Ensuring the wellbeing and protection of vulnerable adults.
Vulnerable adults may face increased risk of harm due to age, disability, illness, or other circumstances. Our safeguarding approach recognises these risks and works to prevent abuse, neglect, or exploitation in any form. We promote a culture of respect, empowerment, and inclusion, ensuring every individual is treated with dignity and has a voice in decisions affecting them.
Definitions
Safeguarding Adults: What does the term Safeguarding an Adult at Risk mean?
An Adult at risk is:
An individual aged 18 years and over who:
a. has needs for care and support (whether or not the local authority is meeting any of
those needs) and,
b. is experiencing, or at risk of, abuse or neglect and,
c. 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.
Abuse can link to the mistreatment of an adult at risk by someone with whom they have a relationship, such as a family member, friend, carer (either formal or informal) or may be by a stranger. It may also encompass self-neglect.
Various legislation is in place in England, Wales, Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland and Scotland, the basic premise of which is the protection of adults from risk of harm and abuse.
The following offers an indication of the different kinds of adult abuse, which is helpful to consider in the context of this policy and procedures:
· Physical abuse.
· Domestic violence or abuse.
· Sexual abuse.
· Psychological or emotional abuse.
· Financial or material abuse.
· Modern slavery.
· Discriminatory abuse.
· Organisational or institutional abuse.
· Neglect or acts of omission.
· Self-neglect.
Safeguarding concerns about an adult who may be vulnerable and at risk of harm
If you witness inappropriate behaviour concerning an adult or if you receive a disclosure of abuse concerning an adult who may be vulnerable, please ensure that you take the following action:
· If you have information of a safeguarding nature where an adult at risk is in immediate danger or requires immediate medical attention call emergency services: 999
· Ensure the adult is in a safe place.
· Ask if they wish to speak about the incident. Do not promise to keep what is disclosed confidential but explain that you will need to share the information ‘on a need to know’ basis.
· Explain that you will need to share information with the Designated Safeguarding Lead, who may decide it is necessary to make a referral to Adult Social Care Services and/or
Children’s Services (if a child is also involved, e.g. a domestic abuse situation), and the police if any other person may be at risk of harm from the alleged perpetrator.
· Whilst the person disclosing the information may not wish to speak with statutory agencies and/or the police, it is important to consider that the Kennel Club has a duty to refer safeguarding concerns to the appropriate authorities if a person is at risk of harm.
· It is the decision of the adult concerned as to whether they wish to speak with statutory agencies, and it is their right not to do so.
· Allow the person time to talk and listen to what they have to say.
· Explain that you have to make a careful, factual note of what is being disclosed.
· Read back to the person making the disclosure what you have noted, so that it can be agreed for accuracy purposes.
· Send the note to the Kennel Club Designated Safeguarding Lead, within 24 hours via the Confidential Email: safeguarding@thekennelclub.org.uk
· If you are affected by what you have witnessed do not keep this to yourself, speak to the activity lead.
Witnessing abusive behaviour towards an adult who is vulnerable:
If you see an adult who is being abused your first concern must be for their safety,
but also, for your own, act as follows:
· If the adult is in immediate danger, call Police(999)
· Try and ensure the adult gets to a safe place.
· Try to stay calm and do not engage in confrontational behaviour.
· Speak to a colleague (if appropriate).
· Contact the Kennel Club’s Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) to inform them of the situation and seek advice.
· Complete a factual report of what you have witnessed and send it to your Designated Safeguarding Lead via the confidential email: safeguarding@thekennelclub.org.uk
Directly contact social care or emergency services if there is an immediate danger:
· Adult Social Care – Report concerns to the local adult safeguarding board.
· Police (999) – If a child or adult is in immediate danger.