SAFEGUARDING OF CHILDREN and VULNERABLE ADULTS POLICY AND PROCEDURES:

The Purpose of Policy and Procedure are (a) to help protect children and vulnerable people the organisation comes into contact with. (b) to ensure that staff and other personals are fully aware of the issues that can harm. (c) how staff and other personals should respond to concerns relating to their safeguarding responsibilities for a child and or vulnerable adult who may be experiencing harm, due to neglect and or abuse.

A Legal Duty:

The Eagle Eve NGO, (EENGD) is a local organisation in the City of Westminster providing social welfare services and community engagement activities. This being so the management committee must have policies and procedures in place for the safeguarding and protection of vulnerable adults under the Care Act 2014 and the safeguarding of children under the Children Act 1989 and the Safeguarding of Children Act 2018. Section 18 provides for everyone working with children and families must work together to protect the welfare of children so that children are free from abuse, harm, ill-treatment of children's health or development. This is to ensure that children grow up in circumstances consistent with the provision of safe and their well-being.

Policy Statement: EENGO recognises that everyone has the right to live in safety, free from harm, abuse and neglect and that children and elderly people are a vulnerable community group needing safeguarding.

Safeguarding means taking action/s to protect a child’s and an adult’s right to live in safety, free from abuse, neglect and harm.

The child or vulnerable adult may be living alone, in a family or with others. The person causing the harm may be a stranger but, more often than not, the child or adult will know and feel safe with the abuser. They are usually in a position of trust and power. In some instances they are a professional person, a health care or social care worker, a family member a relative or a neighbour.

EENGO is aware that abuse, harm and neglect can take place anywhere; in the home or a public place, while in hospital, care home, attending a  community centre, school, day nursery or other place of interest and benefit to children vulnerable adults.

The safeguarding of children and vulnerable adults is a matter of priority for EENGO. Children and vulnerable adults are EENGO customers and users of our services and activities.

EENGO is aware and recognise that the abuse, harm and or neglect of children and vulnerable adults are a fact of life, which can be physical, emotional, financial, and or sexual. A child or adults may be abused regardless of their age, gender, religious belief racial origin, culture, disability and or sexual orientation.

Everyone in EENGO has a responsibility for the safety and safeguarding of children and vulnerable adults in accordance with relevant legislations, general guideline and good practices for protecting children and vulnerable adults.

EENGO is an organisation which has contact with and serves children and elderly people across its services. We all have both a moral and legal obligation to ensure proper procedures are in place for the safeguarding of children and vulnerable adults.

This document sets out EENGO’s policy statement with regards to Children and Adult Safeguarding. There are a detailed policy and procedures which states what is expected of staff, volunteers and other personals acting on behalf of EENGO. The policy and procedures apply to activities/services on site and off site and at other times where there is contact between EENGO’s personals and Children and vulnerable elderly people.

The Designated Safeguarding Officer

For further information or to report a concern contacts the Designated Safeguarding Officer: Heshmat Assadi.

Address: 42, Gloucester Gardens,Bayswater, City of Westminster, London W2 6BN: Tel: 0207 402 3101 or 07949723796

End

SECTION 1: Vulnerable Adults Safeguarding Policy Statement

The Scope of the Policy:

1. This Children and Vulnerable Adult Safeguarding Policy is intended to cover all functions, services and activities of EENGO. It takes account and applies where there is the potential for direct or indirect contact with children and vulnerable adults. All relevant staff/volunteers and other personals or contractors who carry out work for EENGO, should all be committed to good practices which protect children and vulnerable adults from neglect, harm and abuse.
2. What is a vulnerable adult: A vulnerable adult is any person 18 years old or over who is or may be, unable to take care of him or herself against significant harm or exploitation. This may be because he or she has a mental health problem, a disability, and sensory impairment, is old or frail or has some form of illness, which leave them vulnerable. Because of his or her vulnerability, the individual may be in receipt of a care service, in his or her home, in the community, in be resident or a residential care home, nursing home or other institutional setting.
3. A child at risk of abuse, harm or neglect is one who has been identified as being at greater risk of experiencing physical or emotional harm, or those who are at risk of achieving poor outcomes due to factors in their lives. Factors may include: Physical, emotional, health and educational needs, risk or experience of harm.
4. Values and principles underling this policy for adults are; Access to information and knowledge – all at risk children and vulnerable adults will have access to information that they can understand to make an informed choice, including access to expert knowledge and advocacy, as required.
   

Choice – all at risk children and vulnerable adults will have the opportunity to select independently from a range of options based on clear and accurate information,

Confidentiality – all at risk children and vulnerable adults will know that information about them is managed appropriately and there is a clear understanding of confidentiality and its limits amongst staff and other personals,

Consent – all at risk children and vulnerable adults have the right to be supported to make their own decisions and to give or withhold their consent to an activity or service. Consent is a clear indication of a willingness to participate in an activity or to accept a service. It may be signalled verbally, by gesture, by willing participation or in writing. No one can give, or withhold, consent on behalf of another adult unless special provision for particular purpose has been made for this, usually by law,

Dignity and respect – all at risk children and vulnerable adults will be accorded the same respect and dignity as any other adult, by recognising their uniqueness and personal needs,

Equality and diversity – all at risk children and vulnerable adults will be treated equally and their background and culture will be valued and respected,

Equality Unit Fulfilment – all at risk children and vulnerable adults will be invited to engage in activities and offered services that enable them to fulfil their ability and potential,

Independence – all at risk children and vulnerable adults will have as much control as possible over their lives whilst being safeguarded against unreasonable risks,

Privacy – all at risk children and vulnerable adults will be free from unnecessary intrusion into their affairs, and there will be a balance between the individual’s own safety and the safety of others,

Safety – all at risk children and vulnerable adults will feel safe, and live without fear of violence, neglect or abuse in any form,

Support – all at risk children and vulnerable adults will supported to report any form of abuse or neglect.

1. Values and principles underling this policy for children are;

Healthy, children living in the UK are healthy

Freedom, children in the UK are given the freedom they need to be happy and enjoy their lives

Protection, children in the UK spend time in safe and protected environments

Successful life, Children living in the UK are provided with the tools they need to succeed in life

Stability, Children living in the UK are raised in environments that are as economically stable as possible

Positive and significant contribution, the main principle of the act is to make a positive and significant contribution to the lives of children living in the UK,

Please note that some of the above section (clause 5) would also apply in relation to safeguarding children.

1. Staff and volunteers responsibilities: All staff and volunteers have a duty to this Safeguarding Policy and Procedures and to notify their Safeguarding Officer on any matter/s regarding safeguarding of children and vulnerable adults. Staff/volunteers are also responsible for ensuring that they undertake the relevant training indentified for their post.
2. Training: All staff and volunteers working or coming into substantial contact with children and vulnerable adults will be provided with suitable training about protecting children and vulnerable adults as employees.

Training will be given on, a) what signs, behaviour or other evident that may suggest abused and or neglect, b) how to respond to and address concerns of abuse and or neglect, c) who in the organisation to raise your concerns with d) confidential and trust e) the formal steps for reporting and recording an abuse or neglect. All staff, volunteer, including trustees should undertake the safeguarding of adults training once within a 24 month period. Training is delivered by an experienced senior staff member and or external provided as appropriate;

1. Third Party Organisations:

EENG ensures that all contractors, community groups and other organisations that use EENGO facilities or services need to have an acceptable Children and Adults Safeguarding Policy and Procedures in place. As a minimum requirement, all such organisations must accept and apply the standards as outlined within this policy.

SECTION 2: Recruitment and Selection of Staff and Volunteers:

2.1. EENGO will operate an established recruitment, selection and development procedures for all positions where there is significant contact with children and vulnerable adults. These will include, where appropriate, DBS disclosure checks and or checks of Independent Safeguarding Authority registration.

2.2. EENGO will invoke any disciplinary or other referral/disqualification policies as required in the context of the operation of this policy.

2.3. EENGO will take all reasonable steps to ensure that in its recruitment and selection of staff/volunteers is will pay due retards to ensuring that;

There is a clear job description for staff/volunteers, person specification outlining key skills and abilities required,

There is an open recruitment process,

There is an application form that covers the work of the post

There is a declaration form requesting information on previous convictions and investigations, if any.

There is an interview process suitable to the role and risk,

Written references are sought (and followed up when necessary),

There is reference to regulated positions,

Where, required DBS disclosures check and or a check of Independent Safeguarding Authority (ISA) registration are carried out.

The post has been approved by SWRC management.

SECTION 3: What is abuse of child or vulnerable adults?

What constitutes abuse? Abuse is a violation of an individual’s human and civil rights by other person or persons. Many incidents of abuse are criminal acts. For instance, child abuse is when anyone under the age of 18 is either being harmed or not properly looked after. There are four main categories of child abuse: physical abuse, emotional abuse, sexual abuse and neglect.

In the main an abuse can be physical, psychological, emotional, financial or sexual maltreatment or neglect of by another person, agent or institution.

It may be a single act or repeated over a period of time and may take one form or multiple forms. The lack of appropriate action can also be a form of abuse. Abuse can occur in an relationship where there is an expectation of trust and can be perpetrated by a person or persons, in breach of that trust, who have influence over the life of a dependent, whether they be formal or informal carers, staff, family members or others.

Abuse can also occur outside relationships. Abuse can be either deliberate or the result of ignorance, or caused by a lack of training, knowledge or understanding. Often if a person is being abused in one way, they are also being abused in other ways.

Abuse can take many forms, including the following, physical abuse, hitting, slapping, pushing, burning, giving a person medication that may harm them, restraining or disciplining a person in an appropriate way,

Possible signs include bruising, burns, pain, marks on the person, not wanting to be touched.

3.1. Physiological Abuse: This includes emotional abuse, humiliation, bullying, verbal and the use of threats.

a) The possible signs of physiological abuse are – being withdrawn, too eager to do anything he/she is asked, showing compulsive behaviour, not being able to do anything they use to, and not being able to consecrate and or focus.

3.2. Financial or material abuse: This includes misusing or stealing the persons money and or property, possessions, welfare benefits, using them for financial gain, all forms of cheating, putting pressure on them about their will, property, inheritances and other financial transactions.

b) The possible signs of financial abuse are not having enough money, having unusual difficulties with finances, being proactive of money and things they own, not paying bills and not having too much home comforts. (See appendix A)

3.3. Where may abuse happen: A person may and can be abuse at any time and in any setting.

c) For instance, in the person’s own home, in a care home, at a day centre, nursing home and or other institutional settings, at the work place, education/training settings, in rented accommodation, commercial settings and even in public places.

3.4. Who can or may abuse you: An abuser can be anyone who has contact with the abused, with the child or vulnerable person.

d) An abuser can be a partner, spoor, a child, friends, relatives, parent, family member, parent, informal carer, health care, social care worker other worker, a peer or even strangers, so long has the have some form of contact or dealing with the child or vulnerable person.

e) two of the most common instances where and who abuse vulnerable people are Domestic/Family abuse and professional abuse,

i). Domestic and family abuse is the abuse of a family members such as a daughter, a son, sibling, or a partner,

ii). Professional abuse is the abuse of trust and abuse of power by professional people usually people in a paid capacity. It could be the direct abuse by the professional person and of their failure to act on suspected abuse, crime, poor care practice or neglect, in service, resources shortfall or services pressure that leads to service failure as a result of capability as a result of poor management systems.

iii) Possible signs of professional abuse includes; entering into inappropriate relationship with a child or a vulnerable adult; failure to disclosure instance of abuse; poor ill informed or out dated care practice; failure to support children and or vulnerable adults access to health care and treatment; denying a person access to professional support and services such as advocacy; inappropriate response to challenging behaviour; (denying food); failure to whistle blow on issues and or poor practices when internal procedures are exhausted.

f) Peer abuse is the abuse of one child by another or one vulnerable adult by another vulnerable person, usually within a care or welfare support setting. This can occur in groups usually in communal settings, day care centre, community centre, day supplementary school, adult clubs, care homes and other institutional provision for children and or vulnerable adults.

g) Stranger abuser is where someone not known to the child or vulnerable adult abused or being abused. This could be a stranger, a member of the public or a person who deliberately target children and or vulnerable people.

SECTION 4: Concerns and Disclosures:

4.1 How to deal with concerns? When there are concerns or disclosures or allegations made, people often feel anxious about passing information on to anyone else. The concerned individual may ask themselves, “what if I am wrong”. This may hold them back from taking action. It is important for staff/volunteers to know that they are neither responsible for deciding whether an abuse has occurred or not; nor are they responsible for conduction an investigation.

4.2 Conducting investigations is the role of the appropriate authorities. However, they do need to pass on any concerns they have through the child or vulnerable person “Safeguarding Reporting Procedures”. It is crucial staff/volunteers do not try to deal with safeguarding concerns alone.

4.3. How can you be alert to the signs of abuse and neglect? There is various way you can be alerted that a child or vulnerable adult is suffering abuse or neglect.

For instance, a child or vulnerable adult may tell you what has occurred or what is happen to them,

Someone else may tell you of their concerns or something that has caused them concerns,

A child or vulnerable adult may show signs of physical injuries for which there does appear any satisfactory or credible explanation,

The child or vulnerable adult’s demeanour and behaviour may lead you to suspect abuse and neglect,

The behaviour of a person close to the child or vulnerable adult makes you suspicious and uncomfortable, (this could include another member of staff, peer or family member)

Through general good neighbourliness and social guardianship having alert potential of abuse; these plays a major role in ensuring that child or vulnerable adult are safeguarded. It is important that all concerns about abuse and neglect are reported.

4.4 What if a child or vulnerable adult discloses an abuse or neglect? In cases where a child or vulnerable adult discloses abuse to a staff member, the staff member must act appropriately, according to the following the safeguarding reporting guidelines.

Do

Do stay calm and listen to what the child or vulnerable adult is telling you,

Express concerns and sympathy about what has happened,

Reassure the child or person, that he/she did the right thing in telling you has happen,

Let the child or person know that the information will be taken seriously and tell them what will happen next with the information they have given you,

If urgent medical help and or police are needed call the emergency service,

Ensure the safety of the person,

Record in writing what you have been told, using the “Safeguarding Report Form”, (see page 15) date and sign your report, before giving it to your supervisor at the earliest possible time and without delay.

Do not

Stop someone disclosing a concern, neglect and or an abuse to you,

Promise to keep secrets

Press them for more details or ask them to repeat the story again,

Do not gossip about the disclosure or pass on the information who does not have legitimate interest to know,

Do not contact the allege abuser or attempt to investigate the allegation yourself,

Do not leave the information you were given on voicemail or email,

Do not delay acting, but do so in accordance with the safeguarding lines.

4.5. Checking out: There may be need for some “initial checking out” with the child or vulnerable adult who disclosed information to you. This is in order to ensure his or her safety. For example, if a staff member notice bruises on the arm of a vulnerable adult, it would be appropriate to ask. I see you have a bruise on your arm. How did it happen? However, be careful not to start an investigation.

It is important that staff understand the clear distinction between “checking out” and investigating. Training should be given. Staff should not begin to investigate allegation or suspected abuse by asking questions relating to details and circumstances of the alleged abuse, beyond initial listening, expressing concern and checking out.

1. How to react and what to do? There is not one simple set of rules when responding or dealing with these situations.
   

However, in general it important that staff is aware that the first person who has concern or encounter a case of alleged abuse or suspected abuse is not responsible for dealing with whether or not the abuse had occurred. This is the role of the appropriate authorities, as in Children and Adult Social Service. Where a crime has been alleged the police.

However, staff/volunteers and other stakeholders do have a duty of care to report and suspension/s they may with regards to abuse of vulnerable adults to allow appropriate action being taken.

SECTION 5. Code of behaviour conduct:

This code of behaviour conduct applies to workplace where members of staff/volunteers may be vulnerable, in the case of work placement, job experience where appropriate or when volunteering on behalf of the organisation.

5.1. It is not practical within this policy and procedures to provide definitive guideline that will cover all situations. However, the principals set out below should apply in all situations;

Staff, volunteers should not spend excessive amount of time alone with children or vulnerable adult away from others,

Staff, volunteers should not take a child or vulnerable adult to your home alone,

Staff, volunteers should not take a child or vulnerable adult alone on a car journey, unless this forms part of the organisation’s core activities and only if this is unavoidable or necessary,

These kinds of behaviour should only occur with the full knowledge and consent of the manager. Where this happen records must be maintained,

5.2. Unacceptable behaviours are those which should always be avoided in the interest of safety of children and vulnerable adults, staff and volunteers. For example a staff member should never;

Abuse, neglect or places at risk of harm children or vulnerable adults whether by omission or commission,

Engage in rough physical play with children or vulnerable audits, including horseplay,

Engage in sexually provocative games with children or vulnerable adults; such as spin the bottle and strip poker,

Make sexually suggestive comments to children or vulnerable adults,

Form inappropriate relationships with children or vulnerable adults,

Gossip about personal details of children or vulnerable adults and their family,

Make, accepts loans and of gifts of money from children or vulnerable adults,

Taking of pictures and posting them on social media

Staff, volunteers who breach the above standards of behaviour may face disciplinary action.

Section 6: TYPES OF ABUSE and NEGLECT:

Financial abuse: This could be someone stealing money and or other valuable form a child or vulnerable adult. Or someone appointed to look after he vulnerable person’s money on his, her behalf that is using the money for themselves, inappropriately or coercing the adult to spend it in ways you are not happy with.

Internet scam and doorstep scams are also common forms of abuse of children and vulnerable people.

1. Neglect:

Neglect includes not being provided with food or the right/enough food, or not being taken care of or being provided with the right care and support properly.

Leaving a child or vulnerable adult without help to wash or change wet and or dirty clothes; not getting them to the doctor when they need to; not making sure they have the right medicines, all counts as neglect.

Section 7: Abuse in the home or at the day centre:

Staff, volunteers and other personals must be aware that children vulnerable adults are more at risk of abuse and neglect in the following situations;

They are isolated and do not have much contact with family, relatives, friends or neighbours,

A child or elderly adults have memory problem, mental problem or learning difficulty, have difficulty concentrating and communicating,

A child are dependent on their parent or guardian as a vulnerable adult may become dependent on their carer and some do not get on with their carer or parent,

Parent/s or carer may be addicted to drugs or alcohol,

There may be instances where parents and or carer relies on a child and or a vulnerable adult for a home, financial and emotional support,

Children and or vulnerable adults may be denied adequate personal care, food and basic essentials,

Children and vulnerable adults may be experiencing being shouted at by others or bullied are in fear and frightened

7.1 Staff, volunteers and other personals must be mindful and be aware that, it is not easy to spot abuse. Someone being abused may make excuse for the reason they have bruises on their harm/body. They may not want to go out or talk to people or may be short of money,

7.2 It is important to know the signs of abuse. When they are identified, gently share your concerns with the person you think is being abused. If you wait, hoping the person will tell you what is happening, it may delay the matter and will allow the abuse to continue.

Section 8: Behavioural signs of abuse in a child or old person include the following;

Becoming quiet and withdrawn,

Being and becoming aggressive and angry for no obvious reason,

Looking unkempt, dirty or thinner than usual,

Sudden change in their character, such as being helpless, depressed and tearful,

Physical signs, such as bruises, wounds, fractures or untreated injuries,

There are signs that injuries happen more than once,

Not wanting to be left by themselves, alone or with certain individuals,

Being unusually light hearted and insisting there is nothing wrong,

Also, their home may be cold, unusually dirty or untidy and you may notice things going missing,

Others signs includes not having enough money as usual to do shopping or regular outings and they are getting in to debts,

Watch out for any official or financial document that seems unusual and documents relating to their finance that suddenly gone missing,

Section 9: What you should do if you feel someone you know is being abused or neglect;

If you feel someone you know is showing signs of abuse or neglect. First talk to them to see if there is anything you can do to help. Be aware that if they are being abused they may not want to talk about it straight away, especially if they have been use to make excuses for their injuries, personality and personal change in their life style.

9.1. Do not ignore your cancers of abuse. To do so is to allow the abuse to continue and even get worst. You must report your concerns.

9.1 If he abused adult has told you about the situation, you may want to talk to other people who know, to find out if they have the similar concerns. Complete the “Safeguarding Report Form” for your supervisor. In additional you may also contact any of the following as appropriate; {IMPORTANT)

A) Westminster City Council Children 02027 641 6000 and Adult Social Service on 020 7641 1444

B) Text, Shout' to 85258 and children Helpline Helpline. 0808 800 4444

C) If the abused person is in danger or need medical attention contact the emergency services 999, where immediate attention is needed.

D) Age UK National Help Line 0800 678 1602 other Age UK help line 020 7281 6018

F) Action on Elder Abuse Helpline on 0800 678 1602 and Advice line: 01483 503414

E) Some form of abuse is criminal, so the police must be contacted on 111 or 999

G. ISA (Independent Safeguarding Authority) has been created to help prevent unsuitable people from working with vulnerable adults or children. ISA manage the POVA list. The Independent Safeguarding Authority (ISA) has been created to help prevent unsuitable people from working with vulnerable adults or children. Free advice line: DBS 0845 643 114

“Safeguarding Report Form”

To my supervisor (insert name) ....................................................... and date: ......................................

A List of types of abuse: {APPENDIX A}

Different forms of abuse and neglects;

Sexual which includes:

Indecent exposure,

Sexual harassment,

In appropriate looking and touching,

Sexual teasing and or innuendo,

Sexual photography and magazines

Being focused to watch sexual acts or photography,

Being force to or pressured to take part in sexual acts

Rape,

Physical abuse which includes;

Being hit, slapped, push and or restrained by others,

Being denied food or water

Not being helped to go to the bathroom when the child or vulnerable adult need to go the bathroom,

Misuse of medicine, dyeing access to personal items,

Physiological Abuse which includes:

Emotional abuse of the vulnerable adult,

Threats to heart, arm and or abandoned the child or vulnerable adult,

Humiliating, blaming, controlling, intimidating or harassment,

Stopping the child or vulnerable adult from seeing others,

Verbal abuse of the child or vulnerable person/adult,

Cyber bulling and isolation,

Unreasonable and unjustified withdrawal of services or support network,

Domestic abuse which includes:

Domestic is a common form of abuse and includes incidents of behaviour and pattern of incidents of controlling, coercive or threading behaviour, violence and or abuse. Domestic abuse is usual perpetrated by some close to and known to the vulnerable adult, a partner, family member or by a live in friend, a key worker,

Discriminatory abuse which includes:

Discriminatory usually is evident in forms of harassment, slur, or unfair treatment to the vulnerable adult,

A person may be discriminated against due to their race, culture, gender, sexual orientations, religion, age or disability.

Reporting your concern: {Appendix B}

Very Important: Reporting a concern of abuse, neglects or a suspected risk of harm must be considered seriously. Your concern should not be based of gossip, perceive prejudice of frivolous assumptions. CHECK what constitute an abuse or neglect.

All instance of criminal act shall be reported to City of Westminster Children 0207 641 2390 and or Adult Care 0207 641 6000 and the local police.

Who do you report to:

When must you report concerns; As soon as the concern comes to your attention it must be reported and record.

Note:

Please note that the examples and criteria for children and or adult safeguarding services are not exhausted list. If an adult at risk of being abused or neglected cannot keep themselves safe from abuse or neglect because of their care and support needs, then the local authority’s safeguarding duty applies.

EEA OTHER PAGES

Social Inclusion Activity
Chairman Report
EEA Services In Afghanistan
In other countries
EEA Schools

EEA TOP PAGES

Home Page
About Us
Services
EEA Aims
Conference
United Nations
Sport
Work With Government
Cntact Us
Safeguarding of children and vulnerable adults policy and procedures