Safeguarding adults

As a responsible organisation we strongly believe that all adults that we work with should be safe, and everyone working at the organisation should be aware of the importance of safeguarding vulnerable adults.

Common Knowledge Co-operative Ltd will not tolerate the abuse of adults in any of its forms and is committed to safeguarding adults with care and support needs from harm.

Commitments

We commit to the following:

• To safeguard an adult with care and support needs if they are deemed to be at risk or at risk.
• If necessary to work with other professionals and agencies in promoting the adult’s welfare and safeguarding them from abuse and neglect.
• To ensure that safe and effective working practices are in place.
• To support Common Knowledge's members to understand their role and responsibilities in safeguarding adults.
• To ensure the necessary actions are taken where an adult with care and support needs is deemed to be at risk

If any of our members have an safeguarding concern about any adult, they should:

• Note the name of the person and the details of the concern immediately.
• Email hello@commonknowledge.coop with details, or dial 999 for emergency services if someone is at immediate risk of harm/in need of urgent medical attention.
• Work with appropriate authorities to be sure that the issue is dealt with correctly, including the police; Adult Social Services; family/relatives as appropriate (seek advice from adult social services).
• At all stages Common Knowledge's members must seek consent from the adult to take action and to report the concern. In situations where the adult may lack capacity to make decisions about their own and other people’s safety and wellbeing, and a decision is made to act against their wishes, to must record that decision and the reasons for this.

Further information

What are the types of safeguarding adults abuse?

The Care and Support statutory guidance sets out the 10 main types of abuse:

• Physical abuse
• Neglect
• Sexual abuse
• Psychological
• Financial abuse
• Discriminatory
• Organisational
• Domestic violence
• Modern Slavery
• Self-neglect

However, members should keep an open mind about what constitutes abuse or neglect as it can take many forms and the circumstances of the individual case should always be considered.

What are the possible signs of abuse?

Abuse and neglect can be difficult to spot. You should be alert to the following possible signs of abuse and neglect:

• Depression, self-harm or suicide attempts
• Difficulty making friends
• Fear or anxiety
• The person looks dirty or is not dressed properly,
• The person never seems to have money,
• The person has an injury that is difficult to explain (such as bruises, finger marks, ‘non-accidental’ injury, neck, shoulders, chest and arms),
• The person has signs of a pressure ulcer,
• The person is experiencing insomnia
• The person seems frightened, or frightened of physical contact.
• Inappropriate sexual awareness or sexually explicit behaviour
• The person is withdrawn, changes in behaviour

You should ask the person if you are unsure about their well-being as there may be other explanations to the above presentation.

Who abuses and neglects adults?

Abuse can happen anywhere, even in somebody’s own home. Most often abuse takes place by others who are in a position of trust and power. It can take place whether an adult lives alone or with others. Anyone can carry out abuse or neglect, including:

• partners;
• other family members;
• neighbours;
• friends;
• acquaintances;
• local residents;
• people who deliberately exploit adults they perceive as vulnerable to abuse;
• paid staff or professionals; and
• volunteers and strangers

Safeguarding children

As a responsible organisation we strongly believe that all children and young people that we work with should be safe, and everyone working with Common Knowledge should be aware of the importance of safeguarding children.

Common Knowledge will not tolerate the abuse of children in any of its forms and is committed to safeguarding children with care and support needs from harm. Common Knowledge will work with children, parents and the community to ensure we support children’s rights and create and maintain the safest possible environment for children.

Commitments

Our commitments are:

• Recognising that all children have the right to freedom from abuse and harm
• Promoting joint working with parents and carers in the interest of children’s welfare
• Following safe recruitment procedures which ensure that staff are carefully selected, vetted and have the relevant qualifications and experience.
• Ensuring that all staff are aware of and accept responsibility for helping to prevent the abuse of child
• Designating a Child Protection Officer (DCP) who takes specific responsibility for children’s protection, safety and well-being
• Supporting all staff in bringing concerns to the Designated Child Protection Officer
• Responding quickly and appropriately to all suspicions or allegations of abuse
• Providing parents, carers, and children with the opportunity to voice any concerns they may have. This includes having knowledge of, and ensuring children have access to their preferred methods of communication and that staff are trained in a variety of communication tools.
• Adopting positive behaviour management strategies which are non-violent and do not impose humiliation
• Reviewing the effectiveness of the organisation’s Child Protection Policy and Procedures
• Working in partnership with external organisations and professionals to ensure that children are protected

Procedures to follow if you suspect that a child is at risk of harm

Common Knowledge's members who have any child safeguarding concerns should:

• Email hello@commonknowledge.coop with details, or dial 999 for emergency services if someone is at immediate risk of harm/in need of urgent medical attention.
• Immediately record the concern and contact the DCP (or if unavailable then seek advice from Children’s Social Care)
• All records of concerns, emails, notes of phone conversations and actions should be filed confidentially and securely
• Focus on the needs of the child – their physical and emotional welfare
• Discuss concerns with the child’s parents or the organisation who has referred the to workshops being run by Common Knowledge, unless this would put the child at further risk of serious harm

Managing a ‘disclosure’

Members should should:

• Stay calm and listen to the child
• Ask questions for clarification only. Avoid asking questions that suggest a particular answer
• Consider how to explain to the child about our policies and procedures so that they know what is going to happen
• Tell them who you are going to tell so that they can be made safe – children may fear that what they have said will be passed on to everyone and they need to know that this will not be the case
• Control expressions of panic or shock
• Use the child’s language or vocabulary
• Offer comfort bearing in mind the age and needs of the child
• If the child has disclosed sexual abuse, ask them when it happened but nothing more. Whether a child is asked this question will depend upon the child’s age and understanding
• Tell them that they were right to tell you and it was not their fault and they are not bad
• Do not be tempted to give false reassurances to the child but tell them that you will do your best to protect or help them
• As soon as possible take care to record in writing what was said using the child’s own words. Record the date, time, setting, any names mentioned, to whom the information was given and other people present. Sign and date the record
• Record any subsequent events and actions
• It is not your responsibility to decide if a child has been abused. Any disclosure must be raised with the Designated Child Protection Person.

E-safety and use of digital devices

Our aim is to:

• Protect children and young people who receive Common Knowledge's services and who make use of information technology (such as mobile phones, games consoles and the internet) as part of their involvement with us
• Provide members with the principles that guide our approach to e-safety
• Protect professionals
• Ensure that, as an organisation, we operate in line with our values and within the law in terms of how we use information technology

We recognise that:

• The welfare of the children/young people who come into contact with our services is paramount and governs our approach to the use and management of information communications technologies

When facilitating young people to use the internet and devices connected to the internet staff should:

• Check that the appropriate child safety controls are activated
• Ensure that children are not accessing inappropriate sites, sending or receiving inappropriate material on the devices. There should always be enough adults in the room to ensure this.

References

• https://userresearch.blog.gov.uk/2018/11/20/making-research-safer-for-everyone-involved/
• https://www.anncrafttrust.org/resources/tips-safeguarding-adults-policy-procedure/