Patients: Safeguarding Vulnerable Adults
Information for the public
The Hillingdon Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is aware of its responsibilities in ensuring that there are processes in place within the organisation to protect vulnerable adults. The Trust has a local policy for Safeguarding Adults that sets out the responsibilities, reporting and investigating procedures for the protection of vulnerable adults. This policy supports and encourages staff to immediately report any concerns that they may have about possible abuse to a vulnerable adult; this may be whilst the patient is receiving treatment or care within The Hillingdon Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust or noting that the abuse may have occurred prior to the patient’s admission. Our staff members are quite clear that if there are concerns regarding a vulnerable adult within their care that they have a duty to notify the relevant personnel within the Trust so that this can be investigated in line with the hospital policy. The Trust policy is based on the Safeguarding Vulnerable Adults in Hillingdon Policy and Procedures.
Who is a Vulnerable Adult?
A vulnerable adult is defined in 'No Secrets' (the Government's Guidance on Adult Abuse) as: - 'a person aged 18 years or over, who is in receipt of 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 take care of him or herself, or unable to protect him or herself against significant harm or exploitation'.
We all have the right to live our lives free from abuse - It is recognised that certain groups of people may be more likely to experience abuse and less able to access services or support to keep themselves safe. One such group is people with community care needs. This group may include people with:-
- a learning / physical / sensory disability
- mental ill health or dementia
- frailty due to age
- acquired brain injury
- a drug / alcohol problem
- certain types of physical illness
- Many frail or confused older people are especially vulnerable
What is meant by abuse?
Abuse is defined in 'No Secrets' as the 'violation of an individual's human or civil rights by any other person or persons'.
Abuse can be:-
- Physical - such as hitting, slapping, rough handling, misuse of medication, misuse of restraint
- Sexual - making someone carry out a sexual act they have not or cannot consent to
- Psychological - such as threats or humiliation
- Financial - such as theft of money / possessions, misuse of someone's benefits
- Neglect - such as a carer not meeting a person's care or health needs
- Discriminatory - Any form of abuse based on discrimination because of a person's race, gender, age, disability, sexual orientation etc.
- Institutional - abuse or poor practice throughout an organisation
Who abuses?
Abuse can be perpetrated by anyone - relatives, partners, friends, neighbours, volunteers, paid care workers, or strangers - and can happen anywhere
Where does abuse occur?
Abuse can happen in many different settings:
- someone's own home
- in a care home
- in a hospital
- in a day centre; or
- in a public place
What do you need to do?
- Recognise it
- Abuse comes in many forms and more than one type of abuse may be happening at the same time
- Report it
- If you feel you are being abused or know a person you believe is at risk, then it is important to tell someone. Please see ‘Who can you contact?’ section below. They will work with you to make sure everyone is safe
- You may be worried about the consequences of reporting abuse. The person concerned may not be able to report the abuse themselves and may rely on you to voice your concerns. You will be offered advice and support
- You must never assume that somebody else will recognise and report what you have seen or heard
What will happen next?
- What happens next depends on the wishes of the person and the seriousness of the situation.
- In response to your call, trained staff will carry out a careful and sensitive enquiry in line with locally agreed procedures
- Information and advice will be offered so that the person and their family can make an informed choice about any practical help they need or action they wish to take
- If they are unable to make an informed choice, care will be taken to support and protect them and do what is best for them
Who can you contact?
Social Services
Social services for 18 years and over |
Police
The police control centre for the whole of Hillingdon. The first point of contact for general police enquiries. For emergencies please phone 999. |
Email: |
socialcaredirect@hillingdon.gov.uk |
Email: |
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| Address: |
3W/11
Civic Centre
High Street
Uxbridge
Middlesex
UB8 1UW |
Address: |
Uxbridge Police Station
1 Warwick Place
Uxbridge
Middlesex
UB8 1PG |
| Telephone: |
(01895) 556633
(01895) 250111 (Out of office) |
Telephone: |
(01895) 251212 |
| Facsimile: |
(01895) 277941 |
Facsimile: |
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| Opening hours: |
Monday-Friday 0900-1700
Monday-Sunday 1730-0900 (Out of office) |
Opening hours: |
Monday-Sunday (24 hours) |
Once reported the concern will be investigated in line with the Safeguarding Vulnerable Adults in Hillingdon Policy and Procedures.
http://www.hillingdon.gov.uk/media/pdf/h/1/safeguarding_adults_policy.pdf
Investigations will normally be co-ordinated by Social Services but may be led by the Police or by Social Services.
Hillingdon Safeguarding Vulnerable Adults Partnership Board (SAPB)
The Board brings together lead officers from all agencies concerned with the wellbeing and protection of vulnerable adults. By having contact between agencies it promotes the development of strategies and procedures to protect vulnerable adults. The role of the SAPB is to:
- Lead the strategic development of safeguarding adults work in the borough of Hillingdon and to agree resources for the delivery of the safeguarding strategic plan
- Monitor and ensure the effectiveness of the sub-groups in delivering their work programmes and partner agencies in discharging their safeguarding responsibilities
- Ensure that arrangements across partnership agencies in Hillingdon are effective in providing a net of safety for vulnerable adults
- Act as champions for safeguarding issues across their own organisations, partnerships and the wider community and to ensure best practice is consistently employed to improve outcomes for vulnerable adults
For more information about procedures to safeguard vulnerable adults in Hillingdon, please see:
http://www.hillingdon.gov.uk/index.jsp?articleid=13689
'No Secrets' (2000): guidance on developing and implementing multi-agency policies and procedures to protect vulnerable adults from abuse:
http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Publications/PublicationsPolicyAndGuidance/DH_4008486
