SAFEGUARDING POLICY AND PROCEDURE 

Definition: The violation of individuals Human and Civil Rights by any other person or persons. 

 

 

A vulnerable adult is defined in 'No Secrets' (the Governments guidance on adult abuse) as a person aged 18 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'. 

 

 

Abuse is defined in 'No Secrets' (government guidance on developing and implementing multi-agency policies and procedures to protect vulnerable adults from abuse) as the 'violation of an individual’s human or civil rights by any other person or persons'. Examples of this include: 

 

 

• Physical Abuse - causing physical harm either deliberately or by rough or thoughtless behavior. 

• Psychological or Emotional Abuse -behavior that makes you feel anxious frightened or intimidated including verbal abuse, demeaning, threatening, or intimidating language. 

• Financial Abuse - includes theft, fraud or exploitation. It may be someone using or putting pressure on you to use your money in a way that you don’t want or isn’t in your best interests. 

• Neglect - including ignoring or failing to meet your medical or physical care needs, or the withholding of the necessities of life, such as medication, adequate nutrition and heating. 

• Professional Abuse - is the misuse of power and abuse of trust by professionals, the failure of professionals to act on suspected abuse/crimes, poor care practice or neglect in services, resource shortfalls or service pressures that lead to service failure and culpability as a result of poor management systems/structures. 

• Sexual Abuse - involves someone making you do something you don’t want to, didn’t or couldn’t consent to. 

• Racism and Sexism - being treated less favourably because of your colour, sex, age, disability, sexual orientation, religion, status etc. 

 

 

Anyone from relatives and family members, to professional staff, paid care workers, volunteers, other service users, neighbours, friends and strangers. 

 

 

Abuse stays hidden because people are afraid to speak out. But abuse has a profound effect on the quality of life of a vulnerable person and their rights need to be recognised. 

If you feel someone is suffering in some way, try to talk to them alone - it may take a few attempts to find out if there is a problem. Physical abuse may be more easily identifiable than psychological abuse or neglect, but trust your instincts. If you are a staff member or volunteer, talk to your line manager, who can pass the information onto the appropriate person. Any professional, volunteer or member of the public with a concern can contact Brenda Saint-James 01234 210444 or email; services@telopeamsl.com 

 

 

An Advocate will help you to access information that you need, or go with you to meetings, as a supportive presence. An advocate will listen to what someone wants and then support them in getting their voice heard and having their views acknowledged. An advocate might write letters on your behalf, or speak for you in situations where you don’t feel able to speak for yourself. An advocate is independent and will represent your wishes without judging them or putting forward their own personal opinion. 

 

• Age UK Bedford 01234 360510 

• Carers Advocacy Bedford 01234 267422 

• Bedford Older People’s Team 01234 276168/276094 

• Carers UK 0808 808 777 

• National Domestic Violence Helpline 0808 2000 247 

• Care Quality Commission 03000 616161 

 

If you work with, or care for, someone aged 16 or over who is unable to make particular decisions for themselves, you must take actions that comply with the Mental Capacity Act 2005. 

 

 

Telopea Managed Services Limited (TMSL) provides strategic information in line with current requirements of Bedfordshire Adult Safeguarding Policy and the Care Quality Commission as well other relevant documents which provide information, training and certification for our employees as well as the role and responsibility of the Bedfordshire Adult Safeguarding Policy. 

 

The aim of our Policy and Procedures is to ensure that all responsible individuals work together to prevent abuse and safeguard adults where possible, and where preventative measures fail, to deal sensitively and effectively with incidents of abuse. 

 

The Bedfordshire Adult Safeguarding Team and Telopea Managed Services Limited will ensure the co-ordination and implementation of practice guidance and procedures alongside; 

 

NHS Bedfordshire, 

Bedford Borough Council Adult Safeguarding Team, 

Central Bedfordshire Council 

Age UK Bedfordshire, 

Bedfordshire Constabulary, 

Care Quality Commission, 

Disability Services, 

District Nursing Service, 

Bedford Red Cross 

 

 

Brenda Saint-James: 01234 210444 

Telopea MSL Office: 01234 248969 

On call 24 hours text or phone 07753660627 you will be put through to the relevant person 

Bedfordshire Adult Safeguarding team: 01234 276222, Fax 01234 276076, or email adult.protection@bedford.gov.uk; out of hours emergencies 0300 300 8123 

Bedfordshire Constabulary: 01234 841212 or text: 07786200011 

In an emergency call 999 or 112 from a mobile 

Care Quality Commission - Telephone: 03000 616161, Fax 03000 616171 

enquiries@cqc.org.uk 

 

 

1. In most cases report your causes for concern in the Care Plan provided by Telopea Managed Services Limited. 

2. Any cause for concern should be reported to ‘Telopea MSL’ Administration Manager. 

3. Your report should include:- 

 

a) What happened to make you concerned 

b) Who are you concerned about 

c) Whether this links to anything you have noted previously 

 

4. Use your ‘Feedback’ sheet to write down your concerns 

5. Discuss your report and your concerns with ‘TMSL Administration Manager 

6. ‘Telopea MSL will initially confidentially investigate your concerns. 

7. ‘Telopea MSL’ will not at this time involve you in the investigation. 

8. If concerns are found to be correct and further investigation is required, ‘Telopea MSL’ will then, according to guidelines issue a SV1 Referral Form and, follow the Complaints Procedure, work in accordance with Whistleblowing Procedures. 

9. You will be protected as far as possible and will be asked before any disclosure is necessary. 

 

 

You can also report abuse, maltreatment, neglect or any other signs of abuse and prevent avoidable harm as an individual. You can do something! If you don’t feel your concerns have been acted upon, you can say something to the Adult Safeguarding team directly on 01234 276222, or Fax 01234 276076, or email adult.protection@bedford.gov.uk or phone after hours 0300 300 8123. Alternatively you can telephone the Care Quality Commission on 03000 616161, Fax 03000 616171 or email; enquiries@cqc.org.uk 

 

 

• The Government White Paper published in 2001 makes it clear that people with Learning Disabilities are entitled to full protection of the law. 

• The Children’s Act 1989 requires that Local Authority Social Services department’s provide protection from Abuse for children in their area. 

• POVA Policy provides for the Protection of Vulnerable Adults along with the National Assistance Act 1948 and The NHS and Community Care Act 1990. 

• Residential and Nursing Homes and Domiciliary Agencies must be registered with the Care Quality Commission. 

• The Mental Health Act 1983 (new draft 2002) forms the framework for Mental Health problems. 

• No Secrets Guidance 

Report on the Consultation on the Review of 'No secrets' 

• Care Quality Commission Guidance about Compliance 

• Mental Capacity Act 2005: Code of Practice 

• Mental Capacity Act 2005 Deprivation of liberty safeguards: Code of Practice to supplement the main Mental Capacity Act 2005 Code of Practice. 

• The Mental Capacity Act 2005 deprivation of liberty safeguards: Guidance for providers. 

• The Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act 1986 and the Disability Discrimination Act 1995. Provide Rights, Services and the Protection from Discrimination