Safeguarding Adults and Children Policy
1. Purpose and commitment
Our service is committed to protecting adults and children from abuse, neglect, exploitation and avoidable harm. Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility and is embedded in our specialist nurse-led navigation, education, consultations, correspondence and partnership work. We will respond proportionately, promptly and respectfully, placing the person’s rights, wishes and safety at the centre of our response.
2. Scope
This policy applies to founders, employees, contractors, volunteers and anyone working on behalf of the service, across telephone, video, email, online, face-to-face and outreach activity. It covers concerns about people using our service, family members, attorneys, carers and others who may be affected. It is not a substitute for statutory safeguarding procedures or emergency services.
3. Legal and professional framework
In England, relevant frameworks include the Care Act 2014 (particularly section 42), Mental Capacity Act 2005, Human Rights Act 1998, Equality Act 2010, Children Act 1989 and 2004, Working Together to Safeguard Children, UK GDPR and Data Protection Act 2018. Registered nurses must comply with the NMC Code. For cases outside England, the applicable national safeguarding legislation and local pathways must be identified before referral.
4. Safeguarding principles
We apply person-centred, trauma-informed, non-discriminatory and proportionate practice. We seek the person’s views and consent to share information wherever safe and practicable, recognise the presumption of capacity in adults, support decision-making and avoid assuming that an unwise decision demonstrates incapacity. We take particular care to identify coercion or undue influence in ADRT, LPA, advance statements, best-interests and end-of-life discussions.
5. Recognising concerns
Indicators may include physical, psychological, sexual, financial or discriminatory abuse; domestic abuse; neglect, self-neglect, organisational abuse, exploitation, coercive control or pressure over healthcare decisions. Concerns may also arise where an attorney or representative appears to be acting outside their authority, where a person cannot speak freely, or where a child is at risk. A disagreement about care, a disability, a diagnosis, an advance refusal of treatment or a capacitous decision is not, by itself, proof of abuse.
6. Immediate response
If there is immediate danger or urgent medical need, call 999. Do not delay emergency action to obtain internal approval. Listen calmly, take the concern seriously, avoid leading questions or promising absolute confidentiality, and do not investigate or confront an alleged perpetrator. Establish only the minimum information needed to understand immediate safety, location, relevant people and the nature of the concern. Where safe, explain what will happen next.
7. Reporting and escalation
All safeguarding concerns must be reported to the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) promptly and on the same day wherever possible. Where the DSL is unavailable, implicated or a delay would increase risk, escalate directly to the appropriate local authority safeguarding team, children’s services or police as indicated. For adults in England, consider whether the Care Act section 42 criteria may apply; the local authority determines its statutory enquiry duties. For children, follow the relevant local safeguarding partnership referral route. Document the referral decision, reasons and outcome.
8. Mental capacity, consent and information sharing
Capacity is decision-specific and time-specific. The service must not treat a family member or attorney as automatically authorised to make decisions or receive information. Staff should consider the legal authority and scope of any LPA, deputyship or other arrangement. Share relevant information on a lawful basis, limiting disclosure to what is necessary. Consent should normally be sought, but information may be shared without consent where justified by serious risk, safeguarding duties or another lawful basis. Record the legal and professional rationale and seek advice where uncertain.
9. Recording and confidentiality
Make an accurate, factual and contemporaneous record of the concern, the person’s own words where relevant, immediate risks, consent discussions, actions, advice sought, referrals, decisions and follow-up. Distinguish fact from opinion. Store records securely, restrict access to those who need it and follow the service’s retention, data protection and incident-reporting policies. Do not use personal email or messaging accounts for safeguarding information.
10. Specific service risks
During ADRT and LPA support, check that the person can express their own preferences free of pressure and offer a private conversation where appropriate. Escalate concerns about coercion, suspected abuse, contested authority, capacity or failure to respect decisions. Enquiries about VSED, treatment refusal or end-of-life care are not automatically safeguarding matters; assess the circumstances and refer where indicators of abuse, neglect or coercion are present. Where the issue is a clinical crisis, direct the person to appropriate urgent healthcare services.
11. Children and young people
Any disclosure or reasonable concern that a child may be suffering, or likely to suffer, significant harm must be escalated promptly through the local children’s safeguarding pathway. Do not assume that parental involvement is safe in every case. Where immediate danger exists, call 999. Record concerns and the rationale for any information shared.
12. Roles, training and support
The service leadership is responsible for naming a DSL and deputy, maintaining referral contacts, ensuring safer recruitment and role-appropriate safeguarding training, and overseeing incidents and learning. All personnel must recognise, respond, record and escalate concerns. Public-facing staff should also receive appropriate training on distress, suicide/self-harm concerns, professional boundaries and escalation. Staff must have access to supervision and debriefing after difficult cases.
13. Assurance, complaints and review
Safeguarding concerns, referral decisions, incidents and emerging themes will be reviewed through clinical governance and quality assurance, with learning and actions documented. Concerns about staff conduct must be managed through safeguarding and appropriate HR/professional processes, including external reporting where required. This policy will be reviewed at least annually or sooner following changes to law, guidance, scope or a significant incident.
14. Operational contacts
- Designated Safeguarding Leads: Sarah Malik & Sarah White
Emergency: 999 | Non-emergency police: 101 | NHS urgent advice in England: 111
15. Policy owner, approval and review
- Policy owner: Sarah White & Sarah Malik
- Approved by: Sarah White & Sarah Malik
- Version: 1.0
- Date approved: 10/11/2026
- Effective from: 10/11/2026
- Next scheduled review: 09/2027
- Earlier review triggers: Changes to law, statutory guidance or local safeguarding procedures; a significant incident or safeguarding referral; or a change in the service's scope or delivery (see section 13).