Quick Guide …..What role do I have in
safeguarding as a family carer?
At sometime in your role as family carer you may
uncover or be involved in safeguarding issues. This can
be a daunting time or experience and this quick guide
should help you to understand the process and what
you need to be looking out for or be aware of.
The law relating to Safeguarding
and protecting adults
 In 2000, the Department of Health issued guidance called




“No Secrets”.
This outlined how the local Authority should co-ordinate a
multi agency approach to protecting and safeguarding
vulnerable adults from abuse through the development of
multi-agency policy and procedures.
It led to the development of Multi Agency Policy and
Procedures.
The Human Rights Act is an important legal framework to
support an adults rights to be
Equality Act
Mental Capacity Act
Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act
Legislation – Child Protection
 Childrens Act 1989






s3- Parental responsibility
s17 Duty to safeguard and promote welfare
s37 Duty to investigates47(1b) significant harm
s47 enquiries – duty to assist and co-operate
S48(9) emergency Protection Order
 Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984,
section 17
 Adoption and Children’s Act 2002
 Mental Capacity Act 2005
Principles of safeguarding
 Empowerment
 Protection
 Prevention
 Proportionality
 Partnerships
 Accountability and
 Inclusiveness
 Leadership
 Culture
 Staff competence
Why has Child Protection guidance
been developed?
 Result of legislation
 Achieving best evidence in criminal
proceedings: guidance for vulnerable and
intimidated witnesses, including children
 Achieving a balance of welfare of child and
need to respect rights of parents
 Human Rights Act 1998
Definition of a vulnerable Adult
 ‘a person aged 18 or over 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 be unable to take care of
himself or herseld, or unable to protect
him/herself against significant harm or
exploitation’.
Definition of a vulnerable child
 Differing definitions based on Children’s Act 1989
 Circumstance where a child’s basic needs are not
being met in a manner that is appropriate to
his/her individual needs and stage of
development and the child is, or will be, at risk
through avoidable acts of commission or
omission
 Principle ; all children deserve to be cared for and
be protected from harm and to grow up in a safe
environment in which their rights and needs are
respected
What makes someone vulnerable?
 Limited access to health care
 Age
 Dependency on others (parent,guardian)
 Limited sex education
 Limited life experience
 Limited access to criminal justice
 Shared living arrangements
 Dependent on other for their basic
needs
Abuse
Abuse can happen in any setting
In places presumed as ‘safe’
Abusers can include;
Family members
Friends
Neighbours
Carers
Paid professionals
What is abuse?
 Abuse is a violation of an individual’s human
and civil rights by any other person or
persons.
Abuse may consist of a single act or repeated
acts.
Is abuse always intentional?
 No – the person perpetrating abuse may not
know that what they are doing is harming the
victim.
 Is the impact on the victim any less if the
abuse is unintentional?
Potential Indicators
Physical abuse
 Includes hitting, slapping, scratching,
pushing, kicking, misuse of medication,
restraint or inappropriate sanctions.
Potential Indicators
Sexual abuse
 Includes rape and sexual assault or sexual
acts to which the adult has not consented,
or could not consent or was pressured into
consenting, and non-contact abuse such as
voyeurism, involvement in pornography,
serious teasing or innuendo.
Potential Indicators
Psychological abuse
 Includes emotional abuse, threats of harm or
abandonment, deprivation of contact,
humiliation, blaming, controlling, intimidation,
harassment, verbal abuse, isolation or
withdrawal from services or support networks
Potential Indicators
Financial or material abuse
 Includes theft, fraud, exploitation, pressure in
connection with wills, property or inheritance
or financial transactions, or the misuse or
misappropriation of property, possessions or
benefits.
Potential Indicators
Neglect and acts of omissions
 Includes ignoring medical or physical care
needs, failure to provide access to
appropriate health, social care or educational
services, the withholding or the necessities of
life, such as medication, adequate nutrition
and heating.
Potential Indicators
Discriminatory abuse
 Includes racial and sexual harassment,
discrimination on the basis of race, gender,
age, sexuality, disability or religion, slurs and
deliberate exclusion.
Potential Indicators
Institutional abuse
 This can be defined as abuse or mistreatment
by a regime as well as by individuals within a
residential setting. Sometimes, it it difficult to
identify organisational practices as abusive
and it is easier to define them as inadequate.
Potential Indicators
Institutional abuse continued
Examples include
 Rundown/overcrowded establishment
 Authoritarian or rigid management
 Lack of leadership/supervision
 Disharmony in staff group
 High level of sickness and turnover of staff
 Not enough staff
What might not usually be considered as
abuse for vulnerable adults?
 Random Violence
Random violence perpetrated against a vulnerable adult by a
person with whom the vulnerable adult has had no previous or
likely future contact (i.e. a stranger) will not usually be viewed as
requiring investigation of the Procedures to Protect Vulnerable
Adults from Abuse. However, other services (especially the
police, if not already aware) and support will frequently be
needed.
 Self-Neglect
Adult protection will not usually apply in cases of self-neglect,
other than when mental incapacity is present. Other
assessment and review procedures may prove a more
appropriate intervention in situations of self-neglect
Ways in which family members
can help prevent abuse
 Acknowledging that ‘it could happen here’
 Being alert to signs of distress or intimidation by someone that
they care for
 Reporting concerns at the earliest opportunity to a helath vsitor/
social worker, GP or other paid professional
 If concerns are not heard through proper channels – try another
way – don’t give up
 Asking for help if you feel ‘out of your depth’ with a particular
issue
If you suspect abuse
 DO
Remain calm
Ensure no one is in immediate danger
 Call emergency services if urgent help required
 Report concerns without delay
 Record facts
• DON’T
X Promise to keep secrets
X Be judgemental or over react
X Challenge the alleged abuser/investigate yourself
X Disturb forensic evidence
X Discourage anyone from reporting concerns
What if someone does not want
help?
 Vulnerable children and adults have rights
and responsibilities – however with a child
welfare is paramount
 Mental capacity Act applies fro vulnerable
Adults
 Do not promise to keep secrets
 Speak to your manager
Preserving Evidence
 Don’t disturb ‘crime scene’
 Don’t tidy up. Change bedding
 Encourage person not to wash, change clothes, use
the toilet, drink
 Ensure documentation is safe
 Not conversations, answer-phone messages etc
 Don’t attempt to interview victim, perpetrator,
witnesses
What should I do?
 Record and Report to
http://www.sunderland.nhs.uk/TPCT/services/
nursing/docs/framework.pdf
 www.alertabuse.org.uk/documents/SSAP%20
Section%201.pdf
Then what?
 Strategy- Child protection procedures,
MARAC, Local safeguarding Children’s Board
 Decision making
 Record events
 Monitor
 Evaluate
 Re convene