Safeguarding policy

Introduction

Sanctuary Trust is committed to safeguarding residents from harm or abuse in all forms. This policy outlines the Trust’s approach to identifying, preventing, and responding to safeguarding concerns. It aligns with the Jersey Care Commission’s guidelines and ensures that residents are supported and protected in every aspect of their care.

Principles

Empowerment: Residents are supported to make their own decisions, with access to clear information and opportunities to voice their views.

“Talk to me, hear my voice, what I have to say. Nothing about me without me”

Prevention: Action is taken to prevent harm before it occurs, with staff trained to recognise and address potential risks.

“Support me to be safe, now and into the future”

Proportionality: Responses to safeguarding concerns are appropriate to the level of risk, with the resident’s wishes and best interests at the centre of all actions.

“Work with me to resolve my concerns”

Protection: Support is provided to those who are most vulnerable, ensuring they are safe from harm.

“Work with me to support me to be safe”

Partnership: Collaboration with residents and external agencies is crucial to safeguarding efforts, with shared responsibility across all parties.

“Work together with me: I am a partner too”

Accountability: All actions are transparent, with clear roles and responsibilities for staff to ensure effective safeguarding practices.

“Work with me, knowing you have done all you should”

Definition of abuse

Abuse includes, but is not limited to:

• Physical, sexual, financial, discriminatory, emotional, or psychological abuse.
• Domestic abuse, organisational/institutional abuse, modern slavery, hate crime, female genital mutilation (FGM) and neglect (including self-neglect).

Responsibilities

Sanctuary Trust must ensure:

• A written safeguarding policy is established, maintained, and adhered to.
• Reasonable steps are taken to identify and prevent risks of harm or abuse.
• Appropriate responses are made to any allegations of abuse, with immediate action taken to protect residents.
• Support workers are adequately trained in safeguarding.
• Compliance with Jersey Care Commission (JCC) safeguarding guidelines.
• Participation in multi-agency safeguarding investigations where required.
• Prevention of support workers having contact with residents if they have caused harm or pose a risk of harm
• All reasonable steps are taken to avoid having as a support worker any person on the barred list or who has received a caution or conviction for an offence against a care receiver in Jersey, or in any other jurisdiction if the conduct would be an offence in Jersey had it taken place in Jersey.

Safeguarding adults is about preventing and responding to the abuse or neglect of adults with care and support needs.

An adult with care and support needs might be:

• Someone with a learning disability, a learning difficulty or a sensory impairment
• Someone with mental health needs, including dementia or a personality disorder
• A person with a long-term health condition
• Someone who uses alcohol or substances to the extent that it affects their ability to manage day-to-day living
• Someone who is unable to demonstrate the capacity to make a decision relating to their safety and needs care and support

Safeguarding procedures and reporting

Recognising signs of abuse:

Some signs of abuse can include, but are not limited to:

• Withdrawal or isolation: A resident becoming withdrawn, avoiding social interactions, or showing discomfort when specific individuals are present. For example, a resident who previously enjoyed group activities suddenly opts out when a particular staff member or visitor is nearby. They may also start spending more time alone in their room, avoiding common areas.
• Unexplained financial difficulties: A sudden lack of money, leading to requests for loans or essentials like toiletries and food from other residents. This could manifest as repeatedly asking to borrow money, reporting lost benefits without clear reasons, or suddenly having unpaid bills. For example, a resident who once managed their finances well may suddenly start missing rent payments or appear anxious about money.
• Physical indicators: Unexplained injuries such as bruises, cuts, or burns, particularly those that seem recurrent or are in unusual locations. For instance, bruises on both upper arms could suggest being grabbed or restrained. Another example might be repeated falls or injuries that are not consistent with the resident’s level of mobility, such as bruises on the back or thighs that are not easily explained.
• Reluctance to engage: An unwillingness to interact with staff or participate in activities they once enjoyed. A resident may become unusually quiet during interactions with certain staff members or refuse to participate in routine care tasks. For example, a resident who used to enjoy daily walks may start refusing to leave their room when accompanied by a particular staff member.
• Personality changes: A complete change in character, such as becoming unusually anxious, depressed, or aggressive. For example, a previously cheerful resident may suddenly exhibit signs of distress or fear without clear cause, such as avoiding eye contact, trembling, or showing signs of agitation when specific topics are mentioned.
• Disruptions in routine: Significant and unusual changes in daily habits or routines, such as a resident who starts missing meals, withdrawing from communal areas, or altering their sleeping patterns unexpectedly. For instance, a resident who typically enjoys morning walks suddenly avoids leaving their room, or a resident who always attends weekly catch up with family stops going altogether without explanation.
• Neglect of personal care: A noticeable decline in personal hygiene or appearance, such as wearing dirty clothes, having unkempt hair, or showing signs of untreated medical conditions. For example, a resident might start wearing the same clothes for several days, or their hair may become matted, indicating they are not caring for themself in the way they need.
• Fear of specific individuals: A resident showing fear or anxiety around staff members, family members, or visitors. This could include flinching, refusing to speak, or visibly tensing when certain people approach. For instance, a resident might avoid eye contact or try to leave the room when a specific caregiver enters.
• Unexplained property loss: Personal belongings going missing without explanation, such as jewellery, money, or other valuable items. A resident may report that their possessions have disappeared, or they might seem overly protective of their belongings, fearing they might be taken.
• Sudden change in legal documents: Unusual changes in a resident’s will, power of attorney, or other legal documents, especially if they seem confused about these changes or if they benefit a particular individual unexpectedly. For example, a resident who was previously clear about their wishes might suddenly alter their will to leave everything to a new acquaintance.

Immediate action:

• If you suspect that someone has been abused or is being abused, you must inform the Safeguarding Lead immediately. Make sure to have a clear report of the suspected abuse ready to discuss.
• Even if you are not sure, it is always good practice to share any concerns or worries so that they can be investigated to prevent further abuse.

Responding to disclosures:

If anyone makes a disclosure of abuse or alleged abuse, you must:

• Listen carefully to the information being shared.
• Do not press for details or ask leading questions
• Preserve evidence
• Provide support and reassurance to the individual.
• Do not promise to keep secrets. Inform them that you will have to pass on information regarding abuse to the Safeguarding Lead.
• Provide reassurance that the Safeguarding Lead will speak to them directly about this and will inform them of any further action needed throughout.
• Do not comment or discuss the matter with anyone who does not need to know
• Do not contact the person who is the alleged abuser
• Do not contact the resident’s family
• Write a report to give to the Safeguarding Lead. The report should:
  • Describe the circumstances, including time, date, location
  • Record what the individual said
  • Record any injuries
  • Be signed and dated.
• Report the disclosure to the Safeguarding Lead immediately.

More tips at the end of this policy for providing support and dealing with disclosures appropriately

Safeguarding lead’s role:

• The Safeguarding Lead will meet with the individual following the key principles listed above to ensure they have a voice and that their wishes are understood.
• The Safeguarding Lead will start an investigation and make a referral to the Adult Safeguarding Board, if it becomes apparent that a resident with care and support needs is experiencing or is at risk of abuse or neglect and is unable to protect himself from that abuse or neglect. When raising a concern with the Safeguarding Board, the following details should be provided:
  • Demographic and contact details for the resident and Sanctuary Trust
  • Basic facts about the resident’s care and support needs
  • Factual details about the cause for concern
  • Immediate risks and action taken to reduce risks
  • Details of any crime
  • Whether the resident has any cognitive or other impairment
  • Any information on the source of harm
  • Wishes and views of the resident, particularly consent and preferred method of communication
  • Advocacy involvement (Sanctuary Trust, family, friends)
  • Any recent history of previous incidents or concerns

Escalating concerns:

• If an allegation or suspicion of abuse or neglect involves any member of care/support workers or a visitor, you must report this immediately to the Safeguarding Lead.
• If the Safeguarding Lead is the alleged subject of the report, you can contact the Chairman of Sanctuary Trust. If this is not appropriate, you must report directly to the Safeguarding Partnership Board.

Contact details:

• Sanctuary House: +44(0)1534 743732
• Safeguarding Partnership Board: SPOR – +44(0)1534 444440 | spor@1768787595healt1768787595h.gov1768787595.je1768787595

Training and awareness

All support workers will be:

• Trained to recognise signs of abuse and know the appropriate actions to take.
• Aware of how to respond to concerns raised by residents or others.
• Provided with ongoing training to ensure up-to-date knowledge and skills in safeguarding.

Information sharing

Sanctuary Trust will share relevant information with other registered persons, regulatory bodies, and law enforcement agencies to safeguard people from harm. All information sharing will be in line with legal requirements and confidentiality agreements.

Support for residents

• Advocacy: Residents will have access to independent advocacy services where available.
• Complaints: A transparent complaints process is in place, allowing residents to raise concerns about their care and the actions of staff. Feedback is requested from residents to regularly assess their views about the service provided.
• Respect and dignity: All residents will be treated with respect, and their privacy will be protected.

Support for an individual who has an allegation made about them

• If an allegation is made against a support worker, it will be thoroughly investigated following the procedures outlined in this policy.
• To ensure the individual receives appropriate support during this process, a senior staff member or Trustee will be designated to assist them. They will be kept informed about the investigation, including the steps involved, when they will have the opportunity to provide their account, and the anticipated timeline.
• Depending on the nature of the allegation, the support worker may be temporarily relieved of their duties until the investigation is concluded.

Health and safety

Sanctuary Trust is committed to maintaining a safe environment for residents and staff, with policies in place for health and safety, including fire safety, infection control, and risk management.

The registered manager will ensure that support workers are physically and mentally able to meet the needs of people safely and effectively. Where concerns or allegations about a worker’s fitness to practise or harm to a care receiver occurs, the employer (Sanctuary Trust) has a duty to notify the relevant bodies and Jersey Care Commission.

Conclusion

Sanctuary Trust’s safeguarding policy is designed to protect the rights and wellbeing of residents, ensuring they live in a safe and supportive environment. Regular reviews of this policy will ensure it remains effective and up-to-date with best practices and legal requirements.

Safeguarding stages

Enquiries

• Initial visit: Within 48hours
• meeting: Within 5 working days
• Enquiry actions: Within 20 working days
• Agreeing outcome: Within 5 days of enquiry report

Good practice guide – when a disclosure of abuse is made

• Listen to me
• Talk to me in a suitable environment, free of distractions;
• Be calm and patient with me – allow me to speak at my own pace and be heard;
• Let me explain in my own way – avoid asking leading questions;
• Do not “quiz” me about details of the abuse or neglect;
• Listening supportively is more important to me than what you say.

• Respect me
• Respect that I may only feel able to share some of what happened;
• Respect my privacy;
• Respect and acknowledge how difficult it may have been to talk to you about what happened;
• Don’t make promises you can’t keep – however good your intentions;

• Explain that you will need to report what I have said to a manager or someone else.
• Reassure me
• Reassure me that abuse and neglect is wrong, and you are here to help;
• Reassure me that I am not at fault;
• Reassure me how I will be involved in decisions about what happens;
• Reassure me about my safety, respond to my concerns. Speak to your manager.
• Reassure me using helpful language I understand.