Donate

0333 323 4591

Safeguarding Policy

  1. Introduction
    • 1.1 Safeguarding is about protecting children, young people and adults at risk from significant and serious harm and keeping them safe. It involves identifying children and adults at risk who have suffered or are currently suffering harm, or who may be at risk of harm, and working with them and other agencies to protect them from avoidable harms. The Multiple System Atrophy Trust (MSA Trust) is committed to ensure that their safety is a priority and that vulnerable clients are always safeguarded.
    • 1.2 The individuals who we work with at the Trust may be vulnerable to abuse because of their age, health or physical or mental abilities. It is vital that we understand how to recognise, act and prevent such abuse or opportunities for such abuse. We also recognise that the Trust has a wider duty reflecting Charity Commission Guidance. In its guidance, the Charity Commission has described safeguarding as meaning “the range of measures in place to protect people in a charity, or those it comes into contact with, from abuse and maltreatment of any kind.” Please refer to Charities Commission safeguarding and protecting people for charities and trustees for further information.
    • 1.3 This policy applies to all MSA Trust Trustees, staff, management, and volunteers and recognises that safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility.
    • 1.4 This policy outlines how the MSA Trust will deliver its specific objective of maintaining safeguarding practice in our charity, reflecting our commitment to prevent and reduce the risk of abuse and neglect of children, young people and adults.
    • 1.5 The aim of this policy is to outline a series of principles and ways of working that are equally applicable to the safeguarding of children, young people and of adults at risk of abuse or neglect. There are two fundamental requirements for effective safeguarding in the provision of support through the MSA Trust:
      • Preventing safeguarding incidents arising, by providing high quality care and support.
      • Ensuring effective responses where harm or abuse occurs, by implementing effective safeguarding child and adult policy and procedures.
    • 1.6 Confidentiality is essential to the building of trust with clients, but this needs to be balanced against the organisation’s common law duty to protect vulnerable members of the community. The MSA Trust will apply processes for the identification of situations which may require the organisation to make professional judgments to protect vulnerable people from harm.
    • 1.7 The MSA Trust takes safeguarding adults at risk and children seriously. This policy and associated procedures are reviewed as necessary, consistent with any national or local Safeguarding Policy changes, always following a serious incident and at least once a year. We expect the same from those who deliver services on our behalf.
  2. Scope and purpose of the policy
    • 2.1 Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility. The MSA Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and adults at risk. It expects everyone associated with the Trust to share this commitment.
    • 2.2 This policy and supporting procedures are here to safeguard and protect:
      • a) Children and young people
      • b) Adults at risk who have care and support needs, are experiencing or at risk of abuse or neglect, and because of their care and support needs are unable to protect themselves.
    • 2.3 The MSA Trust also recognises its responsibility for safeguarding children and other adult family members at risk whilst providing help and support.
    • 2.4 The MSA Trust Trustees, management and staff will promote our organisation as one which aims to facilitate a safe environment for children, young people, and adults at risk to live full and happy lives within their communities.
  3. Roles and responsibilities
    • 3.1 Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility. This policy applies to all MSA Trust Trustees, staff, management and volunteers. It applies to the provision of help and support services to people we serve, either on our own premises on other public or private property.
    • 3.2 The MSA Trust will collectively manage risks and reduce the likelihood of abuse by:
      • c) Providing an up-to-date safeguarding policy and procedures that reflect current safeguarding legislation and guidance.
      • d) Operating in line with national safeguarding policies and procedures and the Charity Commissions Guidance https://www.gov.uk/guidance/safeguarding-for-charities-and-trustees.
      • e) Identifying a named trustee safeguarding lead on the Board and a named designated safeguarding lead on the senior management team.
      • f) Training trustees and staff at induction and on an ongoing basis to ensure that they have a strong understanding of safeguarding and how to recognise, respond to and record any concerns.
      • g) Ensuring safeguarding is discussed at staff meetings and Trustee Board receive regular reports.
      • h) Having robust safer recruitment and selection procedures.
      • i) Promoting and using safer working practices.
    • 3.3 The role of the named Trustee safeguarding lead on the Board is to ensure that safeguarding is a regular item on Board agendas and offer support and advice to the named designated safeguarding lead on the senior management team when needed.
    • 3.4 The role of the named designated safeguarding lead on the senior management team is to:
      • a) Be a source of advice and expertise to all staff.
      • b) Develop the MSA Trust’s safeguarding policy and procedures and ensure that they are accessible to, and used by, everyone within the organisation.
      • c) Keep staff up to date on current safeguarding procedures and practice, ensuring that they receive necessary training.
      • d) Support decision-making by staff about when and where information should be shared or a concern should be referred.
      • e) Maintain accurate records about safeguarding concerns and referrals.
      • f) Promote good practice and effective communications about safeguarding, both internally and externally.
    • 3.5 This policy will be reviewed regularly to ensure that it is up to date with current legislation.
  4. Safeguarding children and young people
    • 4.1 The definition of a child is anyone who has not yet reached their 18th birthday. The fact that a child has reached 16 years of age, is living independently or is in further education, is a member of the armed forces, is in hospital or in custody in the secure estate, does not change their status or entitlements to services or protection. The term ‘children’ and ‘child’ is used mainly in this document for ease of reading.
    • 4.2 The aims of children’s safeguarding (Working Together to Safeguard Children, Department for Education, 2023) are to:
      • a) protect children from maltreatment
      • b) prevent impairment of children’s health or development
      • c) ensure that children grow up in circumstances consistent with the provision of safe and effective care; and
      • d) take action to enable all children to have the best outcomes.
    • 4.3 There are several key pieces of legislation, which set out the framework for all agencies working with children and young people. In summary these are:
      The Children Act 1989 (England and Wales)
      The Children Act 2004
      The Children Order 1995 (Northern Ireland)
      Cooperating to Safeguard Children & Young People in Northern Ireland 2017 (replaces the guidance issued in 2003).
      Understanding the Needs of Children in NI (UNOCINI) Guidance 2011 (under review).
      Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014
      Sexual Offences Act 2003
      The Children and Young Person’s Act 2008
      Working Together to Safeguard Children 2023 (replaces the guidance issued in 2018)
      Safeguarding Disabled Children: practice guide 2009
      What to do if you’re worried a child is being abused, Department of Health (2015)
      Working Together to Safeguard Children: A Guide to interagency working to safeguard and promote the welfare of children, HM Government (2023)
      See Appendix A for more information about the above relevant legislation and guidance.
    • 4.4 There are four main categories of abuse and neglect for children:
      • a) Neglect

        Neglect is the persistent failure to meet a child’s basic physical and/or psychological needs, likely to result in serious impairment of the child’s health or development. This includes failing to provide adequate food, shelter, clothing, supervision, or medical care.
      • b) Physical abuse

        Physical abuse involves deliberately causing physical harm to a child, such as hitting, shaking, throwing, poisoning, burning, or otherwise physically hurting them.
      • c) Sexual abuse

        Sexual abuse is forcing or enticing a child to take part in sexual activities, whether or not the child is aware of what is happening. This includes physical contact and non-contact activities, such as involving children in looking at or producing sexual images.
      • Emotional abuse

        Emotional abuse is the persistent emotional maltreatment of a child, such as conveying to them that they are worthless or unloved, causing them to feel frightened or in danger, or exploiting or corrupting them emotionally.
    • 4.5 Definition of terms for safeguarding children:
      • 4.5.1 Information sharing

        Information sharing is essential for effective safeguarding. The MSA Trust may have one piece of a jigsaw which will help a safeguarding partner to understand the bigger picture for a child who is being abused or at risk of abuse. Concerns about a child must be passed on the relevant statutory authorities.

        The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) 2018 includes safeguarding of children as a justified reason for sharing information without consent. The MSA Trust does not need consent to share information with Children’s Social Care or the Police where doing so prevents harm or a crime.

        The MSA Trust recognises that some people may share information about their own family dynamics, stresses and triggers that includes information about children. The Trust will promote effective and early identification of safeguarding concerns in respect of children.
      • 4.5.2 Significant harm

        The Children Act 1989 introduced the concept of ‘significant harm’ as the threshold which justifies compulsory intervention in family life in the best interests of children.

        There are no absolute criteria upon which to rely when judging what constitutes ‘significant harm’; sometimes a single traumatic event may constitute significant harm. More often, however, significant harm is a compilation of significant events, both acute and long-standing, which interrupt, change or damage a child’s physical and psychological development.
    • 4.6 Safeguarding procedures for children at risk
      • The MSA Trust has a set of clear safeguarding procedures to make sure that everyone at the charity knows:
      • a) What to do and who to tell internally if you have a concern about a child
      • b) How to handle a disclose of abuse or neglect, and how to respond and record your concerns
      • c) When and how to share information with external partners to ensure effective safeguarding
      • d) When and how to make a referral to Children’s Social Care or the Police if there are concerns about significant harm.
      • This policy must be used in conjunction with the MSA Trust document Safeguarding Procedure which outlines the practical measures which should be followed.
      • Please refer to Appendix D for contact details of relevant organisations for reporting.
  5. Safeguarding Adults at Risk
    • 5.1 There is no single law that defines an adult at risk across the UK. In general terms, an adult at risk is a person over the age of 18 years (or 16 years in Scotland) who is:
      • a) having needs for care and support, (whether or not these needs are being met or Social Services are involved) and;
      • b) experiencing, or is at risk of, abuse and neglect and;
      • c) as a result of those care needs, is unable to protect themselves from either the risk of, or the experience of abuse or neglect.
    • 5.2 The aims of adult safeguarding are to:
      • a) stop abuse or neglect wherever possible
      • b) prevent harm and reduce the risk of abuse or neglect to adults with care and support needs
      • c) safeguard adults in a way that supports them in making choices and having control about how they want to live
      • d) promote an approach that concentrates on improving life for the adults concerned
      • e) raise public awareness so that communities as a whole, alongside professionals, play their part in preventing, identifying and responding to abuse and neglect
      • f) provide information and support in accessible ways to help people understand the different types of abuse, how to stay safe and what to do to raise a concern about the safety or well-being of an adult
      • g) address what has caused the abuse or neglect.
    • 5.3 We will benchmark our safeguarding arrangements for adults at risk against the following six Safeguarding Principles, which are:
      • Empowerment
        Presumption of person-led decisions and informed consent.
      • Protection
        Support and representation for those in greatest need.
      • Prevention
        It is better to take action before harm occurs.
      • Proportionality
        Proportionate and least intrusive response appropriate to the risk presented.
      • 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.
    • 5.4 There are several key pieces of legislation which set out the framework for all agencies working with adults at risk of harm. In summary these are:
    • 5.5 Signs of abuse for safeguarding adults at risk
      • The following list is for guidance only.
      • a) Physical abuse
        Intentionally causing physical harm to an adult, including assault, hitting, slapping, pushing, misuse of medication, restraint, or inappropriate physical sanctions.
      • b) Domestic violence or abuse (including ‘honour-based’ violence, FGM, forced marriage, coercive or controlling behaviour)
        Any incident or pattern of controlling, coercive, threatening behaviour, violence, or abuse between adults who are or have been intimate partners or family members. This includes psychological, physical, sexual, financial, emotional abuse, ‘honour’-based violence, female genital mutilation (FGM), and forced marriage.
      • c) Sexual abuse
        Involves forcing or enticing an adult to take part in sexual activities without their consent, including rape, indecent exposure, sexual harassment, inappropriate touching, sexual photography, or being forced to witness sexual acts.
      • d) Psychological or emotional abuse
        Includes emotional abuse, threats of harm or abandonment, deprivation of contact, humiliation, blaming, controlling, intimidation, coercion, harassment, verbal abuse, cyber bullying, isolation, or withdrawal of services or supportive networks.
      • e) Financial or material abuse
      • Theft, fraud, internet scamming, coercion in relation to an adult’s financial affairs or arrangements, misuse or misappropriation of property, possessions, or benefits.
      • f) Modern slavery
        Encompasses slavery, human trafficking, forced labour, and domestic servitude. Victims are controlled through threats, coercion, or deception and are exploited for personal or commercial gain.
      • g) Discriminatory abuse
        Unequal treatment or harassment based on protected characteristics such as age, disability, gender, race, religion, or sexual orientation. Includes harassment, slurs, or similar treatment.
      • h) Organisational or institutional abuse
        Poor care practice within an institution or care setting, such as a hospital or care home, or in relation to care provided in one’s own home. This includes neglect, poor professional practice, or rigid routines.
      • i) Neglect or acts of omission
        Ignoring medical, emotional, or physical care needs, failing to provide access to appropriate health, care, or support services, or withholding necessities of life such as medication, adequate nutrition, and heating.
      • j) Self-neglect
        A wide range of behaviour neglecting to care for one’s personal hygiene, health, or surroundings, including hoarding and failure to seek help or take care of basic needs.
    • 5.6 Definitions of terms for safeguarding adults at riskDuty to safeguard adults at risk
      • 5.6.1 This duty is mainly aimed at people with care and support needs who may be in vulnerable circumstances and at risk of abuse or neglect by others. In these cases, local services must work together to spot those at risk and take steps to protect them. The ‘duty’ applies to an adult who:
        • has care and support needs (whether or not the local authority is meeting any of those needs) and
        • is experiencing, or at risk of, abuse or neglect
        • 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.
        • The Trust will also promote safeguarding support for carers.
        • Safeguarding duties apply regardless of whether a person’s care and support needs are being met, whether by the local authority or anyone else. They also apply to people who pay for their own care and support services.
      • 5.6.2 Information sharing
        Information sharing is key effective safeguarding. Concerns about an adult at risk must be passed to the relevant statutory authorities, but if an adult does not give consent to share their personal information or refuses a referral then their wishes should usually be respected. MSA Trust staff will usually obtain the consent of a client before sharing any information with family and friends, or with trained professionals to facilitate further help and support. Confidentiality is an important part of the Trust’s ethos.
        However, there are a small number of situations where consent is not needed. For example, if there is immediate risk of harm to the person or someone else, a serious crime has been committed or can be prevented, or if the person lacks capacity at this time to make a decision about consent. The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) 2018 includes safeguarding children and others at risk as a justified reason for sharing information without consent. The MSA Trust does not need consent to share information with the Local Authority safeguarding team or the Police or other emergency services where there is immediate risk of harm to the person or someone else, a serious crime has been committed or can be prevented, or if the person lacks capacity at this time to make a decision about consent.
      • 5.6.3 Capacity and lack of capacity
        Adults have the right to make decisions on their own behalf and they are presumed to have the capacity to do so. Adults lacking capacity to make decisions that would protect and promote their own interests are potentially extremely vulnerable. The Mental Capacity Act 2005 sets out the circumstances in which it can be established that a person lacks the capacity to make a specific decision at a particular time.
        Adults at risk should be supported to participate as far as possible in decision-making and express their views. Where it has been established that an adult lacks capacity to make a specific decision, information can be disclosed in accordance with the Mental Capacity Act 2005, when in the opinion of the member of staff, it would be in the person’s best interests. Where an adult lacks capacity to consent to disclosure it is usually reasonable to assume unless there is clear evidence to the contrary that they would want people close to them, or directly involved in their care, to be given appropriate information about their illness, prognosis and treatment.
        On the rare occasion that MSA Trust colleagues have to make a decision on behalf of an adult who is lacking mental capacity to make a specific decision at a particular time, they will do so in that person’s best interest and ensuring that it is the least restrictive option available.
    • 5.7 Safeguarding procedures for adults at risk
      The MSA Trust has a set of clear safeguarding procedures to make sure that everyone at the charity knows:
      • a) What to do and who to tell internally if you have a concern about an adult at risk
      • b) When and how to share information with external safeguarding partners, including respecting people’s wishes and understanding when it may be appropriate to act without consent
      • c) When and how to assess whether a person has the mental capacity to make a specific decision about sharing information or being referred for support
      • d) When and how to make a referral for support to a Local Authority safeguarding team or another safeguarding partner such as the Police
      • e) When and how to challenge Local Authority decisions
      • f) What it is important to record about safeguarding issues.
      • This policy must be used in conjunction with the MSA Trust document Safeguarding Procedure which outlines the practical measures which should be followed.
      • Please refer to Appendix D for contact details of relevant organisations for reporting.
  6. Robust Recruitment (Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) and Equivalent Checks Across the UK and Ireland)
    • 6.1 The Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) was established under the Protection of Freedoms Act 2012 and merges the functions previously carried out by the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) and Independent Safeguarding Authority (ISA).
    • 6.2 The DBS provides criminal record checks and barring decisions for roles in England and Wales involving work with children and adults at risk. The primary role of the DBS is to help employers in England and Wales make safer recruitment decisions and prevent unsuitable people from working with vulnerable groups.
    • 6.3 The MSA Trust will not knowingly allow a trustee, member of staff, manager, or volunteer (either in a paid or unpaid capacity) to work with or support a group which they are barred from working with.
    • 6.4 The MSA Trust is aware of its responsibility for ensuring that it carries out appropriate Basic and Enhanced DBS disclosure checks on applicants for any position that qualifies for such a check.
    • 6.5 As MSA Trust operates across the UK and Ireland, we recognise that DBS checks are not applicable in Scotland, Northern Ireland or Ireland. Therefore, we will ensure that equivalent safeguarding checks are carried out in accordance with local legislation and guidance in these jurisdictions. This includes PVG Scheme membership through Disclosure Scotland for roles in Scotland, AccessNI checks for Northern Ireland, and Garda vetting for roles in the Republic of Ireland. All recruitment decisions will be made with the same commitment to safeguarding, ensuring that individuals in regulated roles are appropriately vetted regardless of location.
  7. Safe Working Practices
    • 7.1 The MSA trust is clear that training and raising awareness of safeguarding issues, policies and procedures is fundamental to the development and maintenance of a safer environment, safer organisation and safer staff. The charity will ensure that appropriate safeguarding training during induction and at regular intervals is provided to trustees and members of staff to assist them in:
      • a) preventing abuse
      • b) recognising abuse
      • c) responding appropriately to allegations of abuse
      • d) recording concerns
      • e) knowing who to tell and when information can be shared.
    • 7.2 The designated safeguarding lead will receive appropriate training to ensure that  they are up to date with policy and practice and aware of any changes in legislation.
    • 7.3 All members of the senior management team should receive external safeguarding training so that they can support staff when the named designated safeguarding lead is on leave.
    • 7.4 All members of staff who have frontline roles (Services Team) should receive external training from an accredited source. The MSA Trust will provide training for Trustees and staff during induction that is refreshed on a regular basis to ensure that they have a strong understanding of safeguarding and how to recognise, respond to and record any concerns.
    • 7.5 This will include ensuring understanding of our confidentiality procedures and whistleblowing policies.
  8. Whistleblowing
    • 8.1 The Public Interest Disclosure Act 1998 amended 2013, introduced protection for workers from reprisals for disclosing information in the public interest. It emphasises the importance that ‘whistleblowing’ can play in deterring and detecting malpractice and abuse of children and adults at risks.
    • 8.2 The MSA Trust will promote practical arrangements for whistleblowing to enable staff to voice any concerns, made in the public interest, without fear of repercussion. Any staff member who uses the ‘whistleblowing’ procedure will be made aware that their employment rights are protected.
    • 8.3 Staff members will be supported in this individual responsibility to bring matters of concern to the attention of senior management and/or relevant external agencies. This is particularly important where it helps to safeguard the welfare of children, young people and adults at risk.
    • 8.4 The MSA Trust will ensure that the charity:
      • a) has an appropriate whistleblowing policy in place.
      • b) has clear procedures for dealing with allegations against staff.
      • c) encourages and supports staff to report any behaviour by colleagues that raises concern regardless of source.
    • 8.5 All safeguarding concerns raised by staff through the ‘whistleblowing’ pathway must be referred to the Designated Safeguarding Lead (or if the concern is about them) to the Chief Executive Officer for consideration and assessment.
  9. Safeguarding allegations against staff
    • 9.1 The MSA Trust will immediately refer all safeguarding allegations about its staff to the appropriate Local Authority social services safeguarding team for adults or children.
    • 9.2 It is a matter of policy that any staff member about whom a safeguarding allegation is made will be suspended without prejudice immediately, pending investigation. This will be the case even if the allegation is not linked to their role or activity with MSA Trust. Such instances will be rare and any decision to suspend will not be taken lightly.
    • 9.3 The decision will be taken by the Chief Executive and Designated Safeguarding Lead in discussion with the relevant line manager. If the safeguarding allegation is about the Chief Executive, the Designated Safeguarding Lead will raise it directly with the Chair and the lead Safeguarding Trustee.
  10. Complaints about MSA Trust staff
    • 10.1 All complaints that are received about the conduct or behaviour of MSA Trust staff will be dealt with according to our Complaints Policy.
    • 10.2 If any complaint is identified as a potential safeguarding concern, issue or risk then this complaint will be referred directly into Safeguarding Procedures. It will be forwarded to the Designated Safeguarding Lead who will fully investigate the situation with the Chief Executive in order to respond to the complaint.
    • 10.3 Under no circumstances will safeguarding referrals be delayed whilst waiting for the client to make a formal written complaint.
  11. DBS or Equivalent referral
    • 11.1 If at any time MSA Trust removes an individual from their role and believes that the person has caused harm or poses a future risk of harm to vulnerable groups, including children or adults at risk (or the person has resigned or left that post in circumstances where they may have been removed), then we will refer the matter to the DBS or equivalent service.

Appendix A

More details about legislation and guidance relating to safeguarding children

The Children Act (1989) places a legal duty on the local authority to make enquiries if they have reasonable cause to suspect a child is suffering or likely to suffer significant harm to enable them to decide whether to take any action in order to safeguard or promote the child’s welfare. https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1989/41/contents

The Children Act (2004) Section 11 of the Children Act (2004) placed duties on a range of organisations and individuals to ensure their functions, and any services that they contract out to others, are discharged having regard to the need to safeguard and promote the welfare of children, for example police, NHS, local authorities, probation, prisons and offending services. http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2004/31/contents

The Children (Northern Ireland) Order 1995 aligns Northern Ireland’s child protection law with the Children Act 1989. It emphasises parental responsibility, the welfare of the child, and the duty of health and social services to support children in need. The Children Order 1995 (Northern Ireland)

Cooperating to Safeguard Children & Young People in Northern Ireland (2017) provides a framework for safeguarding across all sectors. It promotes partnership working and outlines responsibilities for identifying and responding to harm, including updated definitions of child sexual exploitation Cooperating to Safeguard Children & Young People in Northern Ireland 2017

Understanding the Needs of Children in NI (UNOCINI) Guidance 2011 offers a structured assessment framework for identifying and responding to children’s needs. It supports early intervention and guides referrals to social services. The guidance is currently under review. Understanding the Needs of Children in NI (UNOCINI) Guidance 2011

Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014 transforms social care in Wales by promoting well-being, voice and control, prevention, and co-production. It integrates services and gives individuals more say in their care and support. Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014

Sexual Offences Act 2003 mct modernised UK sexual offence laws, introducing clearer definitions of consent and new offences such as grooming and abuse of trust. It strengthened protections for children and vulnerable adults. Sexual Offences Act 2003

The Children and Young Person’s Act 2008 improves outcomes for looked-after children and care leavers. It enhances care planning, introduces independent reviewing officers, and strengthens educational support and transition to adulthood. The Children and Young Person’s Act 2008

Working Together to Safeguard Children 2023 statutory guidance which outlines how agencies must work together to protect children. The 2023 update emphasises multi-agency collaboration, family engagement, and introduces national child protection standards. Working Together to Safeguard Children 2023 (replaces the guidance issued in 2018)

Safeguarding Disabled Children: Practice Guide 2009 highlights the increased vulnerability of disabled children to abuse. It promotes inclusive safeguarding practices, effective communication, and inter-agency cooperation tailored to disabled children’s needs. Safeguarding Disabled Children: practice guide 2009

What to do if you’re worried a child is being abused, Department of Health (2015). This guidance is accompanied with flowcharts following the procedure from referral, initial assessment, emergency action that might need to be taken, through to what happens after a strategy discussion and child protection review conference. https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/419604/What_to_do_if_you_re_worried_a_child_is_being_abused.pdf

Working Together to Safeguard Children: A Guide to interagency working to safeguard and promote the welfare of children, HM Government (2015). These documents define the categories of child abuse and provide a useful list of signs and symptoms. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/working-together-to-safeguard-children–2

Appendix B

More information about legislation and guidance on safeguarding adults at risk

The Care Act 2014 (England) replaced the ‘No Secrets’ Department of Health 2000 guidance in respect of safeguarding adults at risk. The terms ‘adult at risk of abuse or neglect’ and the previously used term ‘vulnerable adult’ are interchangeable and mean the same. This act makes the creation of Safeguarding Adult Protection Boards, vetting and training as mandatory for the first time. https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2014/23/contents

Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014 promotes wellbeing, voice and control, and co-production in social care. It integrates services and gives individuals more say in their care, with a strong focus on prevention and early intervention. Social Services and Wellbeing Act 2014 (Wales)

Adult Safeguarding Prevention and Protection in Partnership 2015 (Northern Ireland) sets out a framework for safeguarding adults at risk of harm due to abuse, exploitation, or neglect. It promotes a zero-tolerance approach to harm, emphasizes early intervention and protection, and encourages multi-agency collaboration across statutory, voluntary, community, independent, and faith sectors to improve safeguarding outcomes. https://www.health-ni.gov.uk/publications/adult-safeguarding-prevention-and-protection-partnership-key-documents

Mental Capacity Act 2005 (England and Wales) provides a statutory framework to empower and protect vulnerable people who are not able to make their own decisions. It makes it clear who can take decisions, in which situations and how they should go about this. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/mental-capacity-act-code-of-practice

Mental Capacity Act 2016 (Northern Ireland) merges mental health and capacity legislation. It introduces safeguards for deprivation of liberty and ensures decisions for those lacking capacity are made in their best interests. Mental Capacity 2016 (Northern Ireland)

Human Rights Act 1998 incorporates the European Convention on Human Rights into UK law. It protects fundamental rights such as the right to life, privacy, and freedom from torture, and requires public bodies to act compatibly with these rights. The Human Rights Act 1998

Data Protection Act 2018 governs how personal data is used, stored, and shared. It complements the UK GDPR and gives individuals rights over their data, including access, correction, and erasure. The Data Protection Act 2018

General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) 2018 sets out principles for lawful, fair, and transparent data processing. It strengthens individual rights and imposes strict obligations on organisations handling personal data.General Data Protection Regulations 2018

Sexual Offences Act 2003 redefined sexual offences, introduced new crimes such as grooming and abuse of trust, and strengthened protections for children and vulnerable adults. It clarified consent and expanded the definition of rape. Sexual Offences Act 2003

Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Act 2004 enhances protections for victims of domestic abuse. It introduced the offence of causing or allowing the death of a child or vulnerable adult and improved support services and legal remedies for victims. Domestic Violence Crime and Victims Act 2004

The Protection from Harassment Act 1997 makes harassment a criminal and civil offence in the UK. It was originally introduced to address stalking but now covers a wide range of distressing behaviours, including bullying and intimidation. Victims can seek injunctions and damages. The Protection from Harassment Act 1997

Mental Health Act 2007 amended the Mental Health Act 1983, introducing Community Treatment Orders, redefining roles like Approved Mental Health Professionals, and updating the definition of mental disorder. It aims to ensure appropriate treatment and safeguard patient rights. Mental Health Act 2007

Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006 established a vetting and barring scheme to prevent unsuitable individuals from working with children and vulnerable adults. It created the Independent Safeguarding Authority and introduced mandatory checks for regulated activities. Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006

The Adult Support and Protection Act (Scotland) 2007 and related Code of Practice. This Act is designed to identify, support, and protect adults who may be at risk of harm due to their own or others’ actions. It places duties on councils and public bodies to investigate concerns, provide advocacy, and take protective actions, including issuing protection orders and forming Adult Protection Committees. The Code of Practice provides detailed guidance on how to apply the Act in practice, reflecting current policies and best practices. It supports professionals across sectors in safeguarding adults at risk and promotes a collaborative, multi-agency approach.https://www.gov.scot/publications/adult-support-protection-scotland-act-2007-code-practice-3/

SCIE Guide: Gaining Access to an Adult at Risk (2014) clarifies legal options for accessing adults suspected to be at risk of abuse or neglect. It supports social workers in navigating complex cases where access is denied, referencing laws like the Care Act 2014 and Mental Capacity Act 2005.Gaining access to an adult suspected to be at risk of abuse or neglect – a guide for social workers and managers in England (SCIE, 2014).

Care and Support, Statutory Guidance on Implementation of the Care Act (2014). The Government issued statutory guidance in October 2014 which explained how the new Care Act (2014) Regulations which came into effect from April 2015 work in practice. They made changes that included clarifying the guidance on adult safeguarding and revising the eligibility criteria to focus on outcomes and better address social isolation.  https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/care-act-statutory-guidance/care-and-support-statutory-guidance

Information Sharing Advice for Safeguarding Practitioners (Department of Health, 2024) emphasises the importance of sharing information to protect children and vulnerable adults. It clarifies legal frameworks, the role of consent, and provides seven golden rules for safe and lawful information sharing. Information Sharing Advice for Safeguarding Practitioners (Department of Health 2024)

Making Safeguarding Personal Toolkit (Local Government Association, 2019) promotes a person-centred approach to adult safeguarding. It includes practical tools, case studies, and guidance to support outcomes-focused practice, ensuring individuals are involved in decisions affecting their safety and wellbeing. Making Safeguarding Personal – a toolkit for responses (Local Government Association, 2019).

Regulation and Inspection of Social Care (Wales) Act 2016 reforms the regulation of social care services and workforce in Wales. It centres regulation around service users, strengthens accountability, and establishes Social Care Wales with new powers to oversee standards and improvement. Regulation and Inspection of Social Care (Wales) Act 2016.

Appendix C

More information about legislation and guidance on robust recruitment and safe working practices

Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act (2006) (as amended by the Protection of Freedoms Act 2012). This Act created the Independent Safeguarding Authority along with Vetting and Barring Scheme to help prevent unsuitable people from working (paid or otherwise) with children and Adult at Risks. In 2012 The Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) and the Independent Safeguarding Authority (ISA) merged into the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS). CRB checks are now called DBS checks. http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2006/47/contents

Safer Working Practices, Department of Children, Schools and Families (2009). Whilst this practice guidance is archived, it continues to provide clear advice on appropriate and safe behaviours for all adults working with children in paid or unpaid capacities, in all settings and in all contexts.

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5a7c95a4e5274a0bb7cb806d/5860.pdf

Making Safer Recruiting Decisions (2015). Information provided by UK Government on making safer recruitment decisions. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/2010-to-2015-government-policy-helping-employers-make-safer-recruiting-decisions

The Public Interest Disclosure Act (1998) (as amended in 2013). This Act introduced protection for workers from reprisals for disclosing information in the public interest. It emphasises the importance that the role ’whistleblowing’ can play in deterring and detecting malpractice and abuse of children and adults at risk. https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1998/23/contents

Appendix D

Contact Details of Relevant Organisations for Reporting

Each local council has a dedicated safeguarding team. You can find the contact for each specific area via the NHS Safeguarding Contacts Guide https://safeguarding-guide.nhs.uk/contacts/

or by searching the local council’s website.

For a full list of local safeguarding team numbers across the UK, please refer to this comprehensive PDF directory:

https://wearehourglass.org/sites/default/files/inline-files/Current%20Safeguarding%20Teams%20contacts%20-%20All%20nations.pdf

Share this page

WhatsApp
Email Link
Copy Link

Latest

See our Support Groups