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Introduction

Definition of Adult at Risk 

An adult at risk (previously referred to as a ‘vulnerable adult’) is ‘any person who is aged 18 or over and at risk of abuse or neglect because of their needs for care and support’ (Care Act 2014). An adult at risk is unable to protect themselves from the risk of abuse or neglect. 

This means that a person defined as an adult at risk of abuse is a person who may have additional needs arising from a variety of factors including mental ill health, physical and/or learning disabilities, dementia, or substance misuse.  

Definition of Terms 

Activity: events and opportunities undertaken by The Inland Waterways Association where volunteers or members of the public interact with the organisation.  

Code of Conduct: The code of conduct for a group or organisation is an agreement on rules of behaviour for the members of that group or organisation. 

Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS): Organisations can check the criminal record of someone applying for a role. This is known as getting a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check. More detailed records and checks may be required for certain roles. 

Safeguarding:  action(s) that is taken to promote the welfare of at risk individuals and protect them from harm. Safeguarding covers the protection of children and at risk adults from abuse and maltreatment, preventing harm to health or development, ensuring individuals are given the provision of safe and effective care. 

Our Commitment to Safeguarding

IWA is committed to creating a safe environment in which everyone can feel safe, comfortable and secure whilst engaged in any of their activities. IWA works to engage a wide waterways audience and is committed to equal opportunities. Like many organisations, we do not have the care or support of adults at risk as part of our core aims but often have contact with individuals who would fit into this category and have a responsibility to ensure their safety and wellbeing.  

The key objectives of this policy and supporting handbook is to promote good practice and:  

• Provide adults at risk with appropriate safety and protection whilst engaged in activities organised or managed by IWA.  
• Allow staff and volunteers to make informed and confident responses to specific Adult at Risk protection issues 
• Provide practical guidance for staff and volunteers on procedures, and ensure it is easily accessible for all. 
• Clearly explain everyone’s roles and responsibilities regarding safeguarding adults at risk. 
• Ensure the necessary actions are taken where an adult with care and support needs is deemed to be at risk. 
• Enable all adults at risk to have a positive, safe and enjoyable experience whilst engaging with IWA. 

IWA will endeavour to ensure safeguarding by:  

• Creating an environment where individual choices and the requirements of everyone involved are taken into account – making safeguarding personal and ensuring bespoke support where necessary. 
• Sharing information to all staff and volunteers about safeguarding through various mediums (online Volunteer Hub, Team Meetings and Officers Briefing) on protection and good practice guidelines. 
• Ensuring IWA’s staff and volunteers working indirectly with adults at risk have read and understood our policies, guidelines and procedures and have signed up to our Code of Conduct.  
• Ensuring all events and activities run by IWA are well planned to minimise the risk exposure to adults at risk and to ensure the safety and enjoyment of everyone involved in an activity. 
• Monitoring and reviewing this policy and handbook on an annual basis by IWA’s trustees.  
• Ensuring all steps are taken to ensure unsuitable individuals are prevented from working with adults at risk through our Safer Recruitment guidelines outlined in the handbook. 
• Appointing a Designated Safeguarding Officer and Trustee Safeguarding Champion responsible for the protection of adults at risk throughout IWA. 

Roles and Responsibilities

All staff and volunteers
All staff and volunteers in IWA have a responsibility to identify and share safeguarding concerns or allegations made against an individual. Some individuals or collections of individuals, hold additional responsibilities for safeguarding at strategic or operational levels. 

Board of Trustees
The Board has ultimate accountability for safeguarding and must meet the requirements of the Charity Commission in this regards. The Board will:  

• Appoint a Trustee Safeguarding Champion.  
• Support the staff team in assessing and managing the risk.  
• Ensure safeguarding policies, procedures and the code of conduct are in place. 
• Receive and review an annual report on safeguarding from the Designated Safeguarding Officer. 
• Promote a culture and environment whereby staff and volunteers feel they can raise concerns about safeguarding.  

Trustee Safeguarding Champion
Appointed directly by the Board of Trustees the Safeguarding Champion will:  

• Hold strategic leadership responsibility for IWA’s safeguarding arrangements. 
• Ensure there is an up to date and robust policy and procedure for safeguarding. 
• Work with the CEO to appoint a Designated Safeguarding Officer responsible for the day-to-day oversight of safeguarding throughout IWA.  
• Ensure IWA is compliant with Charity Commission requirements regarding safeguarding.  

Designated Safeguarding Officer
Whilst it is everyone’s responsibility to safeguard Adults at Risk, it is the responsibility of the Designated Safeguarding Officer to: 

• Ensure this policy and handbook is up to date 
• Ensure it is reviewed annually by the Board of Trustees reviewed  
• Ensure it is implemented and understood by all staff and volunteers.  
• Act as the primary contact for volunteers and staff across IWA in matters relating to safeguarding  

Code of Conduct  

The code of conduct  is an agreement on rules of behaviour for all individuals participating in any activity undertaken by the organisation. Individuals who do not comply with the Code of Conduct can and will be removed from and prevented to attend or participate in IWA activities. 

It is your responsibility to ensure that:  

• Your behaviour is appropriate at all times;  
• You observe the rules established for the safety and security of everyone; and  
• You understand the position of trust in which you have been placed. 

Do : 

• Make sure you have read and understood IWA’s Adult at Risk Safeguarding Handbook. 
• Treat everyone with dignity, respect, and act as a role model.  
• Be clear about the limits of your role in the life of the Adult at Risk . If you are asked to assist with other areas of the adult’s life e.g. making arrangements for care; assistance with managing personal finances, you should seek the advice from the Designated Safeguarding Officer, as it will often not be appropriate to you to undertake these roles. 
• Make sure any physical contact is appropriate – avoiding unnecessary contact unless it is an emergency. 
• Take allegations or concerns seriously and refer them to the Designated Safeguarding Officer.  
• Value everyone’s contributions, involve them in planning and reviewing activities.  
• Respect an Adult at Risk’s personal privacy.  
• Allow Adults at Risk to express any concerns they have. 
• Express concerns about your ability to support Adults at Risk, where you feel you are unable to ensure that IWA guidelines are met 

Do not :  

• Take photos of anyone without gaining written or verbal consent and clearly explaining where they will be used.  
• Undertake unplanned activities with Adults at Risk.  
• Let allegations, suspicions or concerns about abuse go unreported.  
• Spend periods of time alone with Adults at Risk, transport them in your car or take them to your home unless in an emergency in which case you must take another person with you and tell the activity leader.
• Make suggestive remarks or threats to anyone, even if intended as a joke.
• Give an Adult at Risk your personal contact details (telephone number/email address) unless specifically required for the activity. Do not use their contact details for anything other than the purpose for which they were given. Whilst communicating on social media, using your personal profile, is allowed, frequent and persistent messaging of an Adult at Risk is not acceptable. All communication must be relevant, in context and appropriate.  

Safer Recruitment

IWA welcomes participants from all backgrounds, ages (over 18), gender, disability etc on the condition that we can ensure their safety, and the safety of others on site. Whilst IWA has an obligation to ensure that all employees and volunteers working with adults at risk are suitable to do so, the majority of our activities are undertaken in a group setting with limited one to one contact. Volunteers and staff do not provide intimate care and are not left alone with an Adult at Risk.  

IWA is committed to safe employment. If a role is created which directly involves working with Adults at Risk then safe recruitment practices, such as Disclosure and Barring Service checks (DBS), clear job description and references would be undertaken. Safer recruitment applies to all roles, paid or voluntary.

Assessing the Risks

The activity leader must carry out a risk assessment, assessing the activity, age, ability and experience of their volunteers to help put appropriate supervision and plans in place to ensure everyone has a safe and enjoyable experience. We will ensure that Adults at Risk are involved in their safeguarding arrangements and each individual is dealt with on a case-by-case basis.  As adults may have different preferences, histories and life styles, the same process may not work for all. All risk assessments specially focused on supporting an Adult at Risk must be approved by the Designated Safeguarding Officer.  

Taking Photos and Filming Activities

Be sensitive about taking photos and films of activities. It is best practice to gain written consent from the participant and, if under 18, from their parent or guardian before taking any photos. Participants should also be made aware of the possible uses of such photos and where they may be featured or published.  

Concerns about Abuse

Abuse can be in many different forms – physical, sexual, emotional or neglect. It is not our responsibility to investigate suspected cases of abuse or ill treatment, but it is our responsibility to refer such cases to the appropriate authorities. IWA will not tolerate the abuse of adults. All staff and volunteers should contact the Designated Safeguarding Officer for any concerns/queries they have in regards to safeguarding adults. A log of the concern will be kept [email protected]/  01494 783 453. 

The Care and support statutory guidance identifies ten types of abuse, these area: 

• 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 

Dealing with Allegations/ Whistle-blowing 

It is the responsibility of all volunteers and members of staff to refer suspected cases of inappropriate behaviour, abuse or ill treatment to the Activity Leader who should then speak to the Designated Safeguarding Officer. The Designated Safeguarding Officer will then make the decision as to whether or not the matter should be escalated to the relevant organising committee and/or requires the appropriate authorities to be alerted. There should be a written record of any concerns regarding abuse. All records should be kept confidential and sent to the Designated Safeguarding Officer.  

If any allegation is made against a member of staff or volunteer, the individual should be removed from the activity until a formal investigation has been conducted.

Staff and volunteers at IWA who have any adult safeguarding concerns should take the following steps. 

STEP 1: RESPOND 

• Take emergency action if someone is at immediate risk of harm/in need of urgent medical attention.  Dial 999 for emergency services. 
• Get brief details about what has happened and what the adult would like done about it, but do not probe or conduct a mini-investigation.  
• Seek consent from the adult to take action and to report the concern.  Consider whether the adult may lack capacity to make decisions about their own and other people’s safety and wellbeing.  If you decide to act against their wishes or without their consent, you must record your decision and the reasons for this. 

STEP 2: REPORT  

• Report any potential safeguarding concerns to the Designated Safeguarding Officer.  

STEP 3: RECORD 

• To record any safeguarding concerns please complete the incident report form and send it directly to the Designated Safeguarding Officer via email or post as soon as possible.  
• As far as possible, records should be written contemporaneously, dated and signed. 
• Keep records about safeguarding concerns confidential and in a location where the alleged abuser will not have access to the record. Access should not be given to any unauthorised personnel for accessing confidential information including the sharing of passwords.  

STEP 4: REFER 

In making a decision whether to refer or not, the Designated Safeguarding Officer should take into account: 

• The adult’s wishes and preferred outcome. 
• Whether the adult has mental capacity to make an informed decision about their own and others’ safety. 
• The safety or wellbeing of other adults with care and support needs.  
• Whether there is a person in a position of trust involved. 
• Whether a crime has been committed. 

Training and Awareness

All staff and volunteers will have access to safeguarding information via the Online Volunteer Hub so they are aware of arrangements in place to ensure the safeguarding Adults at Risk.  All staff and volunteers should be clear about the core values of IWA and commitment to safeguarding.