Safeguarding Adults and Children Policy
Target Audience: All staff
Next Review Date: June 2027
4. Policy on a Page: Summary
What the policy covers:
- Staff competence to recognise, respond, and refer where concerns exist
- Ensuring the child/young person is at the centre of safeguarding
- Working closely with other agencies, including information sharing
- Providing evidence to the Trust board, commissioners, and regulators
To whom it applies:
- Trust Board and Executive
- All senior management, clinical staff, and non-clinical staff
- All Volunteers, Honorary contracts, and Contractors
Key Change in this Version (V1, Sept 2024):
This policy amalgamates the two previous individual Trust policies (C&I and BEH), combining adults and children together to support the Think Family and lifelong safeguarding approach.
5. Introduction: Our Commitment
The Trust has a statutory duty to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and young people (Children Act 2004) and Adults at Risk (Care Act 2014).
The Trust takes a zero-tolerance approach to abuse of any kind.
Safeguarding is considered the "golden thread" that weaves through all clinical work.
Core Principles:
- Staff must be supported to be competent and confident in safeguarding
- All staff must implement a trauma-informed focus, act with curiosity, and to 'Think Family' in all aspects of safeguarding
- The right of a child to be protected from abuse or neglect will always override the needs or wishes of any adult
9. Section 1: Safeguarding Adults
Safeguarding applies to an adult who has needs for care and support, is experiencing or is at risk of abuse or neglect, and is unable to protect himself or herself as a result of those needs.
Six Principles of Adult Safeguarding (Care Act 2014):
1. Empowerment: Adults are encouraged to make their own decisions
2. Prevention: Strategies are developed to prevent abuse and neglect
3. Proportionate: A proportionate and least intrusive response is made
4. Protection: Adults are offered ways to protect themselves, with a co-ordinated response
5. Partnerships: Local solutions through services working together within their communities
6. Accountable: Accountability and transparency in delivering a safeguarding response
Mental Capacity Act (MCA) 2005
The MCA provides a statutory framework to empower and protect anyone aged 16 or over who is unable to make a particular decision for themselves at a particular time. A person must be assumed to have capacity unless proven otherwise.
10. Section 2: Safeguarding Children
Safeguarding children is everyone's responsibility, underpinned by a child-centred approach.
Key Areas of Concern:
Categories of Abuse:
Extra Familial Harm (EFH):
Risks faced by children from influences and individuals outside their immediate family (e.g., peers, sexual exploitation), which are not related to parent/carer actions.
County Lines:
Where gangs exploit children and vulnerable young people to courier drugs and cash.
Domestic Abuse:
Children who see, hear, or otherwise experience the effects of domestic abuse are recognised as victims.
⚠️ Always make a referral if domestic violence is known to be a feature in the life of a pregnant mother or a baby under 1 year of age is in the home.
11. Section 3: Safeguarding Across the Lifespan (Core Duties)
Professional Curiosity
Curiosity is the capacity and communication skill to explore and understand what is happening rather than making assumptions or accepting things at face value.
⚠️ Lack of professional curiosity is a repeated theme in Serious Incidents and Statutory Reviews (SAR/DHR/CLPR).
Information Sharing: The Seven Golden Rules
Remember GDPR is not a barrier to sharing information
Be open and honest with the person from the outset
Share with consent where appropriate and possible
Always consider the safety and wellbeing of the person and others
Ensure what is shared is necessary, proportionate, relevant, accurate, timely, and secure
Record reasons for the decision on whether to share or not
The duty to share is as important as the duty of confidentiality
12. Roles and Responsibilities
| Role | Responsibility |
|---|---|
| The Chief Executive | Holds overall accountability for safeguarding, including ensuring mechanisms are in place for the implementation, monitoring, and revision of the policy. |
| Chief Nursing Officer | Is the Executive Trust Board Lead for Safeguarding, holding accountability with delegated responsibility to the Associate Director for Safeguarding. |
| Associate Director for Safeguarding | Provides strategic lead for both safeguarding Children and Adults, ensures compliance with CQC, and completes the Trust Safeguarding Annual Report. |
| Service Leads / Line Managers | Responsible for ensuring staff are trained and competent, that safeguarding issues are addressed, and that safeguarding responsibilities are reflected in all job descriptions. |
| All Staff | Responsible for being alert to indicators of abuse, ensuring they listen to children and adults, and seeking advice and guidance from safeguarding professionals if unsure how to act. |
Questions or Concerns?
If you have any questions about this Safeguarding Policy or need to report a concern, please contact your programme facilitator or team coordinator immediately.
For urgent safeguarding concerns, follow your organization's escalation procedures.