Safeguarding adults is everyone’s business, and in a community service it usually begins with a member of staff noticing that something has changed.
We work under the Care Act 2014, which places adult safeguarding on a statutory footing and gives local authorities the lead role in enquiries. Our job is to prevent abuse and neglect where we can, to recognise it when it occurs, and to report it promptly to the people with the power to act.
Because our staff visit people in their own homes, often alone and often over long periods, they are frequently the first to see a change in someone’s circumstances. Training, supervision and a reporting route that does not depend on a manager being available are what turn that into protection.
The Care Act sets out six principles that underpin adult safeguarding. They are not abstract: they decide how an individual concern is handled.
People are supported to make their own decisions and give informed consent.
Acting before harm occurs is better than responding after it.
The least intrusive response appropriate to the risk presented.
Support and representation for those in greatest need.
Local solutions through services working with their communities.
Transparency in delivering safeguarding.
Every member of staff completes safeguarding training during induction and at regular intervals afterwards, covering the types and indicators of abuse and neglect, and exactly who to tell.
Mental capacity is assumed unless there is reason to think otherwise, and where capacity is in question we work within the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and its best interests framework. Where restrictions on someone’s liberty may be involved, that is a matter for formal authorisation, not for informal arrangement.
Concerns are reported to the local authority safeguarding team and, where the threshold is met, notified to the Care Quality Commission. We cooperate fully with enquiries led by others.
We have a designated safeguarding lead, and every member of staff knows who that is and how to reach them. Staff also hold the contact details for the safeguarding team of the local authority covering the area they work in.
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