SAFEGUADING VULNERABLE ADULTS POLICY /

SAFEGUARDING VULNERABLE ADULTS POLICY

1 / Mission

1.1‘Realising student potential and achieving excellence’.

2. Context

2.1
2.2
2.3
2.4
2.5 / This policy is written in the context of the College Corporate Strategy 2015-18.
The context of this policy supports the following:-
Safeguarding Statement
The College recognises its responsibilities and duties under the Working Together to Safeguard Children 2015 requirements, which defines safeguarding as:
•protecting children from maltreatment;
•preventing impairment of children’s health or development;
•ensuring that children grow up in circumstances consistent with the provision of safe and effective care; and
•taking action to enable all children to have the best outcomes.
The College believes that safeguarding students is our paramount concern and therefore safeguarding issues take priority in relation to any other policies and/or procedures.
The College works in line with the Statement of Government Policy on Adult Safeguarding; Safeguarding Adults Principles to safeguard and prevent abuse of vulnerable adults.
  • Empowerment- Presumption of person led decisions and informed consent.
  • Prevention- It is better to take action before harm occurs.
  • Proportionality- Proportionate and least intrusive response appropriate to the risk presented.
  • Protection- Support and representation for those in greatest need.
  • Partnership- Local solutions through services working with their communities. Communities have a part to play in preventing, detecting and reporting neglect and abuse.
  • Accountability- Accountability and transparency in delivering safeguarding.
H&S General Statement
Doncaster College recognises its responsibilities and duties under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, to provide a healthy and safe working and learning environment so far as is reasonably practicable. This duty extends to cover employees, students, contractors, Visitors and members of the public and covers all its related activities and undertakings.
Equality & Diversity Statement
Doncaster College strives to promote an ethos and image that positively reflects its commitment to advancing equality of opportunity and celebrating diversity. The College does not tolerate any prejudicial behavior by any member of its community and has a zero-tolerance policy to bullying, harassment and victimization. Every step is taken to eliminate unlawful discrimination and foster good relations among all social groups. The College is committed to ensuring that it does not discriminate either directly or indirectly against individuals on the grounds of age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, marriage and civil partnership.
This policy should be read in conjunction with the College’s Student Anti- Bullying and Anti- Harassment Policy, Staff Anti-Bullying and Anti-Harassment Policy, Whistle Blowing Policy and Health and Safety Policy.
The Corporation is committed to ensuring that the College’s duty of care is the College’s paramount concern.
The College operates within the following legislative framework:
Key Statutory Instruments:
  • Safeguarding Vulnerable Adults Act 2006 amended by Protection of Freedoms Act 2012
  • Safeguarding Adults Association Of Directors of Adult Services 2005
  • Mental Capacity Act 2005
  • Education Act 2002 and 2011
  • Statement of Government Policy on Adult Safeguarding, Department of Health 2011
  • Children Act 1989 and(Section 11)2004
  • Human Rights Act 1998
  • Health and Social Care Act 2008.
Underpinning Legislative and Statutory Duties Guidance:
  • Working Together to Safeguard Children 2015
  • Keeping Children Safe in Education 2016 (DfE)
  • No Secrets Guidance 2000
  • Doncaster Safeguarding Adult’s Board Policies and Procedures
  • Ofsted briefing 2014
  • South Yorkshire Safeguarding Adults Board Procedures Manual 2014.
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3 / Purpose

3.1The purpose of this policy is to:-

  1. Ensure the safety and protection of vulnerable adults in line with College policy, local policies and procedures, and Government Legislation. Safeguarding Adults work means all activity which enables an adult to retain independence, well-being and choice and be able to live a life that is free from abuse and neglect. It is also about preventing abuse and neglect, as well as promoting good practice for responding to concerns on a multi-agency basis (Safeguarding Adults Procedures for South Yorkshire).
  1. Ensure The College responds effectively to the ideological challenge of terrorism and extremism and the risk of radicalisation.
  1. Ensure good practice and responsibility for admission, within the context of inclusion, for individuals who present with a criminal conviction.

3.2 Within this context safeguarding can also include a range of potential issues such as:

  • bullying, including cyber bullying, (by text, on social media etc.) and prejudice based bullying
  • racist, disability and homophobic or transphobic abuse
  • radicalisation and extremist behaviour
  • child sexual exploitation, in the context of young people
  • sexting
  • substance misuse
  • risk management and safety of others in relation to admissions and on course students
  • issues that may be specific within Doncaster
  • particular issues in relation to domestic violence, sexual exploitation, female genital mutilation and forced marriage
  • Children and Young People who are missing from home and/or education
  • The College recognises that safeguarding is not just about protecting students from deliberate harm. It relates to all aspects of College life, including:

Health and Safety

Risk Management

Duty of Care

Requirements of professional bodies, regulating organisations and placement providers

Proving First Aid

Educational Visits

Meeting needs of students with medical conditions

Internet and e-Safety

Appropriate arrangements to ensure security

4 / Scope

4.1This policy extends to all College employees, students, contractors and visitors who the College owes a duty of care and responsibility.

Categories of abuse

Physical may involve hitting, shaking, throwing, poisoning, burning or scalding, drowning, suffocating, or otherwise causing physical harm to a vulnerable adult, including by fabricating the symptoms of, or deliberately causing, ill health to a vulnerable adult.

Psychological including emotional abuse, threats of harm or abandonment, forced marriage (this is a marriage conducted without the full consent of both parties and where duress is a factor), deprivation of contact, humiliation, blaming, controlling, intimidation, coercion, harassment, verbal abuse, isolation or withdrawal from services or supportive network.

Sexual abuse involves forcing or enticing a young person or vulnerable adult to take part in sexual activities, whether or not the vulnerable adult is aware of what is happening. The activities may involve physical contact, including penetrative (e.g. rape or buggery) or non-penetrative acts. They may include involving vulnerable adults in looking at, or in the production of, pornographic material, or encouraging vulnerable adults to behave in sexually inappropriate ways.

Neglect is the persistent failure to meet a vulnerable adult’s basic physical and/or psychological needs, likely to result in a serious impairment of the child’s health or development, such as failing to provide adequate food, shelter and clothing, or neglect of, or unresponsiveness to, a child’s basic emotional needs.

Financial: including theft, fraud, exploitation, pressure in connection with wills, property or inheritance for financial transactions, or the misuse or misappropriation of property.

Discrimination: including racist, sexist, that based on a person’s disability and other forms of harassment, slurs or similar threat.

Institutional: when the needs of the institution take precedent over the needs of the individual.

Staff should also be mindful of the threat of bullying:

Bullying: Vulnerable adults are vulnerable to bullying, which is deliberately hurtful and harmful behaviour, often repeated over a period of time and from which it may be difficult to defend themselves. Bullying may take many forms, including: physical attacks, verbal (which would include name-calling, threats, racist or homophobic remarks), and emotional (for example, isolating an individual from the activities and social acceptance of other young people or vulnerable adult). Cyber bullying involves making use of the Internet or mobile phones to taunt, intimidate or threaten.

The damage inflicted by bullying must not be under-estimated; it can cause considerable distress, affect the young person or vulnerable adult’s health and development and cause significant harm. Where any staff member suspects bullying, they must report the suspicion to their line manager, who must investigate and, where appropriate, invoke the College bullying and harassment procedure.

5 / Definition

5.1The term vulnerable adult is used to refer to any person over the age of 18 years who may, amongst other indicators:

suffer from a mental illness

have a physical or sensory disability

have a learning difficulty

have a debilitating physical illness

be a substance abuser

be a carer

suffer discriminatory abuse on the grounds of race, culture, religion, gender, disability or sexual orientation

be in need of community care services by reason of mental or other disability, age or illness

be unable to protect himself or herself against significant harm or serious exploitation.

5.2The Department for Education defines CSE as follows:

‘Sexual exploitation of vulnerable adults and young people under the age of 18 involves exploitative situations, contexts and relationships where young people (or a third person or persons) receive ‘something’ (e.g. food, accommodation, drugs, alcohol, cigarettes, affection, gifts or money) as a result of them performing and/or others performing on them, sexual activities. Child sexual exploitation can occur through the use of technology without the child’s immediate recognition; for example being persuaded to post sexual images on the Internet/mobile phones without immediate payment or gain. In all cases, those exploiting the child/young person have power over them by virtue of their age, gender, intellect, physical strength and/or economic or other resources. Violence, coercion and intimidation are common, involvement in exploitative relationships has been characterised in the main by the child or young person’s limited availability of choice resulting from their social/economic and/or emotional vulnerability.’

[Safeguarding Children and Young People from Sexual Exploitation: supplementary guidance to Working Together to Safeguard Children August 2009]

6 / Responsibility

Roles Responsibilities

6.1The responsibility for Safeguarding Vulnerable Adults is vested in a member of the College Chief Executive Group – the Assistant Principal Inclusion,Student Experience and Commercial Development

In the absence of the Assistant Principal Inclusion and Learner Experience, the Deputy Principal should be contacted.

6.2The Assistant Principal Inclusion,Student Experience and Commercial Development is responsible for ensuring that students/staff are appropriately supported and guided, and for liaising with the Local Safeguarding Adults Board.

6.3The Deputy Principal is responsible for ensuring that staff have the appropriate knowledge and expertise via an appropriate staff development programme, and to ensure all staff are vetted with the Disclosure and Barring Service, prior to appointment and attend safeguarding essential skills training every 3 years thereafter.

6.4The Curriculum Head of Department and Programme Managers are responsible for ensuring that all incidents are appropriately recorded and reported.

6.5 The Governing body must ensure all safeguarding policies, procedures andtraining is effective and compliant with current law.

6.6The Designated Governor (Safeguarding) is responsible for consulting with the Chair of Governors, in the event of allegations being made against the College Principal and Chief Executive.

6.7All staff have a responsibility for safeguarding vulnerable adults and reporting concerns in line with College procedure.

6.8 All staff must attend essential safeguarding training every 3 years in line with Working Together to Safeguard Children (2015).

6.9 The Assistant Principal Inclusion, Student Experience and Commercial Development is responsible for ensuring the Risk Assessment process is adhered to in line with the law and the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act.

Nominated Member of Staff

6.10The nominated member of staff with responsibility for Child Protection/Safeguarding is the Assistant Principal Inclusion,Student Experience and Commercial Development.

6.11College Managers are responsible for ensuring all their line reports attend safeguarding training in line with College policy.

6.12In the absence of the Assistant Principal Inclusion,Student Experience and Commercial Development further nominated staff are; the Head of Personal Development, Behaviour and Welfare extn 4216, the Head of Children’s University (01302) 553791, the Head of Health, Safety and Commercial Operations (01302) 553562, the Head of Inclusion (01302) 553848, the Head of Additional Learning Support and Life Skills (01302) 558246, Student Services and Administration Manager (01302) 552057 and the Head of Human Resources (01302) 553962.

6.13In the absence of the nominated member of staff, please contact the Welfare Administrator on (01302) 553741 or .

6.14 The Head of Human Resources is responsible for ensuring all matters of safeguarding concerns relating to staff are referred to the Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) in line with Safer in Education 2014. The Head of Human Resource will also refer to The Disclosure and Barring Service any individual in the employ of Doncaster College if that person has been working in regulated activity and been dismissed, removed or resigned due to safeguarding concerns.

6.15 The Head of Health, Safety and Commercial Operations is responsible for screening applications at the point of admission and/or within on course programme should it be necessary where a relevant criminal conviction has been declared.

7 / Policy

7.1 The policy and procedure will address the following situations:

where allegations are made or suspicions/concerns arise that a vulnerable adult within the College’s provision, is or may be being abused

where allegations are made or suspicions/concerns arise related to a member of staff abusing a vulnerable adult within the College’s provision

where a member or prospective member of the College community is deemed to pose a threat to vulnerable adults at the College

7.2In line with current legislation and best practice guidance, our fundamental belief is that people have the right to make important decisions about their own lives and that protection of vulnerable adults’ welfare is paramount. Consequently, the College feels that safeguarding vulnerable adults takes priority over any other policies/procedures.

7.3The College’s response to its role in safeguarding the welfare of its vulnerable adults is:

a)to work in accordance with the policies of the South Yorkshire’s Adult Protection Procedures

b)to provide appropriate training to all relevant members of staff to ensure that they are aware of the issue of vulnerable adult protection and the procedures that follow

c)to provide essential training every 3 years to enable staff to be alert to the signs of abuse and neglect, and know to whom they should report concerns and suspicions

d)to make appropriate referrals of vulnerable adults to Social Care or other appropriate agency where there are concerns that the vulnerable adult is, or may be, being abused

e)to prohibit sexual relationships between staff and students who are vulnerable adults

f)to ensure that vulnerable adults have the right of access to College staff who will respect their confidences; and who will not judge, intervene and act, except in extreme circumstances, without the person’s agreement

g)to ensure the vulnerable adult is offered all possible support

h)to recognise the College’s duty of care and that the vulnerable adult’s welfare must be paramount. Hence, in extreme circumstances, it may be necessary to breach a person’s confidentiality to protect them from harm. Students must be informed of this position through College literature reinforced by verbal explanations from learning assistants/tutors/ counsellors. All employees of the College have a general duty to ensure the confidentiality of information relating to both students and employees. Those with parental responsibility should be notified and consulted about any investigation or assessment, unless doing so might seriously impede an investigation of significant harm

i)to ensure that in situations where abuse is alleged or suspected the College will take account of the advice from the Local Authority Safeguarding Adults Lead Officer on circumstances warranting breach of confidentiality.

These include:

a vulnerable adult in a dangerous situation

a situation when inaction might place them/someone else in a dangerous situation

a vulnerable adult in fear of the abuser

when inaction infringes the rights of other vulnerable adults

when inaction could lead to someone being harmed

The Police and Social Care have the primary responsibility in the field of Safeguarding and Child Protection. The Children Act 1989 places a duty on local authorities to take steps to protect vulnerable adults in appropriate circumstances and gives certain powers to the police so that they can take action to protect vulnerable adults. However, all those who come into contact with vulnerable adults in their everyday work (including College staff and volunteers who do not have a specific role in relation to safeguarding vulnerable adults) have a duty to safeguard and promote the welfare of vulnerable adults and young people.

In the context of a Multi-Agency Strategy Meetings, College will share information and will be bound by the agreed actions from that meeting. The Senior Designated Safeguarding Officer in accordance with Keeping Children Safe in Education (2015) has the status and authority to action child protection and safeguarding matters relating to both College students and external individuals.

In line with current legislation and best practice guidance, our fundamental belief is that young people have the right to make important decisions about their own lives and that protection of vulnerable adults’ welfare is paramount. Consequently, the College feels that Safeguarding issues take priority in relation to any other policies/ procedures with the exception of Health and Safety.

j)to ensure that confidentiality is maintained and incidents will never be discussed within or outside the College except on a strictly ‘need-to-know’ basis. For example, it may be important to ensure that the personal tutor is aware that the student may need support

k)to allow the vulnerable adult to be heard and tell their story

l)to ensure that a written factual record of discussions with the student is made as soon as possible of the key details regarding the allegations and the actions taken using Form SC1 (Appendix 2). The record should be factual and objective in terms of what is reported by the student and not based on opinions, thoughts or impressions

m)to ensure a record is kept of all concerns, discussions and decisions where there are vulnerable adult concerns