Newcastle Safeguarding Adults Board
Community and voluntary sector safeguarding adults policy and procedures
Directorate
Adult Services
Document location
and title
Community and Vol
sector SA policy and
procedures
Version
Issued By
Classification
Version 2.0
24 September 2008
Margaret Lester
Public
Safeguarding adults means all work which enables an adult to retain
independence, wellbeing and choice and live a life that is free from abuse
and neglect. It is about preventing abuse and neglect as well as promoting
good practice for responding to concerns on a multi-agency basis.
Everyone has the right to live their lives free from violence and abuse. That
right is underpinned by the duty on public agencies under the Human Rights
Act (1988), which places a duty on public organisations to enable adults at
risk of neglect or abuse to access the advice, support and interventions they
need to minimise the risk of further abuse, and stop it wherever possible.
It follows that all citizens should have access to relevant services including
the civil and criminal justice system and victim support services. Remedies
available should also include measures that achieve behaviour change by
those who have perpetrated abuse or neglect.
Safeguarding is about trying to make sure that vulnerable adults do not get
harmed, and knowing what to do if anyone in your organisation or service is
worried about a vulnerable adult. Making sure that your service or
organisation has safeguards in place:
 Protects adults from harm and abuse
 Enables staff and volunteers to know what to do if they are worried
 Shows that your organisation or service is responsible
“Abuse is a violation of an individual’s human and civil rights by any other
person or persons.”
(‘No Secrets’ Department of Health 2000)
‘No Secrets’ (Department of Health 2000).It was issued under Section 7 of
the Local Authority Social Services Act, 1970, which requires local authorities
in their social services functions to act under the general guidance of the
secretary of state. In the context of ‘No Secrets’, this means co-ordinating a
multi-agency response to ensuring that appropriate policies, procedures and
practices (for the protection of vulnerable adults at risk of abuse) are put in
place and implemented locally.
Community and voluntary sector safeguarding adults policy and procedures
Directorate
Adult Services
Document location
and title
Community and Vol
sector SA policy and
procedures
Version
Issued By
Classification
Version 2.0
24 September 2008
Margaret Lester
Public
This guidance derives from Newcastle Safeguarding adults multi - agency
policy and procedures and will assist you to formulate a safeguarding adults
policy and procedures for your organisation
Writing a Policy statement
A policy statement makes clear to staff, volunteers, service users, carers ,
parents and children what the organisation thinks about safeguarding and
what it will do to keep vulnerable adults safe. It should be no longer that two
sides of A4
A policy statement sets out
 What the organisation wishes to say about keeping vulnerable adults
safe
 Why the organisation is taking these steps
 How in board terms the organisation is going to meet this responsibility
 Who it applies and relates to e.g. all staff and volunteers, vulnerable
adults aged over18
 How the organisation will put the policy into action and how it links to
other relevant policies and procedures e.g. recruitment, whistle blowing
, use of restraint
The policy statement should also :
 Identify the organisation, its purpose and it’s function
 Recognise the needs of vulnerable adults from minority ethnic groups ,
socially excluded adults and the barriers they may face, especially
around communication
 Briefly state the guidance that supports the policy
Your organisation will also need an action plan that states how you will
ensure that everyone who uses your organisation is aware and understands
your safeguards. You must also consider your policy and procedures from
safeguarding children and young people aged under 18. (There is separate
guidance available for organisations to write child protection policy and
Community and voluntary sector safeguarding adults policy and procedures
Directorate
Adult Services
Document location
and title
Community and Vol
sector SA policy and
procedures
Version
Issued By
Classification
Version 2.0
24 September 2008
Margaret Lester
Public
procedures for further assistance contact Sharon Gill, Manager, Childcare
safeguarding compliance service 0191 277 4678
Sharon.gill@newcastle,gov.uk or Sue Kirkley Newcastle safeguarding Board
co-ordinator 0191 211 6470 Susan.kirkely@newcastle.gov.uk )
Community and voluntary sector safeguarding adults policy and procedures
Directorate
Adult Services
Document location
and title
Community and Vol
sector SA policy and
procedures
Version
Issued By
Classification
Version 2.0
24 September 2008
Margaret Lester
Public
Here is an example of a Safeguarding Adults policy
statement
Safeguarding Adults Policy Statement
This policy will enable NAME OF ORGANISATION to demonstrate its commitment to
keeping safe the adults with whom it works alongside. NAME OF ORGANISATION
acknowledges its duty to act appropriately to any allegations, reports or suspicions
of abuse.
It is important to have the policy and procedures in place so that your staff,
volunteers, service users and carers, and management committee can work to
prevent abuse, know what to do in the event of abuse and can act to prevent further
abuse.
The Policy Statement and Procedures have been drawn up in order to enable
name of organisation to:

promote good practice and work in a way that can prevent harm, abuse
and coercion occurring.

to ensure that any allegations of abuse or suspicions are dealt with
appropriately and the person experiencing abuse is supported.

and to stop that abuse occurring.
The policy applies to all staff, including senior managers, board of trustees,
paid staff, volunteers, sessional workers, agency staff, students and anyone
working on behalf of name of organisation
It is acknowledged that significant numbers of people are abused and it is
important that name of organisation has a Safeguarding Adults policy, a
set of procedures to follow and puts in place preventative measures to try
and reduce that number.
In order to implement the policy the name of organisation will work:

To promote the freedom and dignity of the person who has or is
experiencing abuse

To promote the rights of all people to live free from abuse and coercion
Community and voluntary sector safeguarding adults policy and procedures
Directorate
Adult Services
Document location
and title
Community and Vol
sector SA policy and
procedures
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24 September 2008
Margaret Lester
Public

To ensure the safety and well being of people who do not have the
capacity to decide how they want to respond to abuse that they are
experiencing

To manage services in a way which promotes safety and prevents abuse

Recruit staff and volunteers safely, ensuring all necessary checks are
made

Provide effective management for staff and volunteers through
supervision , support and training
Name of Organisation

will ensure that all management committee members, staff, volunteers
and service users, their carers/ families are familiar with this policy and
procedures

will work with other agencies within the framework of the Newcastle
Safeguarding Adults Policy and procedures, under No Secrets guidance
( D o H 2000)

will act within it’s confidentiality policy and will usually gain permission
from service users before sharing information about them with another
agency

will pass information to a Safeguarding adults manager when more than
one person is at risk. This includes all concerns of abuse taking place in
a care setting

will inform service users that where a person is in danger, a child is at
risk or a crime has been committed then a decision may be taken to
pass information to another agency without the service user’s consent

will make a referral to the Adult Services Customer service team as
appropriate

will endeavour to keep up to date with national developments relating to
preventing abuse and welfare of adults
Community and voluntary sector safeguarding adults policy and procedures
Directorate
Adult Services
Document location
and title
Community and Vol
sector SA policy and
procedures
Version
Issued By
Classification
Version 2.0
24 September 2008
Margaret Lester
Public

will ensure that the designated named person understands his/her
responsibility to refer incidents of adult abuse to the relevant statutory
agencies (Police / Adult Services Directorate)
The designated named person for Safeguarding Adults in Name of
Organisation is name or role and contact details
They should be contacted for support and advice on implementing this policy
and procedures.
This policy should be read in conjunction with the Newcastle’s Multi- Agency
Safeguarding Adults Policy and Procedures documents.
http://www.newcastle.gov.uk/core.nsf/a/adultsprotectpandp
These are kept State where they and the policy and procedures
are kept.
Community and voluntary sector safeguarding adults policy and procedures
Directorate
Adult Services
Document location
and title
Community and Vol
sector SA policy and
procedures
Version
Issued By
Classification
Version 2.0
24 September 2008
Margaret Lester
Public
Safeguarding Adults Procedures
Your organisation’s Safeguarding Adults procedures should detail the steps, which
will be followed, where there are concerns that an adult could be experiencing
abuse and/or neglect. The procedures should ensure a speedy response for dealing
with your concerns.
1. Introduction
This should provide a brief introduction to the work that your organisation does
with adults. It should also explain that you are committed to the wellbeing of the
group of people that you work with.
Also include; the purpose of the procedures, i.e. that is to ensure that any
allegations of abuse are effectively managed and that staff and volunteers fully
understand their duty to act.
Suggested wording
NAME OF ORGANISATION provides a …………….service to ……………..people.
These procedures have been designed to ensure the welfare and protection of any adult
who accesses services provided by NAME OF ORGANISATION. The procedures
recognise that adult abuse can be a difficult subject for workers to deal with. NAME OF
ORGANISATION is committed to the belief that the protection of adults from harm and
abuse is everybody’s responsibility and the aim of these procedures is to ensure that all
managers, trustees of the organisation, management committee members , staff and
volunteers act appropriately in response to any concern around adult abuse.
There should be clear reference to the organisation’s commitment to Equal Rights
and Diversity and Recruitment of ex-offenders.
2. Preventing abuse
This section details the measures that your organisation puts in place to reduce the
risk of abuse occuring and will make reference to key policies that work to prevent
or reduce abuse occurring. It is also an opportunity to think here about staff ratio
and empowerment work that you can do with your service users to inform them
about prevalence of abuse as well as agencies that can offer support.
Community and voluntary sector safeguarding adults policy and procedures
Directorate
Adult Services
Document location
and title
Community and Vol
sector SA policy and
procedures
Version
Issued By
Classification
Version 2.0
24 September 2008
Margaret Lester
Public
It is useful to publicise both the complaints and Safeguarding Adults policy
statement, so that people who use the service and cares are aware of the policies. It
might also be useful to provide the information in welcome packs and other
literature that you give to service users and/or carers
‘Adult abuse is wrong’ posters should be displayed in your organisation as well as
leaflets. These are available from the Safeguarding Adults unit. The leaflets are
available in other languages, large print CD and tape
Suggested Wording
NAME OF ORGANISATION is committed to putting in place safeguards and
measures to reduce the likelihood of abuse taking place within the services it offers and
that all those involved within NAME OF ORGANISATION will be treated with respect.
Therefore this policy needs to be read in conjunction with the following policies:
 Equal Rights and Diversity
 Volunteers
 Complaints
 Whistle Blowing
 Confidentiality
 Disciplinary and Grievance
 Data Protection
 Recruitment and Selection
NAME OF ORGANISATION is committed to safer recruitment policies and practices
for paid staff, trustees and volunteers. This includes enhanced CRB disclosures for staff
and volunteers, ensuring references are taken up and adequate training on Safeguarding
Adults is provided for staff and volunteers.
Reference to recruitment and selection policy for paid staff and Volunteer policy
should be made here.
Where appropriate management committee members/ trustees will be required to provide
two references and have an enhanced Criminal Records Bureau disclosure.
Consider the implications of independent safeguarding authority (ISA) for your
organisation – look at website
The organisation will work within the current legal framework for reporting staff that are
abusers.
Service users will be encouraged to become involved with the running of the organisation.
Information will be available about abuse and the complaints policy and Safeguarding
Adults policy statement will be available to service users and their carers/ families.
Community and voluntary sector safeguarding adults policy and procedures
Directorate
Adult Services
Document location
and title
Community and Vol
sector SA policy and
procedures
Version
Issued By
Classification
Version 2.0
24 September 2008
Margaret Lester
Public
3. Recognising the signs and symptoms of abuse
In this section you should provide some basic information about the different types
of abuse. All members of staff/ trustees/ managers and volunteers should be
familiar with this information.
Service users and their carers/ families should be made aware of abuse
Suggested wording
NAME OF ORGANISATION is committed to ensuring that all staff, the trustees and
volunteers undertake training to gain a basic awareness of signs and symptoms of abuse.
NAME OF ORGANISATION will ensure that the designated named person and
other members of staff, trustees and volunteers have access to training around
Safeguarding Adults.
“Abuse is a violation of an individual’s human and civil rights by any other person or
persons”
No Secrets: Department of Health, March 2000
Abuse includes:







physical abuse, hitting, slapping, punching, burning
sexual abuse, rape, indecent assault, inappropriate touching
emotional abuse, belittling, name calling,
financial or material abuse, stealing, selling assets
neglect and acts of omission, leaving in soiled clothes, failing to feed properly
discriminatory abuse (including racist, sexist, based on a person’s disability and
other forms of harassment)
institutional
Abuse may be carried out deliberately or unknowingly.
Abuse may be a single act or repeated acts.
People who behave abusively come from all backgrounds and walks of life. They may be
doctors, nurses, social workers, advocates, staff members, volunteers or others in a
position of trust. They may also be relatives, friends, neighbours or people who use the
same services as the person experiencing abuse.
Community and voluntary sector safeguarding adults policy and procedures
Directorate
Adult Services
Document location
and title
Community and Vol
sector SA policy and
procedures
Version
Issued By
Classification
Version 2.0
24 September 2008
Margaret Lester
Public
For further input on more detailed definitions of types of abuse to include in this
procedure please look at ttp://www.newcastle.gov.uk/core.nsf/a/adultsprotectpandp
4. Named person for safeguarding adults
Every organisation that works with vulnerable adults should have in place a
designated named person who is responsible for dealing with any Safeguarding
Adults issues that might arise. A deputy should be available in their absence. These
individuals must be trained in Safeguarding Adults, have a good knowledge of
Newcastle Multi Agency Safeguarding Adult Policy and procedures and their
responsibilities clearly stated within your procedures.
Suggested wording
NAME OF ORGANISATION has an appointed individual who is responsible for
dealing with any Safeguarding Adults concerns. In their absence, a deputy will be
available for workers to consult with. The named person(s) for Safeguarding Adults within
NAME OF ORGANISATION is/are:
Named Person for Safeguarding Adults
Work Telephone number
Mobile Number
Emergency Contact Number
Name of deputy person
Work telephone number
Mobile number
Emergency contact number
The roles and responsibilities of the named person(s) are:





To ensure that all staff including volunteers and trustees are aware of what they
should do and who they should go to if they have concerns that someone may be
experiencing, or has experienced abuse or neglect.
To ensure that concerns are acted on, clearly recorded and referred to an Adult
Services Directorate Customer Services team where necessary.
To follow up any referrals and ensure the issues have been addressed.
Any recommendations from the Safeguarding adult process must be considered.
To reinforce the utmost need for confidentiality and to ensure that staff and
volunteers are adhering to good practice with regard to confidentiality and security.
This is because it is around the time that a person starts to challenge abuse that
the risks of increasing intensity of abuse are greatest.
Community and voluntary sector safeguarding adults policy and procedures
Directorate
Adult Services
Document location
and title
Community and Vol
sector SA policy and
procedures
Version
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Classification
Version 2.0
24 September 2008
Margaret Lester
Public

To ensure that staff and volunteers working directly with service users who have
experienced abuse, or who are experiencing abuse, are well supported and receive
appropriate supervision.
5. Responding to people who have experienced or are
experiencing abuse
The following section should provide clear guidelines for workers to follow if they
have concerns about a person they are working with. It is a good idea to
incorporate a flowchart outlining the stages, as it can be easier for staff to follow
please ask the Safeguarding unit for advice with this flowchart
Suggested Wording
NAME OF ORGANISATION recognises that it has a duty to act on reports, or
suspicions of abuse or neglect. It also acknowledges that taking action in cases of adult
abuse is never easy.
How to respond if you receive an allegation:







Reassure the person concerned
Listen to what they are saying
Record what you have been told/witnessed as soon as possible
Remain calm and do not show shock or disbelief
Tell them that the information will be treated seriously
Don’t start to investigate or ask detailed or probing questions
Don’t promise to keep it a secret
If you witness abuse or abuse has just taken place the priorities will be:
 To call an ambulance if required
 To call the police if a crime has been committed
 To preserve evidence
 To keep yourself, staff and service users safe
 To inform the designated named person in your organisation
 To record what happened in………………
All situations of abuse or alleged abuse will be discussed with the designated named
person. The alleged victim will be told that this will happen. This stage is called the alert.
The named person can then take advice from the Safeguarding Adults Unit and/or the
Adult Services Social Care Direct and /or other advice giving organisations.
If it is appropriate and there is consent from the individual, or there is a good reason to
override consent, such as risk to others, a referral will be made to a Adult Services
Community and voluntary sector safeguarding adults policy and procedures
Directorate
Adult Services
Document location
and title
Community and Vol
sector SA policy and
procedures
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Public
Directorate Customer services team and a Safeguarding Adults manager will make a
decision whether to involve the safeguarding process.
If the individual experiencing abuse does not have capacity a referral will be made without
that person’s consent.
Safeguarding Adult Managers are based at the Safeguarding Adult Unit and within Adult
Service Directorate.
If your concern involves abuse within a care setting (e.g. luncheon clubs, day centres,
hospital, care home etc) then please contact the Safeguarding Adults unit on:
Tel:0191 278 8156 or Fax: 0191 278 8102 for advice.
They will then ask you to make an alert to the Adult Services Customer Service team /
Social Care Direct Team (new name from January 2009)
If the alleged abuse is in someone’s own home contact an Adult Services Directorate
Customer Service Team / Social Care Direct Team at the Shieldfield Centre
Customer Service Team covers West and Central Newcastle
Tel 0191 278 8377 Fax 0191 278 8312
Gosforth Customer Service Team covers North and East Newcastle
Tel: 0191 278 8377 Fax 0191 278 8312
Ask to make a safeguarding adults alert. Follow this up in writing to the
Adult Customer Service team outlining concerns. This should be faxed to Adult Services
Customer Service Team after ensuring that the fax is in a safe haven by ringing to alert
and ring after sending to ensure safe arrival or sent by secured post in a double envelope
– marked strictly confidential.
The safeguarding manager will then decide if the safeguarding process should be
instigated or if other support / services is appropriate.
A referral will then lead to the implementation of the next stages of the Newcastle multi
agency policy and procedureshttp://www.newcastle.gov.uk/core.nsf/a/adultsprotectpandp.
The designated named person should have an overview of this process so they can
explain it to the person concerned and offer all relevant support to the process. This could
be practical support e.g. providing a venue, or information and reports and emotional
support.
Information should be provided to the individual. This could be about other sources of help
or information that could enable them to decide what to do about their experience, enable
them to recover from their experience and enable them to seek justice.
Community and voluntary sector safeguarding adults policy and procedures
Directorate
Adult Services
Document location
and title
Community and Vol
sector SA policy and
procedures
Version
Issued By
Classification
Version 2.0
24 September 2008
Margaret Lester
Public
6. Managing allegation made against member of staff
or volunteer
All organisations that work with adults need to ensure that they have procedures in
place to deal with allegations of abuse by a member of staff, management
committee member or volunteer. This is to demonstrate their commitment to
Safeguarding Adults and acknowledge that abusers can be workers within the
organisation. This demonstrates a commitment to listening to people and also
ensuring that workers feel safe to express concerns.
Mention could be made of relevant whistle blowing/complaints procedure/discipline
and grievance procedures.
Suggested wording
NAME OF ORGANISATION will ensure that any allegations made against members
or member of staff will be dealt with swiftly.
Where a member of staff/volunteer is thought to have committed a criminal offence the
police will be informed. If a crime has been witnessed the police should be contacted
immediately.
The safety of the individual(s) concerned is paramount and it should be ensured that they
are safe and away from the person(s) who are the alleged perpetrators.
The designated named person will liaise with the safeguarding manager / safeguarding
unit to discuss the best course of action and to ensure that the NAME OF
ORGANISATION disciplinary procedures are coordinated with any other enquiries
taking place as part of the ongoing management of the allegation.
7. Recording and managing confidential information
This section should include details about how any allegations; reports or
suspicions are going to be dealt with. It should provide a place to record incidents,
detailing what information needs to be collected.
Reassurance that this information will be kept in a secure location and only shared
with those who need to know should be included.
Reference should be made to the organisation’s confidentiality policy and data
protection policy.
Community and voluntary sector safeguarding adults policy and procedures
Directorate
Adult Services
Document location
and title
Community and Vol
sector SA policy and
procedures
Version
Issued By
Classification
Version 2.0
24 September 2008
Margaret Lester
Public
It should be made clear that where an adult has capacity and no other person or
child is at risk, then if they do not want to take the matter further it will remain
confidential. The person should be reassured and provided with information about
possible sources of help, should they decide to do something at a later date.
However there will be occasions when confidentiality cannot be guaranteed.
NAME OF ORGANISATION is committed to maintaining confidentiality wherever
possible and information around Safeguarding Adults issues should be shared only with
those who need to know. For further information, please see NAME OF
ORGANISATION confidentiality policy.
All allegations/concerns should be recorded in……………The information should be
factual and not based on opinions, record what the person tells you, what you have seen
and witnesses if appropriate.
The information that is recorded will be kept secure and will comply with data protection.
This information will be secured in a locked filing cabinet / or………… in the organisation.
Access to this information will be by the designated named person and…………………….
8. Disseminating/Reviewing policy and procedures
It is important that you have put in place a system for updating this policy on a
regular basis, to ensure that it reflects changes in law or good practice. It should be
reviewed on an annual basis and the procedures should set out who will review and
what measures will be in place to disseminate new information. It might be
appropriate to involve the service users in this process.
Suggested Wording
The Safeguarding Adults Policy and Procedures will be reviewed annually by the
Management Committee, the designated named person for Safeguarding Adults will be
involved in this process and can recommend any changes. The designated named person
will also ensure that any changes are clearly communicated to staff, trustees and
volunteers.
It may be appropriate to involve service users in the review and parents/carers need to be
informed of any significant changes.
Community and voluntary sector safeguarding adults policy and procedures
Directorate
Adult Services
Document location
and title
Community and Vol
sector SA policy and
procedures
Version
Issued By
Classification
Version 2.0
24 September 2008
Margaret Lester
Public