Safeguarding Vulnerable Adults
NHS Coventry believes all adults have a fundamental right to be protected from harm, therefore all those who Commission services, and those who come into contact adults or carers in their everyday work, have a duty to safeguard and promote the welfare of those individuals. Safeguarding Adults is everybody’s business.
NHS Coventry is committed to safeguarding adults and demonstrates the level of seriousness afforded to this by working in partnership with a range of other agencies, under the leadership of Coventry Safeguarding Children Board, to ensure appropriate actions are taken locally to drive this agenda forward.
NHS Coventry expects all employed and commissioned staff to share this commitment. This is done by having in place robust policies (link to NHS Coventry policy for adults), procedures, training strategies, (link to NHS Coventry training strategy) supervision and access to advice and support from health professionals who are specialists in safeguarding
Who is a vulnerable adult?
A vulnerable adult is a person 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 may be unable to care for him or herself or unable to protect him or herself against significant harm or exploitation ( No Secrets, DOH 2000)
What is abuse?
Abuse is a violation of an individuals human and civil rights by any other person or persons It may also be a criminal offence. Abuse hurts people in many ways : it can cause fear suffering, injury or even death. Abuse can take many forms It can be obvious but sometimes it is subtle.
Examples of Abuse
Physical: restraint, over medication, hitting or threatening to hurt someone. Recognisable by the presence of cuts, bruises, scalds, fractured bones .
Financial: pressure to change a will, share a PIN number, taking or borrowing possessions without the owners consent, over charging, pressure selling. Recognisable by decreased standards of living, unpaid bills, no reliable account system.
Psychological: name calling, discrimination, threats, humiliation, not listening to persons wishes.
Sexual: touching, marriage or sexual acts without a persons consent, professionals involved in intimate relationships with their clients.
Neglect and Acts of Omission: being denied access to friends, health care, facilities to enable independence and choice, Not being fed adequately, poor personal care. Recognisable by poor living environment, person being left dirty.
Who abuses?
Anyone can become an abuser. Most abusers are known by the vulnerable adult. The abuse can happen anywhere – in the home, in the community, in day or residential care, in hospital or at college.
Abusers can be a: family member; friend; neighbour; a paid carer; a health or care professional; work colleague.
I suspect abuse - what shall I do?
- Always listen carefully
- Make a note of what has happened or what you are worried about
- If you are a paid Carer or volunteer tell your manager or another manager in your agency
- In urgent situations report it to the police: 0845 113 5000 ( emergency dial 999)
- To report or seek advice call the helpline : 02476 833800
- The Care Quality Commission inspects residential and nursing homes and home care agencies. They respond to complaints about poor standards of care.
- Carer
A person sho provides a substantial amount of care on a regular basis, and who is not employed to do so by an agency or organisation. - Commissioning
Process by which the health needs of the local population are identified. Priorities for investment are set and appropriate services are purchased and evaluated. Primary Care Trusts do not provide all of the healthcare services needed by the local population, they buy-in or commission services from other provider organisations. Typically this includes local hospitals. - Community Care
Care which is provided outside a hospital setting.