17. Approaches to prevention and early intervention This table outlines some of the approaches that professionals can use to promote wellbeing and prevention: Prevention Ways to improve everyone’s general wellbeing, to help communities ‘look out for each other’ and help the public (and the full range of professionals and volunteers) know what to do if they think that someone may be experiencing abuse, neglect or exploitation. For example: Providing universal access to good quality information Supporting safer neighbourhoods Actively addressing hate crime or anti-social behaviour Promoting healthy and active lifestyles Reducing loneliness or isolation Encouraging early discussions in families about potential future changes Conversations about care arrangements if a family member becomes ill Information about the role of the Court of Protection. Early Intervention Taking action to identify people at risk and to support them to protect themselves when they are at risk of, or experiencing, abuse, neglect or exploitation and finding ways of helping people manage risk and access mainstream services. For example: Identifying vulnerability factors and potential risks in needs assessment Addressing these risks in the support planning process Support plans to reduce loneliness or isolation Personalised information and advice Facilitating access to advocacy Signposting people to the right services to help them. Specific Safeguarding Responses Ensuring that where a person is or may be experiencing abuse, neglect or exploitation and are unable to protect themselves they are supported to resolve their situation through the section 42 safeguarding enquiry process. For example: Ensuring the person’s wishes and outcomes drive the process Access to mainstream community safety services and criminal justice Supporting the person on their recovery from the abuse or neglect Access to personalised information and advocacy support.
Sexual Rape, indecent exposure, sexual harassment, inappropriate looking or touching, sexual teasing or innuendo, sexual photography, subjection to pornography or witnessing sexual acts, indecent exposure and sexual assault or sexual acts to which the adult has not consented or was pressured into consenting. Psychological Emotional abuse, threats of harm or abandonment, deprivation of contact, humiliation, blaming, controlling, intimidation, coercion, harassment, verbal abuse, cyber bullying, isolation or unreasonable and unjustified withdrawal of services or supportive networks. Financial or material Theft, fraud, exploitation, pressure in connection with wills, property, inheritance or financial transactions, or the misuse or misappropriation of property, possessions or benefits. Neglect and acts of omission Ignoring medical or physical care needs, failing to provide access to appropriate health, social care, welfare benefits or educational services, withholding the necessities of life such as medication, adequate nutrition and heating. Discriminatory Racism, sexism or acts based on a person’s disability, age or sexual orientation. It also includes other forms of harassment, slurs or similar treatment such as disability hate crime. Domestic abuse Psychological, physical, sexual, financial, emotional abuse and so called ‘honour’ based violence. Types of abuse Behaviours include Organisational abuse Neglect and poor care practice within a care setting such as a hospital or care home or in relation to care provided in someone’s own home ranging from one off incidents to on-going ill-treatment. It can be neglect or poor practice as a result of the structure, policies, processes and practices within a care setting.
23. Vulnerability factors There may be a number of factors which increase a person’s vulnerability to abuse, neglect or exploitation. A needs assessment will provide a useful insight into a person’s situation and any vulnerability factors and the support planning process is an opportunity to try and resolve these. The table below gives more information about this. Factors which increase a person’s vulnerability to abuse and exploitation Personal characteristics of a person at risk that can increase vulnerability may include: Personal characteristics of a person at risk that can decrease vulnerability may include: Not having mental capacity to make decisions about their own safety including fluctuating mental capacity associated with mental illness and other conditions Communication difficulties Physical dependency – being dependent on others for personal care and activities of daily life Low self esteem Experience of abuse Childhood experience of abuse. Having mental capacity to make decisions about their own safety Good physical and mental health Having no communication difficulties or if so, having the right equipment/support No physical dependency or if needing help, able to self-direct care Positive former life experiences Self-confidence and high self-esteem Social/situational factors that increase the risk of abuse may include: Social/situational factors that decrease the risk of abuse may include: Being cared for in a care setting, that is, more or less dependent on others Not getting the right amount or the right kind of care that they need Isolation and social exclusion Stigma and discrimination Lack of access to information and Good family relationships Active social life and a circle of friends Able to participate in the wider community Good knowledge and access to the range of community facilities Remaining independent and active
Stage 2c: Information gathering - decision-making The purpose of the information gathering is to establish whether or not the safeguarding enquiry duty is engaged and on the basis of the views and wishes of the adult and an assessment of risks, to make a decision about the most appropriate way to proceed (if at all) and next steps. Timescale: Within 72 hours of the safeguarding alert/referral Pause and review point: Is the safeguarding enquiry duty engaged? If no, exit the process And/or have initial actions resolved the situation? If yes, EXIT the safeguarding process. Safeguarding Process Timescales and Stage 3 – Safeguarding planning meeting Stage 3a : Pre planning meeting activities There are a number of key tasks that should be carried out in between the initial contact with the adult and the safeguarding planning meeting (or discussion). The main focus will be on supporting the adult to prepare for the planning meeting and the development of a chronology of key events linked to the safeguarding alert to inform the discussion and decision making. Stage 3b: Safeguarding planning meeting When the decision has been made that the concerns engage the duty to conduct a safeguarding enquiry, the responsible team will ensure that a planning discussion or meeting takes place the purpose of which is to agree an action plan clarifying the main focus of the safeguarding activity and who should take the lead roles. An important tool to inform the planning and decision-making process will be the formulation of a chronology of key events regarding the safeguarding concern which should be completed in advance of, and taken to the meeting. In line with Making Safeguarding Personal practice, the adult should be offered the opportunity to participate in this Timescale: Between initial contact and planning meeting Within 7 working days of the initial contact Pause and review point: Have all necessary actions been taken to resolve risks and to safeguard the adult? If yes, EXIT from the safeguarding
99. Honour based violence, forced marriage and female genital mutilation The 4LSAB area has developed a multi-agency guidance document for agencies and organisations to use with cases or suspected cases of honour based violence in 4LSAB area. It explains how pan Hampshire agencies should respond to incidents, (crime and non-crime) where honour based violence, forced marriage and female genital mutilation may be a consideration. This is generic guidance designed to maximise agencies’ responses to cases of honour based violence. The information outlines a range of possibilities and issues that need to be considered in all HBV cases. It should also be recognised that HBV occurs across a range of differing and diverse communities for a number of different reasons, and the information needs to be applied on a case by case basis. 100. Forced marriage Forced marriage has become a criminal offence under provisions brought in under the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014. This legislation bans: Marrying someone who lacks the mental capacity to consent to the marriage, regardless of whether they are pressured to do it Taking someone overseas to force them to marry even if the marriage does not take place The use of violence, threats or coercion to cause someone else to marry, or behaviour that they should reasonably believe may cause the other person to marry without free and full consent. The offences apply if either the perpetrator or victim is in England and Wales, habitually resident there or a UK national. Forcing someone to marry is now punishable by up to seven years in prison. The breaching of forced marriage protection orders will now become a criminal offence resulting in up to five years in prison. Anyone who has been forced to marry or threatened with it can apply for a protection order as can third parties such as the police, relatives and voluntary organisations. 101. References: (ADASS, 2011) 102. Guidance on safeguarding in commissioned services This guidance is designed to provide a clear framework with which to respond to safeguarding concerns occurring in regulated NHS and social care settings. This framework recognises that promoting well being and safeguarding adults against abuse and neglect is an integral part of the commissioning and contracts processes and is underpinned by the following six principles: