At AQT Homecare Services, the safety and wellbeing of the people we support is our highest priority. We have a zero-tolerance approach to abuse, neglect, or exploitation in any form.

1. Purpose

1.1

The Registered Manager, Christopher Thomas, and Nominated Individual, Nikki Wells, of AQT Home Care Services, have overall management responsibility for this policy and procedure. This is in line with the Policy Management Policy and Procedure at AQT Home Care Services.

To ensure that this policy includes and refers to Waltham Forest Council policy and procedures and details clearly who is responsible and accountable for managing safeguarding concerns within AQT Home Care Services:

• Overall accountability for managing safeguarding concerns: Christopher Thomas
• Christopher Thomas is responsible for the governance and authorisation of this policy
• Safeguarding Lead at AQT Home Care Services: Chris Thomas Local Authority: Waltham Forest Council
• Local Authority Main Contact Details: 02084963000

There is a designated Deputy Safeguarding Lead to ensure consistency and best practice in the absence of Chris Thomas, Safeguarding Lead at AQT Home Care Services.

1.2.

There is a designated Deputy Safeguarding Lead to ensure consistency and best practice in the absence of Chris Thomas, Safeguarding Lead at AQT Home Care Services.

AQT Home Care Services has a separate Safeguarding Children and Child Protection Policy and Procedure in place that provides detailed guidance in this area.

1.3.

This policy dovetails with the following policies:

• Deprivation of Liberty Policies and Procedures
• Mental Capacity Act (MCA) 2005 Policy and Procedure Duty of Candour Policy and Procedure
• Raising Concerns, Freedom to Speak Up and Whistleblowing Policy and Procedure Consent to Care, Support and Treatment Policy and Procedure

   

  Key Question              Quality Statements

         EFFECTIVE –                                                      QSE2: Delivering evidence-based care & treatment

                                                                           QSE3: How staff, teams & services work together

        EFFECTIVE –                                             QSE6: Consent to care and treatment 

        SAFE –                                                       QSS3: Safeguarding

        SAFE –                                                       QSS4: Involving people to manage risks 

                                                                           QSS5: Safe environments             

 

1.5 

• The Care Act 2014 
• Care Quality Commission (Registration) Regulations 2009 
• Equality Act 2010
• The Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014 Human Rights Act 1998
• Mental Capacity Act 2005
• Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006 UK GDPR
• Protection of Freedoms Act 2012 (Disclosure and Barring Service Transfer of Functions) Order 2012
• Public Interest Disclosure Act 1998
• The Criminal Justice and Courts Act 2015 Section 20-25 Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014
• The Modern Slavery Act 2015
• The Counter Terrorism and Security Act 2015 Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Act 2004 Serious Crime Act 2015 Section 76
• FGM Act 2003
• Sexual Offences Act 2003
• Data Protection Act 2018

 

2. Scope

2.1. Roles Affected 

• All Staff

 

2.2. People Affected 

• Service Users 

 

2.3. Stakeholders Affected:

• Family 
• Advocates
• Representatives
• Commissioners
• External health professionals 
• Local Authority
• NHS
• Housing Provider Partners 

 

3. Objectives

3.1.

To ensure that the Waltham Forest Council Safeguarding Policy and Procedure is understood by all staff at AQT Home Care Services and that the Waltham Forest Council safeguarding procedures dovetail with the policy and procedure of AQT Home Care Services.

3.2.

To ensure that all staff working for, or on behalf of, AQT Home Care Services, understand their responsibilities in relation to safeguarding adults at risk and know who to escalate concerns to within AQT Home Care Services and externally if needed and appropriate to do

3.3. 

To protect the Service User’s right to live in safety, free from abuse and have a clear, well publicised policy of zero-tolerance of abuse within AQT Home Care Services.

3.4.

To identify lessons to be learnt from cases where Service Users have experienced abuse or neglect. 

 

4. Policy

AQT Home Care Services recognises the definition of ‘safeguarding’ as the actions taken to keep Service Users safe from harm and neglect.

4.2.

The Care Act 2014 sets out that adult safeguarding duties apply to any adult who:

• Has care and support needs, and
• Is experiencing, or is at risk of, abuse and neglect, and
• As a result of those care and support needs is unable to protect themselves from either the risk of, or the experience of, abuse or neglect

 

4.3.

Safeguarding adults includes:

• Protecting their rights to live in safety, free from abuse and neglect
• People and organisations working together to prevent the risk of abuse or neglect, and to stop them from happening
• Making sure people’s wellbeing is promoted, taking their views, wishes, feelings and beliefs into account
• This must recognise that adults sometimes have complex interpersonal relationships and may be ambivalent, unclear or unrealistic about their personal circumstances.

 

4.4.

AQT Home Care Services should always promote the Service User’s wellbeing in its safeguarding arrangements. Service Users have complex lives and being safe is only one of the things they want for themselves. Staff should work with the Service User to establish what being safe means to them and how that can be best achieved. Staff should not be advocating ‘safety’ measures that do not take account of individual wellbeing.

4.5. What Constitutes Abuse? 

Employees at AQT Home Care Services understand that the Service Users it supports can be extremely vulnerable to abuse and neglect, especially if they have care and support needs.

Abuse is a violation of an individual’s human or civil right by any other person. It is where someone does something to another person, or to themselves, which puts them at risk of harm and impacts on their health and wellbeing. 

Abuse can have a damaging effect on the health and wellbeing of Service Users. These effects may be experienced in the short and long term and can sometimes be lifelong.

4.6.

The signs of abuse are not always obvious, and a victim of abuse may not tell anyone what is happening to them. Sometimes they may not even be aware they are being abused.

The robust governance processes at AQT Home Care Services will make sure that staff working for, and on behalf of, AQT Home Care Services, recognise and respond to the main forms of abuse which are set out in the Care Act 2014 Statutory Guidance Chapter 14.

4.7.

The local authority is the lead agency for adult safeguarding and should be notified whenever abuse or neglect is suspected. It will decide whether a safeguarding enquiry is necessary, and if so, who will conduct it. The decision to conduct an enquiry depends on the criteria set out in the Care Act 2014, and not on whether the Service User is eligible for, or receiving, services funded by the local authority. 

4.8.
Everybody has the right to live a life that is free from harm and abuse. AQT Home Care Services recognises that safeguarding adults at risk of abuse or neglect is everybody’s business. AQT Home Care Services aims to ensure that all adults at risk of abuse or neglect are enabled to live and work, be cared for and supported in an environment free from abuse, harassment, violence or aggression. The safeguarding policies and procedures of AQT Home Care Services will dovetail with the Waltham Forest Council multi-agency policy and procedures, which we understand take precedence over those of AQT Home Care Services. AQT Home Care Services will ensure that the Waltham Forest Council policies and procedures are reflected within its own policy and procedure, that this is shared with all staff and is accessible and available for staff to follow.

4.9. 

AQT Home Care Services aims to provide services that will be appropriate to the adult at risk and not discriminate because of disability, age, gender, sexual orientation, race, religion, culture, or lifestyle. It will make every effort to enable Service Users to express their wishes and make their own decisions to the best of their ability, recognising that such self-determination may well involve risk. 

AQT Home Care Services will work with Service Users and others involved in their Care to ensure they receive the support and protection they may require, that they are listened to and treated with respect (including their property, possessions and personal information) and that they are treated with compassion and dignity.

A chaperone is always present when the Service User needs treatment, and missed healthcare appointments must be monitored to consider signs of abuse or neglect. These must be followed up with the healthcare provider and information shared in the best interests and safety of the Service User.

4.10. 

AQT Home Care Services will follow the six principles as set out in guidance to the Care Act 2014 and this will inform practice with all Service Users:

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

4.11.

AQT Home Care Services is committed to the principles of ‘Making Safeguarding Personal’ and aims to ensure that safeguarding is person-led and focused on the outcomes that Service Users want to achieve. It will engage Service Users in a conversation about how best to respond to their safeguarding situation in a timely way that enhances involvement, choice and control as well as improving quality of life, wellbeing and safety. 

4.12.

AQT Home Care Services understands the importance of working collaboratively to ensure that:

• The needs and interests of adults at risk are always respected and upheld The human rights of adults at risk are respected and upheld
• A proportionate, timely, professional and ethical response is made to any adult at risk who may be experiencing abuse
• All decisions and actions are taken in line with the Mental Capacity Act 2005 to ensure the best interests of the Service User
• Each adult at risk maintains:
• Choice and control
• Safety Health Quality of life
• Dignity and respect

4.13 Whistleblowing

AQT Home Care Services has a clear Raising Concerns, Freedom to Speak Up and Whistleblowing Policy and Procedure in place which staff are frequently reminded about and with which they must be familiar. They must also understand how to escalate and report concerns.

Whistleblowing is an important aspect of the support and protection of adults at risk of harm where staff are encouraged to share genuine concerns about safety or wrongdoing within AQT Home Care Services.

4.14. – The Care Worker‘s Responsibilities

• To be able to recognise and respond to suspected abuse and substandard practice To report concerns of harm or poor practice that may lead to harm
• To remain up to date with training
• To read and follow the policy and procedure
• To know how and when to use the whistleblowing procedures
• To understand the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and how to apply it in practice, including consent and best interests decisions.
  
  

4.15 – The Registered Manager‘s Responsibilities

• To establish the facts about the circumstances giving rise for concern To identify sources and level of risk
• To ensure that information is recorded and that the Waltham Forest Council Adult Safeguarding Team is contacted to inform them of the concern or harm
• If the Service User is at immediate risk of harm, the Registered Manager will contact the police. The CQC will also be informed
• In all cases of alleged harm, there will be early consultation between Christopher Thomas, Waltham Forest Council and the police to determine whether or not a joint investigation is required. AQT Home Care Services understands that it may also be
  
• necessary to advise the relevant Power of Attorney if there is one appointed. In dealing with incidents of potential harm, people have rights which must be respected and which may need to be balanced against each other
• The wishes of the person harmed will be taken into account whenever possible. This may result in no legal action
• Documentation of any incidents of harm in the Service User’s file and using body maps to record any injuries
• Follow Waltham Forest Council policy guidelines where applicable Report any incidents of abuse to the relevant parties
• Work with multi-agencies Advise and support staff
• Ensure staff are trained during induction, assess knowledge annually and run refresher training if needed
• Actively promote the whistleblowing policies
• Ensure that agency staff working at AQT Home Care Services have completed the necessary safeguarding training for their role
• Participate in local Safeguarding Adults Board arrangements for sharing experiences about managing safeguarding concerns in care homes
• Share relevant information from Safeguarding Adults Board meeting minutes and reports with staff

4.16. General Principles 

• We will have robust recruiting and safer staffing policies in place to make sure that our staff are fit to work with adults at risk and are compliant with national, safe recruitment and employment practices, including the requirements of the Disclosure and Barring Service
• Safeguarding responsibilities should be included in the job description of all staff
• A named safeguarding lead will be in place who is responsible for embedding safeguarding practices and improving practice in line with national and local developments. At AQT Home Care Services, this person is Chris Thomas
• Any staff member who knows or believes that harm is occurring will report it to their line manager as quickly as possible, or if they feel they cannot follow the regular reporting procedure, they must use the whistleblowing process
• AQT Home Care Services will work collaboratively with other agencies, including liaison in relation to the investigation of allegations and will ensure its procedures dovetail with the Waltham Forest Council multi-agency procedures
• AQT Home Care Services will use incident reporting, root cause analysis, lessons learned and auditing to determine themes to improve Care practice
• AQT Home Care Services will have a learning and development strategy which specifically addresses adult safeguarding. AQT Home Care Services will provide training on the identification and reporting of harm, as well as training on the required standards in relation to procedures and processes should something need to be reported
• AQT Home Care Services recognises its responsibilities in relation to confidentiality and will share information appropriately
• AQT Home Care Services will have zero tolerance to harm
• AQT Home Care Services will work in partnership with other agencies to ensure that concerns or allegations of abuse are appropriately referred for investigation to the most appropriate agency
•  
• AQT Home Care Services will ensure that any action that is taken is assessed, proportionate and reflective of the risk presented to the people who use the services
• AQT Home Care Services will report any incidents in line with its regulatory requirements
• AQT Home Care Services will adhere to the Code of Conduct for Care Workers
• There is a clear, well publicised Raising Concerns, Freedom to Speak Up and Whistleblowing Policy and Procedure in place that staff know how to use

4.17. Leadership, staff and culture 

Christopher Thomas is responsible for providing leadership.

Good governance in safeguarding will follow where it is seen as an integral part of Service User care and all staff take responsibility. Risks of neglect, harm and abuse will be reduced where there is strong leadership and a shared value base where:

• The Service User is the primary concern
• Service Users and staff are partners in their care Quality is prioritised and measured
• Staff understand the risks of neglect, harm and abuse There is a culture of learning and improvement
• There is openness and transparency, and all staff are listened to
  
  

4.18. Prevention – Providing information to support Services Users 

• AQT Home Care Services will support Service Users by providing accessible, easy to understand information on what abuse is and what signs to look out for
• A Safeguarding Leaflet can be found in the Forms section of this policy, and links to support can be found in the Further Reading section
• AQT Home Care Services will comply with the Accessible Information Standard
• All Service Users will receive a copy of the Service User Guide, have access to the Complaints, Suggestions and Compliments Policy and Procedure and be given information on how to escalate any concerns to the Commissioner, CQC, advocacy or Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman should they not be satisfied with the approach taken by AQT Home Care Services or at any time they wish

4.19. Prevention – Raising awareness

• Staff will need to be trained and understand the different patterns and behaviours of abuse as detailed in the Care Act 2014, Chapter 14 and AQT Home Care Services will ensure that it is able to respond appropriately
• AQT Home Care Services will ensure that all staff are trained on the Raising Concerns, Freedom to Speak Up and Whistleblowing Policy and Procedure and the Mental Capacity Act (MCA) 2005 Policy and Procedure
• During induction training, all employees will complete the ‘Understanding Abuse’ workbook, as part of the Care Certificate