Safeguarding Adults at Risk | Phoenix Support Kent

INTRODUCTION

The Safeguarding of all of our service Users is Phoenix Support’s primary duty of care, to always consider the consequences of the acts or omissions of ourselves and others. Phoenix Support believes that it is always unacceptable for any person in our services to experience abuse of any kind. Phoenix Support recognises its responsibility to safeguard the welfare of all service users and will protect them by a commitment to good practice. The procedure will ensure staff and managers are aware of the actions they are required to take within their role.

In 2011 the government produced six key principles which was to underpin all adult safeguarding work. These principles should inform the ways in which professionals and other staff work with adults. The principles apply to all sectors and settings including care and support services.

Empowerment – People being supported and encouraged to make their own decisions and informed consent.
Prevention – It is better to take action before harm occurs.
Proportionality – The least intrusive response appropriate to the risk presented.
Protection – Support and representation for those in greatest need.
Partnership – Local solutions through services working with their communities. Communities have a part to play in preventing, detecting and reporting neglect and abuse.
Accountability – Accountability and transparency in delivering safeguarding.

The Care Act 2014 (14.13)

OUR POLICY

An adult who may be at risk of abuse is a person aged 18 years or over who may be unable to take care of themselves, or protect themselves from harm or from being exploited. This may be because their circumstances, such as chronic illness, disability, age, mental health, mental capacity or lifestyle, cause them to be at risk in some situations, regardless of if they are receiving a service.

Please see our new 2023 updated Safeguarding Policy updated by the Safeguarding Forum.

Please see our Whistle Blowing Policy

WHAT IS ABUSE?

Discriminatory: This is when someone treats a person differently because of who they are or because of their gender, race, sexual orientation, religion, age and disability.

Psychological: This is when a person scares another person and includes emotional abuse, threats of harm or abandonment, deprivation of contact, humiliation, blaming, controlling, intimidation, coercion, harassment, verbal abuse, cyber bullying, isolation or unreasonable and unjustified withdrawal of services or supportive networks.

Financial and material: is the use of a person's property, assets, income, funds or any resources without their informed consent or authorisation.

Organisational: This was Institutional abuse and has changed in name to reflect the times, it is the mistreatment, abuse or neglect of an adult by a regime or individual within services, which including neglect and poor care practice within an institution or specific care setting such as a hospital or care home, for example, or in relation to care provided in one’s own home. This may range from one off incidents to on-going ill-treatment. It can be through neglect or poor professional practice as a result of the structure, policies, processes and practices within an organisation.

Neglect and acts of omission: is when someone does not give a person the things they need.

Physical: is when someone hurts another person.

Sexual: is someone performing acts of a sexual type to another person when they do not want them to or cannot agree to. This includes non sexual contact abuse. This is when someone witnesses others performing sexual acts on others.

Domestic violence: As defined by the Home office in 2013:

Incident or pattern of incidents of controlling, coercive or threatening behaviour, violence or abuse... by someone who is or has been an intimate partner or family member regardless of gender or sexuality.
Includes: psychological, physical, sexual, financial, emotional abuse; so called ‘honour’ based violence; Female Genital Mutilation; forced marriage.
Age range extended down to 16.

Modern Slavery: Modern slavery is a crime which knows no boundaries and does not discriminate on gender, age, creed, culture or race. Traffickers and slave masters exploit whatever means they have at their disposal to coerce, deceive and force individuals into a life of abuse, servitude and inhumane treatment. This could also include domestic situations where service users are unfairly used to complete jobs/tasks where they live, against their will.

Self neglect: This covers a wide range of behaviour neglecting to care for one’s personal hygiene, health or surroundings and includes behaviour such as hoarding.

SIGNS AND INDICATORS OF ABUSE

People who have been abused do not always react in the same way. In fact, reactions to abuse can vary quite widely, some signs to look out for if there is a difference in a person that may include:

A person may withdraw in various ways e.g. they do not wish to engage in their normal activities, they do not wish to talk to anyone, they shy away from physical contact, they are reluctant to undress in front of others.
A person behaves totally out of character with physical and verbal outbursts or isolates.
A person exhibits sudden, unexpected, and dramatic changes in behaviour/personality, which may include changes in self-esteem level, disturbance of sleep pattern, altered appetite for food/drink, etc.
A person may experience a gradual or sudden onset of depression or expression of self-harm or harmful intent.
A person may become either confused where they have not been before, or confusion increases dramatically.
A person may deny that abuse has occurred, even in a situation where there is strong evidence to the contrary.
A person may seek help from a variety of people in different ways, either by a direct request for help or behaviour that demands constant attention, unexplained bruises or physical injuries, unexplained use of monies or changes to financial status.

To read about types and indicators of abuse click here.

This list is not exhaustive.

Partners & Accreditations