At Inspire Wellbeing Services, we are committed to promoting the welfare and safety of all adults with whom we engage. We recognise our duty to ensure that all adults, particularly those who are vulnerable due to age, disability, illness, or social circumstances, are protected from harm and abuse. Our commitment extends to ensuring that all adults feel respected, valued, and safe, and can receive support in a dignified and compassionate manner.

We adhere to the principles of:

• Empowerment: Ensuring that individuals feel encouraged and supported to make their own decisions and provide informed consent.
• Prevention: It is better to take action before harm occurs.
• Proportionality: We respond proportionally to the risk presented, ensuring the least intrusive response appropriate to the risk.
• Protection: We are dedicated to supporting and representing those in greatest need.
• Partnership: Local solutions through services working with their communities have a crucial role in preventing, detecting, and reporting neglect and abuse.
• Accountability: Accountability and transparency are required in safeguarding practice.

This policy applies to all staff including Directors, requiring them to ensure that all safeguarding concerns are reported and dealt with appropriately. Training is provided to all members of the organisation to understand their roles and responsibilities under this policy. Inspire Wellbeing Services will regularly review this policy and its procedures to ensure ongoing effectiveness and compliance with the latest legal and ethical standards.

Our ultimate goal is to foster a safe and supportive environment that promotes respect for individuals and protects them from harm.

An adult at risk of harm is defined as any person aged 18 or above who has needs for care and support (whether or not the local authority is meeting any of those needs) and is experiencing, or is at risk of, abuse or neglect, and as a result of those care and support needs is unable to protect themselves from either the risk of, or the expectations of, abuse, or neglect.

Definitions of the types of abuse and adult safeguarding principles are set out within the SET Safeguarding Adults Guidelines, Version 9 (September 2023).

Abuse of an adult at risk may consist of a single act or repeated acts. It may be an act of neglect or omission to act, or it may be where a vulnerable person is persuaded to enter into a financial or sexual transaction to which they have not, or cannot, consent. Abuse can occur in any relationship, and it may result in significant harm to, or exploitation of, the individual.

This policy applies to all Directors, staff and students. Any allegation or concern about abuse must be responded to. Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of vulnerable adults is everybody’s responsibility although our individual roles in the process may be different. Inspire Wellbeing Services staff understand that adults at ‘significant risk of harm’ must be protected.

If a staff member has concerns about the attitudes and /or behaviours of a Inspire Wellbeing Services colleague, they have a duty to comply with the ‘Whistle Blowing Policy’ and procedures.

A referral will be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service if there are concerns that a person employed by Inspire Wellbeing Services, or who has been dismissed or left during a safeguarding or disciplinary investigation, has caused harm or poses a risk of harm vulnerable groups.

The Designated Safeguarding Lead for Inspire Wellbeing Services is Sue Bell (CEO and Clinical Director).

The Deputy Designated Leads are Victoria Haylock (Kids Inspire Chief Operating Officer), Kamila De Nadai (Kids Inspire Deputy Clinical Director – Services), Emma Ritchie (Kids Inspire Deputy Clinical Director – Team), Louise College (Kids Inspire Volunteer and Mentoring Project Manager) and Christine Vincent (Kids Inspire Therapy Support Services Supervisor).

Categories of Abuse and neglect can take many forms. Organisations and individuals should not be constrained in their view of what constitutes abuse or neglect and should always consider the circumstances of the individual case. Abuse includes:

Physical abuse

Including assault hitting, slapping, pushing, misuse of medication, restraint or inappropriate physical sanctions.

Sexual abuse

Including rape and sexual assault or sexual acts to which the adult has not consented or was pressured into consenting.

Psychological abuse

Including emotional abuse, threats of harm or abandonment, deprivation of contact, humiliation, blaming, controlling, intimidation, coercion, harassment, verbal abuse, isolation or unreasonable and unjustified withdrawal of services or supportive networks.

Modern Slavery

• Illegal Exploitation of people for personal/ commercial gain. Victims trapped in servitude they were deceived or coerced into.
• Criminal Exploitation pick pocketing, shoplifting, drug trafficking
• Domestic Servitude forced to work in private houses with restricted freedoms, long hours, no pay
• Forced labour long hours, no pay, poor conditions, verbal and physical threats
• Sexual Exploitation prostitution and child abuse
• Other forms include – organ removal, forced begging, forced marriage and illegal adoption

Financial or material abuse

Including theft, fraud, exploitation, coercion in relation to an adult’s financial affairs or arrangements, including in connection with wills, property, inheritance or financial transactions, or the misuse or misappropriation of property, possessions, or benefits.

Neglect and acts of omission

Including ignoring medical 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.

Self-Neglect

This covers a wide range of behaviour neglecting to care for one’s personal hygiene, health or surrounding and includes behaviour such as hoarding. It is important to consider capacity when self-neglect is suspected. Also consider how it may impact on other family members and whether this gives rise to a safeguarding concern.

Domestic Violence

Domestic violence and abuse is officially classified as “any incident of threatening behaviours, violence or abuse between adults who are or have been in a relationship together, or between family members, regardless of gender or sexuality”. We think of domestic violence as hitting, slapping and beating, but it can also include emotional abuse as well as forced marriage and so-called “honour crimes”.

It is abuse if a partner, ex-partner or a family member:

• Threatens/frightens an individual
• Shoves or pushes an individual
• Makes an individual fear for their physical safety
• Puts an individual fear for their physical safety
• Puts an individual down, or attempts to undermine their self-esteem
• Controls an individual, for example by stopping them seeing friends and family
• Is jealous and possessive, such as being suspicious of friendships and conversations

Discriminatory abuse 

Including discrimination on grounds of race, gender and gender identity, disability, sexual orientation, religion, and other forms of harassment, slurs or similar treatment.

Organisational abuse

Including neglect and poor care practice within an institution or specific care setting like a hospital or care home, for example, this may range from isolated incidents to continuing ill-treatment. Reference: The Care Act 2014: Safeguarding Adults, Social Care Institute for Excellence.

Hidden Abuse
Not all forms of abuse are obvious or transparent. Some are included in the categories above, such as human trafficking, modern slavery, forced marriage and honour-based abuse. Domestic abuse may also be hidden, and to admit to abuse is often considered shaming, and can therefore result in it remaining hidden. A form of hidden abuse subject to specific reporting is:

Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)
There is a specific safeguarding pathway to follow for the reporting of female genital mutilation, see https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/safeguarding-women-and- girls-at-risk-of-fgm.

Female Genital Mutilation is more prevalent in certain cultures, which places women within these populations at higher risk. There are certain clinical indicators such as frequent urinary infections and pain on intercourse and difficulty in getting pregnant that may alert to an increased risk, and with young women, trips abroad for ‘coming of age’ ceremonies may raise concerns. Where adults have been subjected to FGM themselves, consideration needs to be given to the risks of female children in the family that may be at higher risk of being subjected to FGM themselves.

Prevent
The Prevent programme is a government led programme which aims to safeguard vulnerable people from being drawn into terrorism.
The objectives of the strategy are to:

• Respond to the ideological challenge of terrorism and the threat we face from those who promote it.
• Prevent someone from being drawn into terrorism and ensure that they are given appropriate advice and support.
• Work with sectors and institutions where there are risks of radicalisation which we need to address

The Care Act 2014

The Care Act 2014 sets out a clear legal framework for how local authorities and other parts of the system should protect adults at risk of abuse or neglect. In Essex the relevant authorities are Essex County Council, Southend and Thurrock Unitary Authorities, Essex Police, and the Clinical Commissioning Groups. Safeguarding arrangements sit under Essex Safeguarding Adults Board (ESCB), Thurrock Safeguarding Adults Board (TLSCB) and Southend Safeguarding Partnership (SSP). Professionals within Essex must work in accordance with the SET procedures.

Mental Capacity

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.

People who lack capacity as defined by the Mental Capacity Act, 2005

1. For the purposes of this Act, a person lacks capacity in relation to a matter if at the material time he is unable to make a decision for himself in relation to the matter because of an impairment of, or a disturbance in the functioning of, the mind or brain.
2. It does not matter whether the impairment or disturbance is permanent or temporary.
3. A lack of capacity cannot be established merely by reference to—
   a. a person’s age or appearance, or
   b. a condition of his, or an aspect of his behaviour, which might lead others to make unjustified assumptions about his capacity.
4. In proceedings under this Act or any other enactment, any question whether a person lacks capacity within the meaning of this Act must be decided on the balance of probabilities.
   Note: The person making the determination must be aware of all of the relevant circumstances when making a decision.

Inspire Wellbeing Services staff, students, and Directors, should contact the designated person responsible for safeguarding adults with care and support needs who are at risk for advice and support if there is any question of capacity related to their ability to consent and understand therapeutic treatment options for themselves or family members, or where there are proposed actions related to suspected abuse.

Human rights

The Human Rights Act (1998) contains 13 articles outlining people’s basis rights in law.
There are four particularly relevant to safeguarding adults with care and support needs at risk of abuse. These are:
Article 2, which protects the right to life
Article 3 which affords freedom from degrading and inhumane treatment
Article 5 which enshrines the right to liberty and security
Article 8 which guarantees the right to a private life, family life and a home life.

Equality

A requirement under the Equality Act 2010 is for provision and adjustments to enable disabled people equal access to information and advice.

Advocacy

Adults with care and support needs under the Care Act may be entitled to independent advocacy. Discuss with the designated person for further information and support if a client may have additional needs in this respect.

Inspire Wellbeing Services responsibilities in respect of adults with safeguarding risks are;

To provide support, appropriate training, and advice to staff, contractors, students and directors in responding to safeguarding issues.

To provide designated persons responsible to safeguard adults at risk.
Inspire Wellbeing Services designated persons are Sue Bell (CEO, Clinical Director) and Emma Ritchie (Kids Inspire Deputy Clinical Director).

Ensure that information is available for adults with care and support needs who are at risk of harm, and their family members, setting out the procedure on what to do if they have a concern.

Young Adults 18-25 in Care are vulnerable and have the name and contact details of their social worker/ personal advisor on their records.

Inspire Wellbeing Services will make every effort to ensure that staff, contractors, Directors, and students working for Inspire Wellbeing Services are suitable to do so. Those responsible for appointing staff will be trained in safe recruitment practices. All references will be robustly scrutinised, and appropriate checks made with the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Inspire Wellbeing Services believes that the welfare of adults who are at risk of harm is paramount and that they have the right to protection from abuse, regardless of their age, culture, disability, gender, racial origin, language, religious belief or sexual orientation.

Inspire Wellbeing Services is committed to training all staff, contractors, students and directors in this policy, and the associated procedures and codes of behaviour, as part of the induction process. It requires all those working with adults at risk to undertake safeguarding training to level 1 as soon as possible on commencing with Inspire Wellbeing Services. In addition, they will be required to undertake either refresher training or more advanced training (as appropriate to their role) bi-annually thereafter. Safeguarding team members, including Designated Persons are trained to level 3. All training should meet the standards set out in the SET Learning and Development Framework, v.1 2018.

Inspire Wellbeing Services staff also receive PREVENT training and should report any concerns they may have about individuals at risk.

This policy is made available to all new starters, and policy awareness and responsibilities are included in the induction programme, and in team meetings following review and update and on an annual basis in respect of safeguarding.

Policy development and changes are the responsibility of the Senior Management Team designated persons with support of team members and stakeholders where possible.

All staff involved with safeguarding need to bear in mind the other organisational policies which support their work and provide guidance:

• Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
• Code of Ethics
• Whistle blowing
• Confidentiality
• Safeguarding Children
• Code of conduct
• Lone working
• Health and Safety
• Complaints

Inspire Wellbeing Services requires consent from clients who wish to be in receipt of our services and therapeutic support. Parents and carers are required to provide written consent for children in their care. In rare situations where young people do not wish their parents/ carers to be informed and they are of an appropriate age and maturity, it may be appropriate to assess for Gillick competence (Gillick v West Norfolk 1984). Staff should refer to the Child Safeguarding Policy and consult the safeguarding team for further information in these cases.

The principles of consent are that is should be voluntary (and not influenced by pressure from staff, family or friends, informed– so the person must be given all of the information they require to make their decision, including any risks and options, and they must have capacity and be able to give consent.

Consent also includes the boundaries of confidentiality where is pertains to adults (and children) at risk of abuse.

Inspire Wellbeing Services clients are required to complete a consent form prior to receiving therapeutic support. Adults with additional needs such as literacy, learning or physical difficulties, or mental health issues, may require addition support to complete the consent process. Consent forms are available from hello@inspirewellbeingservices, and consent templates are provided to staff during the orientation process. It is the duty of the practitioner supporting the client therapeutically to ensure that valid consent is obtained prior to engaging in services, and that the client is competent to provide consent. If in doubt, staff should consult the designated safeguarding person for further advice and support. Therapeutically trained staff must adhere to the professional codes of ethics and practice from their relevant professional body when considering issues such as obtaining consent as part of their professional practice.

Accurate records should be maintained of all client interactions and stored securely in accordance with the Data Protection Act 2018 and GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation), and with reference to the Caldicott Principles 1997, developed following a review of how the NHS handled patient information. There are now eight principles to ensure people’s information is kept confidential and used appropriately. Organisations are required to process information legally and fairly in accordance with regulations, but it is not a barrier to sharing information between organisations where there is a need to safeguard an adult with care and support needs is at risk of abuse.

Any member of staff receiving a disclosure or having a concern about an adult at risk will record this information as soon as possible, noting what has been said or seen, and giving the date, time and location. All records should be dated, signed, and should include the relevant action taken. Causes for concern are submitted to the safeguarding team (safeguarding@kidsinspire.org.uk).

Wherever possible, the process should be transparent and where the practitioner may have concerns about an adult with care and support needs at risk of abuse they should discuss this with the individual and make them aware of further actions and information sharing that may be required as a result of the safeguarding concern. This relates to consent and the boundaries of confidentiality and grounds on which this may be broken.

This policy applies to all directors , staff, contractors and students. Any allegation or concern about abuse must be responded to through the relevant procedures. Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of adults with care or support needs who are at risk is everyone’s business although our individual roles in the process may be different.

All work undertaken by Inspire Wellbeing Services will be subject to continuous risk assessment and comply with the Code of Ethics. Any concern for the welfare of an adult at risk must be discussed with the safeguarding team without delay and further action taken as necessary.

All causes for concern, including suspected cases of hidden abuse, must be recorded on a Cause for Concern form. Online templates are provided to new staff as part of the induction process, and hard copies are available from Therapy Support Services at Hargrave House in Chelmsford if required, to be scanned in and processed electronically on completion. Therapy Support Services will undertake this task if the person completing the form does not have access to the relevant technology.

If allegations concern an adult who is known to be working with Inspire Wellbeing Services, that person will be suspended whilst the incident is investigated in line with the Inspire Wellbeing Services Grievance and Discipline Procedure. Any individual who has concerns about a staff member should report to the safeguarding team/ designated person, and if they require external support and advice in this respect, they are able to contact the Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) for advice. 03330 139 797 or by e-mail: lado@essex.gov.uk

The responsibilities of Inspire Wellbeing Services employees are to REPORT but DO NOT include investigating suspected cases of abuse. This is the role of Social Services who have statutory powers and obligations. If you have discovered suspected abuse, Inspire Wellbeing Services workers are to report using a Cause for Concern Form via the safeguarding team at safeguarding@kidsinspire.org.uk mailbox, and in person as appropriate. The safeguarding team will make a decision regarding reporting to Social Care or the Police. Reporting by the safeguarding team to Essex Safeguarding Adults Board is via SETSAF (Safeguarding Adults Concern Form) https://www.essexsab.org.uk/professionals/reporting-concerns/ . Telephone contact is via Social Care Direct 0345 6037630.

Note that in cases of immediate danger in an emergency situation the emergency services should be summoned by calling 999 and the safeguarding team/ designated person(s) contacted by phone, to be followed with a cause for concern form submitted at the earliest opportunity.

This procedure ensures that Inspire Wellbeing Services are aware of concerns for adults at risk who are clients of the organisation or who are either employed or volunteer for them. This ensures that the correct procedures are followed, and monitoring is undertaken.

In cases of escalating safeguarding concerns in cases of professional disagreements, the SET procedures should be followed: https://www.essexsab.org.uk/media/2244/set-safeguarding-adult-guidelines-final.pdf. Disagreements could arise in a number of areas, but are most likely to arise around thresholds, roles and responsibilities, the need for action and communication. The safety of the individual at risk should be paramount and should remain the focus. In house disagreement should be arbitrated by the Designated Person, CEO. Multi-organisational disagreements should follow the stages 1-4 of the SET procedures.

Those working with adults with care and support needs who are at risk have an individual responsibility to raise any concerns for their wellbeing with the person responsible to take action within the organisation.

Any members of staff, contactors, volunteers and students will be supported if they raise a concern about practices that may be abusive to staff or to clients with support or care needs who are at risk of abuse.

Any concerns should be raised with the designated safeguarding person and if external support and advice is required, the LADO (Local Authority Designated Officer) should be contacted.

For further information please refer to the Whistleblowing Policy.

Making Safeguarding Personal (MSP) aims to develop an outcomes focus to safeguarding work, and a range of responses to support people to improve or resolve their circumstances. Part of the Care and Health Improvement Programme, the work is supported by the LGA with the Association of Directors of Adult Social Care (ADASS) and other national partners and seeks to promote this approach and share good practice.” The fourth edition of the MSP practice toolkit, produced in January 2020, outlines an approach to and effective application of safeguarding, alongside a range of resources and practice based case examples. https://www.local.gov.uk/our-support/our-improvement-offer/care-and-health-improvement/making-safeguarding-personal

The making safeguarding personal outcomes framework has a useful online questionnaire to assist with learning and reflection and to support a person centred outcomes focus approach to safeguarding adults with care and support needs who are at risk.