Safeguarding Adults policy.
Last reviewed: June 2024
Nottingham Climate Assembly works with a range of local people and our groups and events are open to all. This means that on occasion our activities may include vulnerable adults and we will not necessarily know about this ahead of time. Consequently, each event organised by Nottingham Climate Assembly needs to have an approach that ensures the environment is safe for all, to prevent incidents of harassment, abuse or exploitation taking place. This will be achieved by the following measures.
· Training
· DBS Checks
· Clear guidance
2. NCA is committed to providing a safe and enriching environment, which is free from unacceptable risk, harm or abuse. This policy sits alongside the NCA Safeguarding Children and Young people Policy previously agreed and available on the website Safeguarding Policy 1 — Nottingham Climate Assembly
We recognise that some adults may be more vulnerable to abuse than others by virtue of their age, frailty, physical, mental or emotional health.
Abuse can take a number of forms including:
Physical, Sexual, Psychological, Financial, Discrimination, Modern Slavery, and Domestic abuse
NCA aim to take a proactive approach to reducing the risk of abuse occurring at our events and in our organisation. To this end NCA has appointed a Safeguarding Lead person to have oversight of safeguarding in relation to both policy and practice and the safety of any vulnerable volunteers or attendees. See Appendix 1 below.
3. Training – the NCA Safeguarding Lead will attend the Adult Safeguarding training provided by Nottingham Community and Voluntary Services. Other volunteers are encouraged to attend and keep abreast of good practice in the field of safeguarding vulnerable adults.
4. Disclosure and Barring Certificate (DBS) - The NCA Safeguarding Lead will have a current Disclosure and Barring Certificate. Other volunteers and staff are also encouraged to obtain this certificate. It is important that any staff or volunteers who are likely to be working alone with vulnerable people are thoroughly vetted before being employed. This means as well as references being checked, there will also be a requirement for offences to be declared and a ‘Disclosure and Barring Service’ (DBS) check be undertaken. (These would be exceptional circumstances. During the existing programme of activities and events, volunteers do not work alone with vulnerable adults)
5. Prior to a Public Event - Volunteers and any employees will be reminded of this Guidance before public events. All volunteers and staff will endeavour to:
·Actively promote the empowerment and well-being of everyone they come into contact with
·Challenge inappropriate behaviour
Offer additional support to a vulnerable person, should they wish it, to fully access events and activities
Understand the role of the NCA Safeguarding Lead and report any concerns to them
Reporting a Safeguarding Concern
Should anyone need to report a concern, disclosure or allegation of abuse of a vulnerable person, they should first go to the NCA Safeguarding Lead.
The matter will be discussed in confidence with the individual(s) concerned.
When making any assessment of the seriousness of the disclosure/allegation, the NCA Safeguarding Lead will consider the following factors:
The vulnerability of the individual
The nature and extent of the abuse and any other relevant facts
The risk of repeated or increasing serious acts involving this or other vulnerable adults.
The possibility of any child protection concerns
Despite NCA’s usual practice of confidentiality, NCA will not keep allegations of current abuse of a vulnerable adult secret. Disclosure will be on a “need to know” basis. The person at risk may be an adult or a child and where necessary a referral will be made to Social Care. See point 7.
If possible, a disclosure will be made with the explicit consent of the vulnerable person concerned.
6. Responsibilities of Staff and Volunteers
Staff and volunteers have a duty to act immediately to inform the NCA Safeguarding Lead of any concerns that an adult at risk:
Has been abused or neglected; or
Is being abused or neglected; or
Is at risk of being abused or neglected.
This duty is to ‘raise the concern’ with the lead person. It does not include any investigation into the concerns.
Name of the NCA Safeguarding Lead: Dr Christopher Wood
In addition to this duty, Lead person will:
Ensure the immediate safety and welfare of the adult at risk,
Carry out initial information gathering
Decide whether a safeguarding referral to adult social care is required
Seek the consent of the adult at risk. This should always be obtained unless there is an overriding public interest, or an issue of mental capacity. Refer to the multi-agency procedures and guidance for more information.
N.B. It is important to recognise that any person with mental capacity has the right to make their own decisions, even if this may not be regarded as in their best interests.
Ask the adult at risk what outcome they want from any actions taken.
Make the referral to social care if required.
Consider any other actions required to support the needs of the adult at risk
Keep careful records.
7. What to do if you have a concern
You may become aware of a concern in a number of ways:
The adult at risk tells you themselves
A member of public (e.g. carer, family member, friend) raises it with you
You may have directly observed something
When you have a concern
Raise it immediately with the NCA Safeguarding Lead. Do not discuss the concern with anybody else.
Ensure any immediate safety and welfare needs of the adult at risk are met
Make a clear written record of the concern, how it was raised and any actions taken.
The referrer will then undertake the duties outlined above in section 5.1
However, any staff member may report a suspicion of abuse to social care irrespective of the opinion of other staff.
8. Making a Referral
Social Care departments have been designated as the lead agencies with responsibility for coordinating a response to allegations or concerns of abuse.
The NCA Safeguarding Lead person has the responsibility of informing the appropriate adult social care referral points, as follows:
Nottingham City Council
Adult Social Care: 0115 876 3330
Lines are open 9.00am – 5.00pm
Online referral form: NCC Adult safeguarding
Nottinghamshire County Council
Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH): 0300 500 80 90 (professionals only)
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday 8.30am – 5.00pm
Wednesday 10.30am – 5.00pm
Friday 8.30am – 4.30pm
Completing the online form at: Reporting for Professionals
NOTE: This policy was agreed on 11.06.2024 and will be reviewed on or before 11.06.2027 or in the light of any significant changes to the organisation.
Appendix 1 Profile: NCA Safeguarding Lead
The role of safeguarding vulnerable adults and children is everyone’s responsibility, however this role is in place to ensure that safeguarding is always considered and knowledge of local current best practice is maintained.
What is expected of the Safeguarding Lead?
To have a clear focus and understanding of issues that relate to safeguarding matters alongside understanding the complexities of safeguarding, harm prevention and actions needed to ensure this.
To be an initial point of contact
Manage any safeguarding concerns, allegations, disclosures or incidents and ensure the most appropriate outcomes.
Provide support and advice to volunteers on safeguarding issues.
Manage any referrals that may be needed to keep individuals safe from immediate and serious harm i.e. Police, Social Care.
To keep detailed logs of any complaints or allegations and ensure these are kept securely in line with GDPR (Data Protection legislation 2018).
Act as a point of contact with other partners
If a complaint/ allegation/ concern is raised, ensure that a clear and comprehensive summary of the case is written and dated showing:
Details of how the concerns were addressed
Note of actions, if any taken
A full record of the outcome and the decision reached.
Last Updated: 11/06/24