Safeguarding

Of

Vulnerable

Adult

Guidance for the alerter and referrers – for employees and volunteers

All people working with adults covered by this policy have a responsibility to be aware of issues of abuse and neglect and to report any concerns or information they have which indicates that an adult is, or may be, experiencing abuse.

The Alerter

The alerter is the member of staff or volunteer or other individual who may have:

·  Received a disclosure from the person experiencing abuse.

·  Been contacted by a relative, friend or carer, a member of the public, or an employee of another organisation.

·  Observe abuse.

·  Suspect abuse.

·  Received a report of abuse, as part of another referral or for example, a review, an inspection, a complaint or an untoward incident report.

Workers cannot keep information about abuse confidential to themselves. They must make it clear to anyone who shares such information with them that they will have to pass it on, in accordance with the agreed multi-agency policy.

The Alerter will:

·  Take any immediate action needed to safeguard the health and safety of the person for whom there is concern or anyone else who may be at risk.

If an adult is in immediate danger the police or other emergency service should be contacted.

·  Contact the police immediately where a crime has taken place and consult them about preserving evidence until such time as the police arrive.

·  Start the safeguarding adult’s procedures within their organisation by making a referral to the appropriate manager (or SOVA lead) as soon as possible and within one working day. Where there is an imminent risk to someone the manager, duty manager or senior should be contacted straight away.

·  If it is inappropriate to inform the manager (for example if they are the alleged perpetrator), then the Lead Manager for adult protection in the organisation should be contacted. If that is not appropriate the Housing and Community Living contact centre, Commission for Social Care Inspection or the police should be contacted. (See contact sheet Appendix)

·  Record the alert.

Completing the AP1 referral

The AP1 referral was designed to give basic information about the alleged abuse and should be completed in black ink using plain language and be signed and dated. Details provided must be factual and differentiate between fact and any opinion.

Part 1 - About the person making the referral

It is important that you complete all of the boxes to ensure that the safeguarding team can contact you, to gain more information or to let you know the outcome of any risk assessment or investigation. It is now policy to let a referrer know the decisions and outcomes and communications are most likely to be sent by fax or e-mail. You may wish to give your work address but in some cases a referrer may wish to give a home address, both are acceptable.

Part 2 – About the alleged victim (AV)

You need to record as much information as possible, including the usual address of the AV. You will be asked later on where the alleged abuse took place. This part of the form also asks you to give information about the medical diagnosis, age and service user group. This information is important for the safeguarding team to make a judgement about the individual’s eligibility to the SOVA process.

When the AV has the mental capacity to make decisions in relation to their safety and situation you should make them aware and discuss any need to make a referral.

Part 3 – About the alleged abuse

In this part you will be asked a number of questions about the type and location of alleged abuse. You can tick as many boxes as needed as abuse can take place in more than one location and can be of more than one type. For example an older person in a care home could be neglected and suffer financial abuse. The neglect may be perpetrated by paid carers but family members may be keeping their income and savings to spend on themselves.

You will be asked to give a general description about what happened. Please add additional pages when needed. All text boxes will automatically extend when you complete the form electronically. Use the body map to mark out any injuries and give details of the size, depth, shape or colour of any injury.

It is important to date and sign the body map as this may later form part of the evidence that may be presented in court. To preserve best evidence please record your observations as clearly as possible.

Part 4 – About the alleged perpetrator (AP)

An AP can be anyone and may be a relative, neighbour or friend or a paid carer, social or health care professional or an organisation. If the AP is not known – state not known. If the AP is another vulnerable adult, please state the funding authority.

Part 5 – Immediate action taken

There is an expectation that a vulnerable adult is protected from the risk of abuse or neglect and that any emergency and preventative action be taken. For example, when an injury is apparent medical attention is sought as appropriate. If the situation presents as a medical emergency you should call for the ambulance (999). The following examples demonstrate the type of action you or your organisation may take:

Example 1
You work in a care home and attend a service users bedroom in the morning to assist with personal care. You find a skin tear (1x5cm) to the service user’s right shin.
You alert the service users GP and the district nurse who visit that morning. You note your actions and that the nurse has applied glue and a dressing. You complete the AP1 and forward the referral.
Example 2
You are an NHS nurse and you visit a care home. Staff ask you to see Mrs A. You find her dehydrated, with moisture legions under the breast and around the sacral area and pressure sores to both heels. You note that Mrs A has a low pulse, raised temperature, inability to communicate and decide that this is an emergency.
You take action by arranging for Mrs A’s admission to hospital and alert her GP. You complete the AP1 and fax this to the adult social services duty desk or Emergency Duty Team if out of hours.
Example 3
You are a home carer and you assist an individual with their medication when you notice that some medication was left in the dosset box and the MAR has not been completed. The individual appears unwell. You inform your Senior or Manager in line with any internal reporting and you or your manager inform the GP and pharmacist to get urgent advice concerning the risks in omitting the medication.
You should try to ascertain consent but in order to protect others from a similar risk you are obliged to make the referral. The manager decides to take the staff member responsible for omitting to administer the medication off this duty to ensure that a risk to others is minimised.
You complete the AP1 noting any action taken.

Barbara Grell 15/04/2008