More Information

Prevent 

Prevent is about safeguarding people and communities from the threat of terrorism. Prevent is 1 of the 4 elements of CONTEST, the Government’s counter-terrorism strategy. It aims to stop people becoming terrorists or supporting terrorism.

Film Links

A selection of videos on some safeguarding topics.

Recent Legislation and Reports


Safeguarding Adults at Risk

Weston Area Health Trust is committed in providing a robust safeguarding service to all of its patients, all staff receive mandatory training and are vigilant to signs of abuse.  Our safeguarding procedures reflect Chapter 14 - Care Act 2014 with ongoing monitoring and audit

If you are worried about a child, young person or adult, who you think is being abused or neglected visit http://www.northsomersetsafeguarding.co.uk/ 

 

The term ‘adult at risk’ has replaced ‘vulnerable adult’. The term ‘adult at risk‘ is detailed in the new Care Act 2014 and focuses on the situation causing the risk, rather than the characteristics of the adult concerned.  Safeguarding duties apply to any adult (18 years and over) who meet the following criteria:

  • has needs for care and support (whether or not the local authority is meeting any of those needs)
  • is experiencing, or at risk of, abuse or neglect
  • 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.

Within the new Care Act 2014 there are 10 elements of Abuse:

 

Physical abuse  - This can include assault, hitting, slapping, pushing, and misuse of medication, restraint or inappropriate physical sanctions. 

Domestic violence - Including psychological, physical, sexual, financial, emotional abuse; so called ‘honour’ based violence.  

In 2013, the Home Office announced changes to the definition of domestic abuse: 

  • Incident or pattern of incidents of controlling, coercive or threatening behaviour, violence or abuse... by someone who is or has been an intimate partner or family member regardless of gender or sexuality
  • Includes: psychological, physical, sexual, financial, emotional abuse; so called ‘honour’ based violence; Female Genital Mutilation (FGM); forced marriage.

Age range extended down to 16. 

Sexual abuse - including 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 abuse

Including 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 abuse  

Including theft, fraud, internet scamming, coercion in relation to an adult’s financial affairs or arrangements, including in connection with wills, property, inheritance or financial transactions, or the misuse or misappropriation of property, possessions or benefits

Modern slavery

Difference between smuggling and trafficking: Trafficking is further exploitation after movement.

Sexual Prostitution, Escorts, involved in producing pornography
Forced Labour

Very often vulnerable males are preyed on at homeless shelters, soup kitchens, job centres.  Slaves are kept by some travelling communities they are sold between families; they are made to work in Tarmacking/paving and general building.

 

Nail bars – recruit vulnerable young women, who are further exploited

 

Large Agencies supply exploited staff to factories, agriculture, fishing, cleaning teams and care homes. Very often they do not receive any wages.

 

Hand Car Washes – look for people wearing inappropriate clothes for cold wet weather, do they handle the money, can they speak English, how do they arrive and leave

 

Domestic Servitude Wealthy families who bring in their own servants from abroad, invisible to our authorities.  Kept for years without documents or means to leave

Financial 

Personal documents passports etc removed, bank accounts set up; benefit fraud, claimants never see any of the money

 Child Trafficking  Child sexual exploitation
Criminal Exploitation  Pick pocketing gangs, cannabis farms etc
 Illegal adoption  
   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Visit www.unchosen.org.uk for further information and access to films.

Discriminatory abuse

including forms of harassment, slurs or similar treatment; because of race, gender and gender identity, age, disability, sexual orientation or religion.

A hate crime is any criminal offence that is motivated by hostility or prejudice based upon the victim's:

  • disability
  • race
  • religion or belief
  • sexual orientation
  • transgender identity.

 

  • Hate crime can take many forms including:
  • physical attacks such as physical assault, damage to property, offensive graffiti and arson
  • threat of attack including offensive letters, e-mails, abusive or obscene telephone calls, groups hanging around to intimidate and unfounded, malicious complaints.
  • verbal abuse, insults or harassment, taunting, offensive leaflets and posters, abusive gestures, dumping of rubbish outside homes or through letterboxes, and bullying at school or in the workplace.
  • The use of electronic media to abuse, insult, taunt or harass. 

Organisational abuse

including neglect and poor care practice within an institution or specific care setting such as a hospital or care home, for example, or in relation to care provided in one’s own home. This may range from one off incidents to on-going ill-treatment. It can be through neglect or poor professional practice as a result of the structure, policies, processes and practices within an organisation.


Neglect and acts of omission

including ignoring medical, emotional or physical care needs, failure to provide access to appropriate health, care and support or educational services, the withholding of the necessities of life, such as medication, adequate nutrition and heating.  

Medication errors where the patient has incurred harm will be classified as a safeguarding concern.  Likewise medication incidents where the patient has not necessarily incurred harm but the perpetrator is the same member of staff for multiple incidents will be classified as a safeguarding concern. 

Grade 3 and 4 pressure ulcer ulcers are considered in this context if elements of essential care are found to be omitted. 

The Mental Capacity Act created the criminal offences of ill-treatment and wilful neglect in respect of people who lack the ability to make decisions.  These offences can be committed by anyone responsible for that persons care and support. (Care Act – section 14 - 14.48).

Self neglect

this covers a wide range of behaviour neglecting to care for one’s personal hygiene, health or surroundings and includes behaviour such as hoarding.  

Trust staff will be expected to work sensitively with the patient, identifying care and social needs, offering comprehensive discharge planning with multi-professionals, taking care to respect the patient’s lifestyle and wishes