:
- Support worker calls office to advise of the transaction e.g. client gave them £10 for shopping, purchases came to £5, £5 change given (the transaction should also be noted in the support worker’s monthly report)
- Support worker to collect a receipt and show this to the client on their return.
- The co-ordinator should send a note to the client confirming the transaction (within 3 working days).
Where larger sums of money are involved, for instance the service user needs their benefits cashed, other arrangements should be in place for collection. This may be with the service user’s tenancy support worker or their social worker. If part of the support requested involves collecting benefits with the service user, this should be noted in the support plan/assessment and reviewed accordingly.
Every service user has a copy of the Service User’s Handbook, which clearly outlines who to contact if they have any concerns with their visits or if they wish to discuss any other issues with their co-ordinator. The handbook also clearly indicates to service users that there are other members of staff i.e., the service Manager or Director they can contact if they have concerns.
Staff are encouraged to remain vigilant in ensuring the vulnerable adults we work with are not subject to abuse and are aware of the procedures they need to follow if they suspect abuse is occurring.
What to do if you suspect abuse
Staff have a duty to respond to suspicions and allegations of abuse and to work within the policies of the organisation. Camden Council has an Inter-Agency Adult protection policy and procedures to be followed in order to protect vulnerable adults. Holy Cross Centre Trust is committed to working within this policy.
If a staff member suspects abuse the following should occur:
- Ensure the person is not in immediate danger
- Seek medical treatment if required
- Contact the police if a crime has been committed
- Avoid disturbing potential evidence
- Contact your line manager and advise them of the situation
- If the person is not in immediate danger and there are suspicions of abuse, contact your line manager as soon as is practicable
Responsibility of manager:
- Take any immediate action required to ensure the safety of the victim
- Clarify the facts and decide whether the allegation falls within the adult protection procedures
- Inform the Director and contact the relevant social work team and local authority officers responsible for protection of vulnerable adults
- If the alleged abuser is a member of staff follow the organisation’s disciplinary procedure, if not report the incident to the appropriate person(s)
- Meet any statutory requirements to notify the National Care Standards Commission (NCSC)
- Co-operate with the adult protection enquiry
FEBRUARY 2007
To be reviewed: February 2008
Flowchart 1: Reporting Abuse
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