QUEEN ELIZABETH’S FOUNDATION FOR DISABLED PEOPLE
ADULTS AT RISK POLICY
INTRODUCTION
The basis of this policy is that everyone has the right to:
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Live free from violence, fear and abuse.
Be protected from harm and exploitation.
Be independent, including the right to take risks.
Say no to anything they do not understand.
Adults at risk should be protected from any form of abuse while they are
receiving services from QEF.
DUTY OF CARE
All QEF staff have a duty of care to all clients, to prevent physical, sexual,
psychological/emotional, financial/material and discriminatory abuse and
neglect.
DEFINITIONS
An adult at risk is defined as a person aged 18 years 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
him or herself against significant harm or exploitation. This includes:
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people
people
people
people
with learning disabilities
who have a substantial cognitive or physical disability
who are mentally ill
who have a sensory disability.
Abuse may consist of a single act or repeated acts. It may be physical,
verbal or psychological; it may be an act of neglect or an omission to act,
or it may occur when an adult at risk is persuaded to enter into a financial
or sexual transaction to which he or she has not consented or cannot
consent. Abuse can occur in any relationship and may result in significant
harm to, or exploitation of, the person subject to it. (Department of
Health 2000)
Abuse can occur in:
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domestic settings
public settings
institutional settings
all cultures, religions and levels of society
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Abuse can broadly be defined under various categories, which could
include:
Physical abuse
Non-accidental infliction of physical force that results (or could result) in
bodily injury, pain or impairment. Signs include hitting, slapping and
pushing, kicking, misuse of medication, restraint or inappropriate
sanctions.
Neglect and acts of omission
Ignoring medical or physical care needs, failure to provide access to
appropriate health, social care or educational services, the withholding of
the necessities of life, such as medication, adequate nutrition and heating.
Sexual Abuse.
Direct or indirect involvement in sexual activity without consent. Includes
rape and sexual assault or sexual acts to which the vulnerable adult has
not consented, or could not consent, or was pressurised into consenting.
Psychological Abuse
Includes emotional abuse, threats of harm or abandonment, deprivation of
contact, humiliation, blaming, controlling, intimidation, coercion,
harassment, verbal abuse, isolation or withdrawal from services or
supportive networks.
Financial or Material Abuse.
The unauthorised fraudulent obtaining and improper use of funds,
property or any other resources of a vulnerable person. Includes theft,
fraud, exploitation, pressure in connection with wills, property or
inheritance or financial transactions, or the misuse of or misappropriation
of property, possessions or benefits.
Discriminatory Abuse.
Abusive or derisive attitudes or behaviour. Includes racist, sexist, based
on a person’s disability, and other forms of harassment, slurs or similar
treatment.
Can also include lack of disabled access, submission to prescriptive
routines, lack of choice, lack of privacy and dignity and poorly trained and
unskilled staff, or inadequate staffing levels to support the agreed level of
service
Professional Abuse
Abuse of trust by professionals.
Includes entering into a sexual
relationship with a client, failure to refer disclosure of abuse, poor ill
informed and outmoded care practices.
Can also include punitive
responses to challenging behaviour and failure to whistle-blow on issues
when internal procedures are not being followed.
Also includes denying access to professional support such as advocacy,
service design, where groups of users living together are incompatible and
resource shortfall or service pressures that lead to service failure and
culpability as a result of poor management systems/structures.
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PEOPLE WHO MAY BE ABUSERS
The people involved are often known to their victims but can be strangers.
They may be a relative, friend or neighbour, a paid or voluntary worker, a
health or social care worker or they could be another vulnerable adult,
service user or group member.
People may not realise they are abusing and can sometimes act out of
character and abuse vulnerable adults because of stress.
RECOGNISING THE SIGNS AND INDICATORS OF ABUSE
Some of the signs that may indicate that an adult at risk is being abused
may include:
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Changes in a person’s behaviour
Unexplained changes in a person’s circumstances
Physical signs of abuse
Withdrawal of verbal communication
A person appearing withdrawn
Unexplained reactions towards particular individuals or settings
Panic attacks
Obsessive or challenging behaviour
Self harm
History of domestic violence.
WHAT TO DO IF ABUSE IS SUSPECTED
You have a personal duty and responsibility to report:
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If you suspect that an adult at risk is being abused
If you are told about abuse of an adult at risk by someone else
If you have any concerns about abuse of an adult at risk
You should immediately inform your manager, in order that the
appropriate way forward may be agreed.
DOING NOTHING CAN MAKE YOU GUILTY OF ABUSE THROUGH
NEGLECT
DO NOT LEAVE IT TO SOMEONE ELSE – ALWAYS REPORT
CONCERNS TO YOUR MANAGER
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HOW TO PROTECT CLIENTS FROM THE RISK OF ABUSE:
1.
Identify Adults at Risk.
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A risk assessment will be completed for all clients within two
weeks of commencement.
This will include assessment of risk to self, by/to others and
property.
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Risk assessment records will be kept in a secure environment,
as they may contain sensitive information.
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The relevant staff will be informed of the outcome of the risk
assessment to enable them to be proactive for safeguarding the
client.
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All QEF staff must be vigilant at all times, to the possibility of all
types of abuse.
2.
Recruitment
All offers of employment at QEF are subject to satisfactory references,
confirmation that the applicant is fit to work and a satisfactory application
for an Enhanced Disclosure from the Criminal Records Bureau. Each QEF
post is subject to a probationary period.
3.
Induction
All new employees undergo an induction to ensure they are aware and
understand QEF policies and procedures
All new employees are regularly monitored during their six-month
probationary period.
On successful completion of their probationary
period, employment will be confirmed.
HOW TO DEAL WITH CONCERNS ABOUT ABUSE:
1.
What to do if a client tells you that they are being abused.
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Allow the client to speak without interruption, listening carefully,
accepting what is being said without passing judgement
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Record the conversation in the client’s own words note the time,
date and sign the record of the conversation
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Reassure the client that they are right to tell you the information
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Explain to the client what will happen next.
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2.
What to avoid when listening to a client’s report of abuse
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Do not ask leading questions
Do not make promises you cannot keep
(eg. you would not be able to maintain confidentiality)
Do not jump to conclusions
Do not speculate or accuse anybody
Do not confront the alleged abuser
Do not begin an investigation of your own
Do not destroy or damage possible evidence.
3.
You have a duty to report your concerns:
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If you suspect that a person is being abused
If you are told about abuse of an adult at risk by someone else
If you have any concerns about abuse.
4.
What should happen next:
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You should contact your manager immediately and agree how the
information reported should be taken forward
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You and your manager should then discuss whether to refer the
matter to another agency
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Part of this discussion will include deciding whether to report the
matter to the Police and/or to Social Services
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There is a more detailed procedure available at each QEF service
which should be followed to protect QEF clients from abuse.
Your manager will give you the relevant procedure, if you are
involved in working with adults at risk or if you need to report your
concerns.
SUMMARY
If you have any queries or doubts about any of the issues concerned in
the Adults at Risk Policy or in these guidelines, you should raise these
immediately with your manager.
DOING NOTHING CAN MAKE YOU GUILTY OF ABUSE THROUGH
NEGLECT
DO NOT LEAVE IT TO SOMEONE ELSE – ALWAYS REPORT
CONCERNS TO YOUR MANAGER
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