Small Strides CIC is committed to ensuring the protection of vulnerable adults through the development and implementation of effective policies and best practices. Staff and volunteers recognise and except the responsibility involved with working with vulnerable adults.

​

The broad definition of a vulnerable adult is a person:

"Someone who is eighteen years of age and over, and who may be in need of community care service by reason of mental or other disability, age or illness, and who is or maybe unable to take care of him/herself, or unable to protect him / herself against significant harm or exploitation"

​

Our objectives are;

• To provide an environment in which vulnerable adults feel safe and valued

• To ensure that staff and volunteers take responsibility to protect vulnerable adults from harm at all times

• To have a designated staff member for Vulnerable Adults issues. This is Jenny MacSharry
  (director)

• To exercise a Duty or Care and, when necessary, share information and/or concerns in a
  confidential manner with the appropriate outside agency e.g. Social Services

• To ensure that all staff and volunteers who work with, or have responsibility for, vulnerable adults are checked by the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB)

• To ensure recruitment of volunteers includes a minimum of 2 character references to support an application

• To develop a time specific induction period when all new staff and volunteers are introduced to guidelines for working with Vulnerable Adults and policies and procedures.

• To ensure volunteers are adequately supervised

• To review and update this policy and practice annually.

 

Types of abuse:

Abuse may be defined as the wrongful application of power by someone in a dominant position. It involves an imbalance of power and exploitation without a full and informed consent. Abuse can take several different forms and may be a single act or repeated acts.

​

• Physical Abuse -Includes hitting, slapping, pushing, kicking, withholding or misuse of medication

• Sexual Abuse - includes sexual assault and rape, or sexual acts where the vulnerable person has not (or could not give) given consent or was forced into consenting.

• Psychological Abuse - includes threats of harm, emotional abuse, humiliation, verbal abuse, intimidation, coercion, harassment, withdrawal of support, isolation and deprivation (physical or

sensory)

• Material / Financial Abuse - includes fraud, theft, exploitation, financial transactions, and

misappropriation e.g. willed inheritance, property, benefits and possessions.

•  Neglect & Acts of Omission - Includes ignoring physical care and medical needs, withholding basic

living requirements e.g. adequate nutrition, safe and warm environment, withholding necessary medication and failure to provide access to appropriate health and social care services and / or
educational services.

• Discrimination - includes harassment and/or exclusion because of race, creed culture, ability, gender and any slur deemed offensive and abusive.

 

REPORTING A SAFEGAURDING INCIDENT

• If you have an emergency, call the Police on 999

• If it isn’t an emergency but you need help fast, call the Police on 101.

 

ALL OTHER TIMES

• Use our online form to report suspected adult abuse if nobody’s health or safety is in immediate danger.

• Always repot a Safeguarding issue to the designated staff member for Vulnerable Adults issues. This is Jenny MacSharry (director)

• ​

Other ways to report adult abuse;

You can call Care Direct on 0117 922 2700, 8.30am to 5pm, Monday to Friday. There’s an answerphone service outside these hours.

What you need to tell them:

• why you're concerned

• the name, age and address of the adult at risk

• if anyone lives with them

• if they're getting help from any organisation

• who may be doing the abuse

 

Small Strides CIC are committed to reviewing our policy and good practice annually