Safeguarding Adults at Risk Policy
Messingham Bowls Club is affiliated to Bowls England, it’s National Governing Body and the club recognises the policies of the governing body as set out in the “Safeguarding Bowls Guidelines”
Policy Aims
The purpose of this policy is to outline the duty and the responsibility of members working on behalf of the club in relation to Safeguarding Adults at risk.
All adults have the right to be safe from harm and must be able to live free from abuse, neglect, and exploitation.
Objectives
Everyone who participates in bowls is entitled to do so in a safe and enjoyable environment.
The club is committed to helping everyone in bowls accept their responsibility to safeguard adults at risk, from harm and abuse.
All suspicions and allegations of abuse and poor practice will be taken seriously and responded to swiftly and appropriately.
Members working with adults at risk in bowls have a responsibility to report concerns to the clubs Welfare/ Safety or Deputy Officers
Definition of an Adult at Risk
An Adult (a person aged 18 or over) who is or may be in need of community care services by reason of mental or other disability, age or illness, and who is or maybe unable to take care of him or herself, or unable to protect him or herself against significant harm or exploitation. (Definition from the Department of Health 2002)
This could include people with learning disabilities, mental health problems, older people and people with a physical disability or impairment. It may also include victims of domestic abuse, hate crime and anti-social behaviour. The persons need for additional support to protect themselves may be increased when complicated by additional factors, such as physical frailty or chronic illness, sensory impairment, challenging behaviour, drug or alcohol problems, social or emotional problems, poverty or homelessness.
Types of Abuse
Physical abuse |
Including assault, hitting, slapping, pushing, misuse of medication, restraint, inappropriate physical sanctions |
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Domestic abuse |
Including psychological, physical, sexual, financial, emotional abuse, so called ‘honour’ based violence |
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Sexual abuse |
Including rape, indecent exposure, sexual harassment, inappropriate looking or touching, sexual teasing or innuendo, sexual photography, subjection to pornography or witnessing sexual acts, indecent exposure, sexual assault, sexual acts to which the adult has not consented or was pressured into consenting |
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Psychological abuse |
Including emotional abuse, threats of harm or abandonment, deprivation of contact, humiliation, blaming, controlling, intimidation, coercion, harassment, verbal abuse, cyber bullying, isolation, unreasonable and unjustified withdrawal of services or support networks |
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Financial or material abuse |
Including theft, fraud, internet scamming, coercion in relation to an adult’s financial affairs or arrangements, including in connection with wills, property, inheritance or financial transactions, the misuse or misappropriation of property, possessions or benefits |
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Modern Slavery |
Encompasses slavery, human trafficking, forced labour and domestic servitude, traffickers and slave masters using whatever means they have at their disposal or coerce, deceive and force individuals into a life of abuse, servitude and inhumane treatment |
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Discriminatory abuse |
Including, harassment, slurs or similar treatment: because of race; gender and gender identity; age; disability; sexual orientation; religion |
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Organisational abuse |
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 ongoing ill-treatment. It can be through neglect or poor professional practice as a result of structure, policies, processes and practices within an organisation |
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Neglect and acts of omission |
Including, ignoring medical, emotional or physical care needs, failure to provide access to appropriate health, care and support or educational services, the withholding of the necessities of life, such as medication, adequate nutrition and heating |
Six Safeguarding Principles
The following six principles underpin all adult safeguarding work:
Empowerment |
People are supported and encouraged to make their own decisions and informed consent |
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Prevention |
It is better to take action before harm occurs |
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Proportionality |
The least intrusive response to the risk presented |
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Protection |
Support and representation for those in greatest need |
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Partnership |
Local solutions through services working with their communities. Communities have a part to play preventing, detecting and reporting neglect and abuse |
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Accountability |
Accountability and transparency in delivering safeguarding |
Making Safeguarding Personal (MSP)
The adult at risk and/or their representative should be as involved as possible and to the extent to which they would like. MSP should be person led and outcome focused. It engages the person in a conversation about how best to respond to their safeguarding situation, in a way that enhances involvement, choice and control as well as improving quality of life, wellbeing and safety.
MSP is about seeing people as experts in their own lives and working alongside them.
Preventing Abuse by Staff and Volunteers
It is important that any volunteers who are likely to be working alone with vulnerable people are thoroughly vetted before being allowed to carry out this role. At Messingham Bowls Club this means as well as references being checked there will be a requirement for offences to be declared and a Disclosure and Barring Services (DBS) check undertaken.
It may be very hard for a member to report another member to the Welfare/Safety officer or deputy but, as with all other difficulties people will come across, the safety and protection of an adult at risk must be the priority in any decision that is made.
Responsibilities and Communication
Messingham Bowls Club Safeguarding Policy will be available to all members and participants. It is important that adults at risk are protected from abuse.
Volunteers have a responsibility to be aware and alert to signs of abuse or neglect. However, they are not responsible for diagnosing, investigating, or providing a therapeutic response to abuse. In addition, not all concerns relate to abuse, there may be other explanations. It is important to keep an open mind and consider what is known and where possible speak to the adult concerned.
If an adult at risk discloses to you that they are being abused or if any member discloses that they are involved in abuse of an adult at risk, action should be taken urgently and without delay.
All complaints, allegations or suspicions must be taken seriously with the Welfare/Safety Officer or Deputy passing information to the appropriate Safeguarding Team and informing the appropriate club officers where relevant.
Never delay emergency action to protect an adult at risk.
Where possible always involve the adult at risk and/or their representative
Always record any concerns and/ or action taken
The Adult Protection Team should be notified, and a safeguarding concern submitted within 24 hours of the occurrence taking place.
Anyone may report a concern to the Adult Protection Team irrespective of the opinion of other volunteers or members.
It is important for staff and volunteers to make written records of any incidents or concerns as soon as possible and if appropriate to include sketches of sites and sizes of injuries, it is also important to make a record of conversations with the adult using the same language especially names of body parts or sexual acts.
Contact Information
Mr Andrew Clark, the Club Secretary, contact details are 01724 762567 or 07714 201 727. Home address is 41 Knightsbridge Road, Messingham Scunthorpe North Lincolnshire DN 17 3RA.
Welfare/Safety Officer is Mr Andrew Clark (details as above)
Deputy Welfare / Safety Officer is Mr Keith Sylvester, 34 Wendover Road Messingham DN17 3SW. 01724 762414.
NATIONAL OR SUPPORT BODY (Bowls England Riverside House, Milverton Hill, Royal Leamington Spa, Warks 01926 334609)
North Lincolnshire Adult Protection Team 01724 297000
Police Emergency 999
Police Non-Emergency 101
The Role of Key Individual Agencies
All local authorities have a Safeguarding Adults Board, which oversees multi-agency work aimed at protecting and safeguarding vulnerable adults. It is normal practice for the board to comprise of people from partner organisations who have the ability to influence decision making and resource allocation within their organisation.
The Police play a vital role in Safeguarding Adults with cases involved alleged criminal acts. It becomes the responsibility of the police to investigate allegations of crime by preserving and gathering of evidence. Where a crime is identified, the police will be the lead agency and they will direct investigations in line with the legal and other procedural protocols.
Legal Framework
The Care act (2014), which came into force from April 2015, sets out a legal framework for safeguarding adults. Each local authority must have a Safeguarding Adults Board (SAB) that includes the local authority, NHS, and police. SAB’s will carry out Safeguarding Adults Reviews in some circumstances relating to safeguarding failures. The act also introduces a responsibility for Local Authorities to make enquiries and take any necessary action if an adult with care and support needs could be at risk, even if that adult isn’t receiving local authority care and support.
Human Rights Act 1998, the Mental Capacity Act 2005, and Public Interest Disclosure Act 1998, Data Protection Act 1998, Freedom of Information Act 2000, Safeguarding Vulnerable Adults Act 2006, Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards, Codes of Practice 2008.
The Mental Capacity Act 2005 covering England and Wales, provides a statutory framework for people who lack capacity to make decisions for themselves, or who have capacity and want to make preparations for a time when they may lack capacity in the future. It sets out who can take decisions, in which situations, and how they must go about this.
Monitoring and Review
This policy will be reviewed one year after being introduced and then every year or in response to significant new legislation, by the Committee and amended as appropriate. Guidance from Bowls England will be sort as part of the review process.
The policy will be monitored in partnership with the Bowls England and Bowls Development Alliance Procedures.
Approved January 2022
Next Review date January 2025