Protecting adults at risk: a closed culture is a poor culture.

When it comes to protecting adults at risk, it is essential to have appropriate safeguarding measures in place. It’s a proactive approach, designed to put preventative measures in place before abuse, harm and neglect occurs.  

And this approach wouldn’t work without honesty and transparency. In caring for our clients, we strive for an open culture, where any suspicion of a safeguarding situation is reported as soon as possible.  

Transparency and accountability is essential for maintaining trust between our clients and caregivers, and the priority is to protect those who are vulnerable.  

Who is at risk? 

As labelled in our Safeguarding policy:  

“An adult at risk of abuse or neglect is defined as someone who has needs for care and support, who is experiencing, or at risk of, abuse or neglect and, as a result of their care needs, is unable to protect themselves.” 

It is the responsibility of the organisation to promote the adult’s wellbeing, whilst protecting their safety. And as carers, we understand that these safety measures may look different in every individual. It is our duty to work with our clients to define what being safe means to them, and how that can best be achieved.  

How do we care for adults at risk? 

The Care Act 2014 is the law that sets out how adult social care in England should be provided. From this legislation, the government created core principles of safeguarding, including: 

• Empowerment – ensuring individuals have as much involvement in the decisions made about themselves as possible. 

• Prevention – using foresight and planning to identify risks before they become an issue. 

• Proportionality – having an appropriate response based on the level of the risk.  Intervention and investigation should not be done in an intrusive way. 

• Protection – being ready to give people protection through support and representation for those in need. 

• Partnership – working with the local community, where safeguarding concerns are shared and actions are coordinated for the best effect. 

• Accountability – taking responsibility for the role we each play in safeguarding, and maintaining transparency.  

How do we spot potential risk? 

There are many types of abuse and neglect, all detailed in our safeguarding policy. Our staff are trained to recognise signs of all different types of abuse. This could present as physical signs, such as unexplained injuries, or emotional concerns, such as a client showing subdued or changed behaviour in the presence of a particular person.  

Unfortunately, it is far more likely that the person responsible for abuse is known to the adult is in a position of trust and power. This means abuse or neglect could be carried out by partners, other family members, and friends – as just a few examples.  

Abuse also follows different patterns: 

• Serial abuse – this is when the person allegedly responsible seeks out and ‘grooms’ individuals. 

• Long-term abuse – this is mostly in the context of an ongoing family relationship, such as domestic violence between spouses. 

• Opportunistic abuse – an example would be theft occurring, because money or valuable items has been left out. 

We also know that abuse may be unintentional. If a carer is struggling to care for another person, it is our responsibility to act on this and provide an appropriate response, such as a support package for the carer and closer monitoring. However, the primary focus must always be on safeguarding the adult.  

What is our staff practice? 

We understand that working with individuals who need support can be both rewarding and challenging. Within our recruitment process, we work hard to ensure our staff are fully competent in keeping our clients safe. 

We have a Safeguarding Lead to ensure all clients are protected and all staff are trained, as well as Safeguarding Champions, there to support other staff and champion best practices. We strive for effective supervision, focused training and direct observation of staff practice, recognising these are all critical elements that contribute to the prevention of harm. 

When something goes wrong, we have a responsibility to speak up. If we believe an adult may be at risk, we work in partnership with commissioners to report it and, if appropriate, seek help to put things right.  

For anything that increases the risk of harm, a closed culture is a poor culture.  

At Birchwood Care Services, our person-centred approach ensures your wellbeing always comes first. Whether it’s for a loved one or yourself, our team is here to support and guide you through the home care process. For any questions, please get in touch.