Protection of Vulnerable Adults

Last reviewed: 07/06/2022 

Named Person/Designated Safeguarding Leader: Kelly Price, YFM Project Leader Named Trustee: Jackie Woodhouse

Contents 

1. Policy 

2. Guiding Principles 

3. Code of behaviour for staff and volunteers 

4. Protecting Vulnerable Adults from Harm 

5. Adults with Disabilities 

6. Record Keeping 

7. Sharing Information 

8. Training and Induction 

9. Allegations of Abuse against staff 

10. Adult Protection and Recruitment and Selection 

11. Categories of abuse 

12. Signs of abuse 

Appendices 

1. Appendix 1 

1. Policy 

Policy Statement 

1.1 YFM is committed to practice which protects vulnerable adults from harm. Staff and volunteers in YFM are expected to share this commitment to safeguarding at all times  and accept and recognise our responsibilities to develop awareness of the issues which cause vulnerable adults harm. 

1.2 Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of adults is everyone’s responsibility. In order to fulfil this responsibility effectively, all professionals should make sure their approach is adult centred. This means that they should consider, at all times, what is in the best interests of the adult. 

Aims 

1.3 YFM will endeavour to safeguard vulnerable adults by: 

• Adopting adult protection guidelines through a code of behaviour for staff and volunteers 
• sharing information about vulnerable adult protection and good practice with staff and volunteers. 
• sharing information about concerns with agencies who need to know, and involving other adults appropriately. 
• following the agreed procedures for recruitment and selection of staff and volunteers.
• providing effective management for staff and volunteers through supervision, support and training. 

1.4 YFM recognises the pervasiveness of abuse within our society, and the very damaging consequences both for those who suffer the abuse and those who perpetrate it. The protection of vulnerable adults from abuse is a shared responsibility  within YFM. 

1.5 In all its undertakings, YFM will: 

• Maintain a clear focus on the interests and rights of the vulnerable adult
• Respect everyone who receives or provides its services
• Be supportive to vulnerable adults and in order to help prevent abuse occurring or to mitigate its effect 
• Co-operate with other agencies in dealing with actual or likely abuse
• Support staff and carers in working in this area of activity.

2. Guiding Principles 

The abuse of vulnerable adults constitutes a clear infringement of their rights and freedoms  as citizens. This policy aims to protect vulnerable adults, who are at risk of all forms of abuse, receive a safe, sound and supportive service, through the process of identifying,  investigating, managing and preventing such abuse. As a service we are committed to  promoting equality of opportunity to all members of our community. 

• It is every adult’s right to live in safety and to be free from abuse or fear of abuse from others. 
• It is every adult’s right to live an independent life based on ‘self-determination’ and personal choice. 
• It is the responsibility of all the agencies and professionals to actively work together to help prevent abuse of vulnerable adults. This will be achieved by raising  awareness, empowering people to make their own decisions and putting safeguards in place. 
• When a situation is discovered in which a vulnerable adult reports, or is thought to be at risk of abuse, then the project will react quickly in a co-ordinated manner to help  them to overcome these difficulties. 
• The project recognises that people are discriminated against on the basis of race, culture, gender, age, disability or sexual orientation. We are committed to working with vulnerable adults in a positive manner that values them as individuals.
• Carers have a right for their needs to be considered. 

3. Code of behaviour for staff and volunteers 

3.1 YFM seeks to have an adult centred approach to its work. We recognise the need to: 

• listen to adults 
• value and respect adults as individuals 
• involve adults in decision making, as appropriate 
• encourage and praise adults 

It is also important for the protection of all concerned, that staff, volunteers, and service users have guidelines on what is expected, and what is not accepted, with respect to their  behaviour and that they should take great care not to put themselves at risk of any suspicion or allegation of physical or sexual abuse or harassment. To give staff and volunteers  protection from such allegations, the following guidelines are suggested: 

• Staff and volunteers should never speak to, or touch, a service user in a manner that could be construed as having sexual overtones or that could be interpreted as  physical assault. Remember, it is the action rather than the intention that may subsequently give rise to problems.
• Staff and volunteers should be cautious of communications by electronic means with service users. If they do communicate electronically, they should ensure that the communication is both necessary, appropriate and that it cannot be misconstrued. 
• Staff and volunteers should not spend excessive amounts of time alone with service users, away from others. 
• Meetings with individual service users should take place as openly as possible.
• If privacy is needed, the door should have a see-through glass panel, or the door left open and other staff or volunteers informed of the meeting. 
• Staff and volunteers are advised not to make unnecessary physical contact with  service users. However, there may be occasions when physical contact is  unavoidable, such as providing comfort and reassurance for a distressed service user, or physical support. In all cases, physical contact should only take place with  the consent of the service user. 
• It is not good practice to take service users alone in a car on journeys, however short. Where this is unavoidable, it should be with the full knowledge and consent of  the person employed by YFM who has management responsibility for the activity. 
• Staff and volunteers should not meet with service users outside organised activities, unless it is with the knowledge and consent of the person employed by YFM who has  management responsibility. 
• Leaders who are involved in relationships with other adults within the activity group should ensure that their personal relationships do not affect their leadership role  within the organisation. 

Staff and volunteers should never: 

• engage in rough physical games, including horseplay apart from in structured sports activities 
• allow the use of inappropriate language to be unchallenged 
• make sexually suggestive comments about, or to, a service user, even in fun − let allegations a service user makes go without being addressed and recorded − do things of a personal nature for service user that they can do themselves. 

Safeguarding Policy

5. Adults with disabilities 

Adults with disabilities can provide additional safeguarding challenges. Staff should be aware that additional barriers exist when recognizing abuse and neglect. This can include: 

5.1 assumptions that indicators of possible abuse such as behaviour, mood and injury, relate to the adult’s impairment without further exploration; 

5.2 adults with disabilities can be disproportionally impacted by things like bullying, without outwardly showing any signs; and 

5.3 communication barriers and difficulties in overcoming these barriers 

6. Record Keeping

6.1 It is essential that a careful written record on the case file is made as soon as possible, or in any case within 24 hours of any of the above events. This record should include: 

• Your name and position 
• The time and date 
• The nature of the concern 
• The party or parties involved 
• what was said by whom, verbatum if possible 
• how the individual appeared – did they appear anxious, tearful, calm etc
• the decisions made and reasons for them 
• the action taken, and any outcome. 

In any circumstances where the protection of an adult at risk has been discussed, the record should be countersigned by the project leader, together with any other relevant comments or information. See confidential Disclosure Template. 

A copy of the report and any notes should be kept for at least 3 years. 

7. Sharing Information: Confidentiality in Vulnerable Adult Protection  

7.1 Keeping adults safe from harm requires professionals and others to share information: 

• about a vulnerable adult’s health and development and exposure to possible harm;
• about those who may pose a risk of harm to a vulnerable adult. 

7.2 Often, it is only when information from a number of sources has been shared and is then looked at in its totality that it becomes clear that a vulnerable adult is at risk of, or is suffering significant harm. Sometimes staff will question their right to pass on information about a vulnerable adult to the Adult Services Department because it will break confidentiality with the individual. The Project Leader should explore this issue regularly in supervision in order that staff are clear about their responsibilities towards a vulnerable adult’s well-being and their protection from harm. 

8. Training and Induction  

All YFM staff receive regular safeguarding training and annual refreshers. When new staff and volunteers join YFM they are inducted and receive safeguarding training. Safeguarding training is repeated once a year through in-house staff training or by attendance at a local training day. 

10. Adult Protection and Recruitment and Selection 

10.1 The vast majority of people who want to work with adults are well motivated. Nevertheless, good recruitment and selection procedures will help screen out those who are not suitable. The following procedure should always be followed and applies to all those charged with responsibility for recruiting and selecting staff. 

10.2 Create a job description and person specification for each post which will identify the kind of person most suitable. 

10.3 Make all vacancies openly available to interested applicants. 

10.4 Advertise posts, both paid and unpaid, as widely as possible, through the most appropriate means as agreed with the project leader. 

10.5 Ask all applicants to supply information in writing by completion of a YFM application form – either for volunteers or for specific paid posts. 

10.6 Ask for documentation to confirm the identity of the applicant, such as a long birth certificate. 

10.7 Ask for written references. These may be followed up with a telephone contact. 

10.8 Meet with the applicants. Explore information contained in the application form and check out attitudes. Meeting with applicants for paid posts will be via a formal interview panel. Meeting with volunteers may be done through individual discussion with a staff member. 

10.9 The project leader, usually in the role of chair of the panel, should take responsibility for ensuring the Disclosure and Barring Service enhanced check is undertaken for all prospective employees or volunteers wishing to work for Youth and Families Matter 

No matter how good the recruitment and screening procedures may be, they are not fool proof. Good practice in management and supervision of staff and volunteers after appointment is equally important. 

11. Categories of Abuse 

Somebody may abuse or neglect a service user by inflicting harm, or by failing to act to  prevent harm. Service users may be abused in a family or in an institutional or community setting; by those known to them or, more rarely, by a stranger. Abuse can take place wholly online, or technology may be used to facilitate offline abuse. They may be abused by an  adult/s or a child/children. Although abuse and neglect are categorised, they are rarely stand-alone events. In most cases they involve multiple issues which overlap with one another. 

Physical Abuse 

Physical abuse may involve hitting, shaking, throwing, poisoning, burning or scalding, drowning, suffocating, or otherwise causing physical harm to an adult. 

Emotional Abuse 

Emotional abuse is the persistent emotional ill-treatment of an adult such as to cause severe and persistent adverse effects on the adult’s emotional development. It may involve conveying to the adult that they are worthless or unloved, inadequate, or valued only insofar as they meet the needs of another person. It may include not giving the adult opportunities to express their views, deliberately silencing them or ‘making fun’ of what they say or how they  communicate. It may involve serious bullying (including cyberbullying) causing adults frequently to feel frightened or in danger, or the exploitation or corruption of adults. It may  involve seeing or hearing the ill-treatment of another. Some level of emotional abuse is  involved in all types of ill-treatment of an adult, though it may occur alone. 

Sexual Abuse 

Sexual abuse involves forcing an adult to take part in sexual activities, not necessarily  involving a hight level of violence, whether or not the adult is aware of what is happening. The activities may involve physical contact, including assault by penetrations (e.g. rape or  oral sex) or non-penetrative acts. They may include non-contact activities, such as involving  an adult in looking at, or in the production of, pornographic material or watching sexual activities, or encouraging the adult to behave in sexually inappropriate ways, or grooming an  adult in preparation for abuse (including via the internet and through the use of gaming platforms). Sexual abuse can involve using technology to facilitate offline abuse. Sexual  abuse is not solely perpetrated by adult males. Women can also commit acts of sexual abuse, as can peers. 

Sexual exploitation: 

This is a form of sexual abuse where adults are sexually exploited for money, power or status. It can involve violent, humiliating and degrading sexual assaults. In some cases, adults are  persuaded or forced into exchanging sexual activity for money, drugs, gifts, affection or status.  Consent cannot be given, even where an adult may believe they are voluntarily engaging in  sexual activity with the person who is exploiting them. Sexual exploitation doesn't always  involve physical contact and can happen online. 

Upskirting 

‘Upskirting’ typically involves taking a photo under a person’s clothing without their permission or knowledge, with the intention of viewing their genitals or buttocks (with or  without underwear) to obtain sexual gratification, or cause the victim humiliation, distress or  alarm. This is now a criminal offence. Anyone of any gender, can be a victim. 

‘Honour based’ violence (including FGM and Forced marriage) 

So-called ‘honour based’ Abuse (HBA) encompasses incidents or crimes which have been  committed to protect or defend the honour of a family and/or the community and includes  female genital mutilation (FGM), forced marriage, and practices such as breast ironing. Abuse committed in the context of preserving “honour” often involves a wider network of  family or community pressure and can include multiple perpetrators. All forms of HBV are  abuse (regardless of the motivation) and will be handled ad escalated as such.

FGM (female genital mutilation): 

FGM is illegal in the UK and is a form of violence against women and girls. YFM staff need to  be alert to the possibility of a girl or woman being at risk of FGM, or already having undergone FGM. There are a range of potential indicators that a child or young person may be at risk of  FGM, which individually may not indicate risk but if there are two or more indicators present, this could signal a risk to the child or young person. Victims of FGM are likely to come from a  community that is known to practise FGM.

If staff have a concern, they should follow the normal safeguarding procedures (section 4) but also notify the police which is a mandatory duty in these circumstances (contact the police  through 101 and ask for Hampshire and then the CP unit). 

Forced marriage 

Forcing a person into a marriage is a crime in England and Wales. A forced marriage is one which is entered into without the full and free consent of one or both parties and where  violence, threats or any other form of coercion is used to cause a person to enter into a marriage. Threats can be physical or emotional and psychological. A lack of full and free  consent can be where a person does not consent or where they cannot consent (if they have  learning disabilities for example). Some communities use religion and culture as a way to coerce a person into marriage. 

Neglect 

Neglect is the persistent failure for an adult’s basic physical and/or psychological needs to be met and is likely to result in the serious impairment of the adult’s health or development. Neglect may involve a parent or carer failing to provide adequate food, clothing and shelter (including exclusion from home or abandonment), failing to protect a vulnerable adult from  physical and emotional harm or danger, failing to ensure adequate supervision (including the  use of inadequate caregivers) or the failure to ensure access to appropriate medical care or treatment. It may also include neglect of, or unresponsiveness to, a vulnerable adult’s basic  emotional needs. 

Radicalism 

Radicalism is a recognised form of abuse. Many of the signs associated with this type of abuse are linking in with the following types of abuse: neglect, emotional, physical and sexual abuse. 

YFM actively promotes creative and independent thinking. The sole purpose of the PREVENT duty (https://www.ltai.info/what-is-prevent/) is to prevent terrorism by preventing young people  and adults from committing acts of violence or encouraging or helping others to do so. Any concerns regarding an adult showing signs of radicalisation on a path to terrorism or violent extremism should be reported to the Project Leader immediately. Any legitimate concerns of this nature will be shared with the local Prevent Officer via  prevent.engagement@hampshire.pnn.police.uk. Referrals may also be made to Adult’s  Services, as with all safeguarding concerns. 

Domestic Abuse 

Domestic abuse involves any incident or pattern of incidents of controlling, coercive, threatening behaviour, violence or abuse between those aged 16 or over who are, or have  been, intimate partners or family members regardless of gender or sexuality. The abuse can encompass, but is not limited to: psychological; physical; sexual; financial; and emotional. A  vulnerable adult can witness and be adversely affected by domestic abuse in the context of their home life where domestic abuse occurs between family members. Exposure to domestic abuse and/or violence can have a serious, long lasting emotional and psychological impact. In some cases, a vulnerable adult may blame themselves for the  abuse or may have had to leave the family home as a result. 

Mental Health

Mental health problems can, in some cases, be an indicator that a child has suffered or is at risk of suffering abuse, neglect or exploitation. Where children have suffered abuse and neglect, or other potentially traumatic adverse childhood experiences, this can have a lasting impact throughout childhood, adolescence and into adulthood. Everybody in a child’s life should be aware of how these experiences, can impact on mental health, behaviour and  education. Our staff are not professional mental health practitioners so will always seek advice from appropriately trained professionals. If a mental health concern is of a safeguarding nature  the procedures in this policy will be followed. 

Online Safety 

The breadth of issues classified within online safety is considerable, but can be categorised into four areas of risk (the 4Cs): 

Content – being exposed to illegal, inappropriate or harmful content. 

Contact – being subjected to harmful online interaction with other users. Conduct – personal online behaviour that increases the likelihood of, or causes harm.

Commerce – risk such as online gambling, inappropriate advertising and phishing. 

Peer on Peer abuse 

Children can abuse other children through bullying (including cyberbullying), physical abuse causing physical harm any of the following categories covered in more detail below. 

Sexual activity, violence and sexual harassment between vulnerable adults Sexual Violence 

When referring to sexual violence, we are referring to sexual offences under the Sexual Offences Act 2003. Unfortunately, vulnerable adults can abuse their peers in this way. With sexual offences, the question of consent has to be considered. Consent is about having the  freedom and capacity to choose. Any sexual activity without consent is a crime. Consent can be withdrawn at any time. 

Sexual harassment 

Sexual harassment is described as ‘unwanted conduct of a sexual nature’ that can occur online and offline (DfE guidance May2018). Sexual harassment is likely to: violate an individual’s dignity, and/or make them feel intimidated, degraded or humiliated. This can take the form of sexual comments, sexual “jokes” or taunting, physical behaviour (e.g. deliberately  touching someone, displaying photos or drawings of a sexual nature) or online (e.g. sexting,  inappropriate sexual comments on social media). 

Procedure with dealing with an incident 

Harmful sexual behaviours (online and offline) will be treated in a safeguarding context. When assessing the risk to the vulnerable adult, the following must be taken into account: 

• The wishes of the victim 
• The nature of the alleged incident 
• The ages of those involved and any power imbalance between the perpetrator and victim

If a vulnerable adult has been harmed, is in immediate danger, or is at risk of harm, a referral will always be made to Adult’s Services (refer to section 4 for procedures). If a crime may have been committed, the police must be informed too. 

Sexual exploitation (SE): 

Sexual exploitation occurs where an individual or group takes advantage of an imbalance of power to coerce, manipulate or deceive a vulnerable adult into sexual activity (a) in exchange  for something the victim needs or wants, and/or (b) for the financial advantage or increased status of the perpetrator or facilitator. The victim may have been sexually exploited even if the sexual activity appears consensual. SE does not always involve physical contact; it can also occur through the use of technology. SE can affect any vulnerable adult. It can include both  contact and non-contact sexual activity and may occur without the individual’s immediate knowledge. 

Staff should be aware that many vulnerable adults who are victims of sexual exploitation do not recognise themselves as such. Staff should also be alert to any comments/jokes made by other young people. 

Child Criminal Exploitation (CCE) including county lines: 

As CSE (above) but can involve vulnerable adults being forced to work in cannabis factories, being coerced into moving drugs or money across the country (county lines), forced to shoplift or pickpocket, or to threaten others. 

County lines is a term used to describe gangs and organised criminal networks involved in exporting illegal drugs into one or more importing areas [within the UK], using dedicated mobile phone lines or other form of “deal line”. It can still be exploitation even if the activity appears consensual 

• Can involve force and/or enticement-based methods of compliance and is often accompanied by violence or threats of violence 
• Can be perpetrated by individuals or groups, males or females, and young people or adults 
• Is typified by some form of power imbalance in favour of those perpetrating the exploitation 

Some of the following signs may be indicators of CSE or CCE: 

• Vulnerable adults who appear with unexplained gifts or new possessions; 
• Vulnerable adults who associate with other young people involved in exploitation; 
• Vulnerable adults who have older boyfriends or girlfriends; 
• Vulnerable adults who suffer from sexually transmitted infections or become pregnant; 
• Vulnerable adults who suffer from changes in emotional well-being; 
• Vulnerable adults who misuse drugs and alcohol; 
• Vulnerable adults who go missing for periods of time or regularly come home late; and 
• Vulnerable adults who regularly miss school or education or don’t take part in education. 
• Secretive use of mobile phones or the internet 

Upskirting

‘Upskirting’ typically involves taking a photo under a person’s clothing without their permission or knowledge, with the intention of viewing their genitals or buttocks (with or without  underwear) to obtain sexual gratification, or cause the victim humiliation, distress or alarm.  This is now a criminal offence. Anyone of any gender, can be a victim.

12. Signs of Abuse 

Signs that may, but do not necessarily, indicate abuse include the following. Please note that these are not exclusive categories: 

Physical Abuse: 

Be suspicious of: 

• Bruising that cannot be accounted for 
• Finger/teeth marks; 
• Burns and scalds with clear outlines, or of uniform depth over a large area, small round burns, or splash marks above a main scald; 
• Spiral, chip or rib fractures or multiple fractures; 
• Multiple injuries; 
• Aggression; 
• Unusual behaviour, obsessive; 
• Jumpy, easily startled; 
• Regularly saying they feel unwell; 
• Vague or changing explanations for injuries; accounts not compatible with the injury;
• Delay in seeking treatment or failure to attend medical appointments. 

Emotional Abuse: 

• Developmental delay, either physically, emotionally or intellectually; 
• Over-reaction to mistakes; 
• Sudden speech disorders; 
• Fear of new situations; 
• Lack of concentration; 
• Wild imagination; 
• Inappropriate emotional responses to stressful situations; 
• ‘Neurotic’ behaviour such as rocking, hair twisting; 
• Extremes of passivity or aggression; 
• Drug or alcohol or solvent abuse; 
• Eating disorders or self-harm; 
• Compulsive stealing; 
• Suicidal thoughts; 
• Stomach/headaches; 
• Seeking attention 
• Bullying; 
• Blaming themselves for family problems; 
• Loner/withdrawn; 
• No affection; 
• Inability to form relationships or avoiding doing things with other adults; 
• Depression or anxiety; 
• Disparity between attainment and ability;
• Believing they are bad, evil or possessed. 

Sexual Abuse: 

• Sexually precocious behaviour or promiscuity; 
• Poor concentration; 
• Use of drugs and/or alcohol; 
• Poor self-esteem/self-image; 
• Stomach/headaches; 
• Suicidal or self-harm; 
• Confusion of affection with sexual behaviour; 
• Sexual abuse/sexual bullying of others 
• Eating disorders or sleep disturbance; 
• Being withdrawn or depressed; 
• Fear of new situations; 
• Unexplained sums of money or gifts; 
• Associating with unknown adults 
• Reduction in interaction with family and friends; 
• Obsessed with sexual matters; 
• Fearful of undressing; 
• Regularly coming home late 

Neglect: 

• Hunger/tired/underweight; 
• Dirty/smelly/unkempt/dry sparse hair; 
• Inappropriate clothes/footwear; 
• Cold, mottled skin, Swollen limbs with sores which are slow to heal; 
• Untreated medical problems; 
• Stealing, scrounging or scavenging – food, money, clothing; 
• Diarrhoea caused by tension, poor diet, poor hygiene; 
• Unresponsiveness or indiscrimination in relationships with adults; 
• Destructive tendencies; 
• Depressed/anxious/low self-esteem; 
• Attention seeking/withdrawn, No peer relationships/lonely; 

Radicalism: 

• A change of behaviour 
• Possession of militant extremist material 
• Expression of militant extremist views 
• Unhealthy levels of fixation or obsession with weapons, violence or associated religious or secular political views or issues 
• Socialising with people known to have militant extremist views 

Sexual exploitation: 

• Adults who appear with unexplained gifts or new possessions; 
• Adults who associate with other adults involved in exploitation; 
• Adults who suffer from sexually transmitted infections or become pregnant; 
• Adults who suffer from changes in emotional well-being; 
• Adults who misuse drugs and alcohol; 
• Adults who go missing for periods of time or regularly come home late; and 
• Secretive use of mobile phones or the internet 

Staff should be aware that many adults who are victims of sexual exploitation do not recognise themselves as such. 

Appendix 1 

• "Vulnerable adult" describes a person who is an adult (aged 18 or over), and who is, or may be in need of, community care services because of frailty, learning or physical disability or mental health difficulty and who is or maybe unable to take care of him or  herself or take steps to protect him or herself from significant harm or exploitation. 
• "Staff and volunteers" refers to anyone undertaking paid or unpaid work on behalf of YFM. 

We are also committed to reviewing our policy and good practice statements at regular intervals. The Safeguarding Policy is reviewed by the board of trustees annually.