Burglar conned pensioner twice
15th September 2009
A conman burglar stole from the home of an 81 year old man with dementia twice after knocking on his door claiming to be selling dusters. To read this article in full click on the link above.
Worcestershire Council Serious Case Review
14th September 2009
Worcestershire Council has been accused of a number of failures over the death of a 22-year-old man with severe learning disabilities whose body was found stuffed into a suitcase at his family home. To read the executive summary click on the link above.
Mencap slams hospital for its treatment of Kyle
23rd July 2009
A disability charity has slammed Basildon hospital for its 'appalling' treatment of a severely disabled young man who died in a hospital bed. To read the article in full click the link above.
Royal College of Nursing launches whistleblower hotline
10th May 2009
A whistleblowers' hotline is being set up today by the Royal College of Nursing after evidence emerged that its members are being victimised for voicing worries about unsafe practices on NHS wards.
To read more click on the link above.
Care firm worker jailed for fraud
21 April 2009
A care company employee in Somerset who stole from an elderly woman she befriended has been sent to prison for six months. To read more click on the link above.
Death by Indifference
March 2009
The Ombudsmen Inquiry (see article below) was sparked by a 2007 report by Mencap "Death by Indifference", which argued that all six were victims of institutional discrimination against people with learning disabilities in the care they received, and their deaths were unavoidable. To read this report click on the link above.
Ombudsmen Inquiry
24th March 2009
NHS and Council failings in six cases involving people with learning disabilities led to prolonged suffering and at least one avoidable death. That was the verdict of an investigation by the health service and local government ombudsmen into the care given to the six people who died between 2003 and 2005. Click on the link above to read more.
Prison for torture killing pair
27th March 2009
Two men who admitted torturing and killing a man with learning difficulties in his Fife home have both been jailed for 12 and a half years. To read this article in full, please click the link above.
Mentally ill victim was failed by CPS
28th January 2009
A decision by prosecutors to drop a serious criminal assault case because the victim, who had half his ear bitten off, suffered mental health problems, has been severley criticised by High Court judges. To read the article in full follow the link above.
Vulnerable Deaths Inquiry Set Up
19th January 2009
A confidential inquiry to investigate premature deaths of people with learning disabilities in England is to be set up by the Department of Health. To read this article in full click the link above.
Robbers kill pensioners budgie
18th January 2009
Burglars have snapped the neck of an elderly woman's budgie in front of her after she refused to hand over money. To read the article in full click the link above.
BBC Undercover in Notts Care Home
2nd May 2008
An undercover reporter from the BBC gained employment at a Nottinghamshire care home recently, uncovering poor infection control and lapses in care. The show was broadcast on 2nd May 2008. For a full report on the BBC's findings, follow the link above.
Carer stole £21,000 from patient
2nd September 2008
A FORMER care worker who fleeced a pensioner out of more than £21,000 collapsed as a judge told her she would be jailed. She admitted stealing £21,393 from 88-year-old wheelchair-bound Anne Giggins, who she looked after while working at Ernhale Lodge Care Home, Arnold. To read this report in full follow the link above.
Teddy Camera catches Carer thief
20th August 2008
A forensic science student and her father catch a carer stealing from an elderly relative by hiding a camera in a teddy bear's eye.
Robert Sampson, 46, and Emma, 21, fixed the tiny camera in the Liverpool home of his mother Thelma Sampson, 75.
To read the article in full follow the link above.
Care Home Workers go Unchecked, warn Police
2nd June 2008
Tens of thousands of migrant workers may be working with vulnerable elderly people in care homes, without undergoing full criminal record checks, The Times has revealed. To read the article in full, including why it is thought that the introduction of the ISA scheme next year will do little to help, follow the link above.
Latest ISA Newsletter
June 2008
The latest Independent Safeguarding Authority Newsletter is available to download. In this issue you can read about the announcement of board members, the transfer of staff to the Authority and how to get information on consultation responses. To view the newsletter and other information about ISA follow the link above.
£97,000 payout for vulnerable couple
30th May 2008
A couple who were imprisoned and tortured by a gang of youths have been awarded £97,000 in damages after a judge ruled that their local council failed to protect them, reports the Daily Mail. In a landmark ruling at London's High Court, Mr Justice Maddison said the council owed a duty of care to the 52-year-old man and his 46-year-old wife, who both have learning difficulties. To read the full Daily Mail article, follow the link above.
£2million abuse prevelance study
27th MArch 2008
Ivan Lewis, Minister for Care Services, has announced three new measures to strengthen the protection of vulnerable older people in the care system.
The plans will help to ensure that older people are treated with dignity and respect in all care settings. To read about the new measures, follow the link above.
Procedure
AlertStaff member alerts the person within their organisation who is responsible for referring to Adult Social care to concerns of abuse or neglect about which they are told, or which they witness. |
ReferralDecision by the ‘Referrer’ as to whether they believe there is an allegation of abuse. Contacting the relevant Adult Social Care Department to make a ‘Referral’, unless certain that there is NO allegation. |
Decision‘Decision’ by the ‘Safeguarding Manager’ as to whether a Safeguarding Assessment is required and placing the information about the concern into a multi-agency context if required. |
Safeguarding Assessment StrategyFormulation of a multi agency plan to assess the risk, and identify who will undertake the various investigations required (criminal investigation, safeguarding adults investigation, disciplinary investigation etc). |
Investigations as Part of the AssessmentInvestigations agreed during the Safeguarding Assessment Strategy are carried out by the identified people (criminal investigation, safeguarding adults’ investigation, disciplinary investigation etc). |
Safeguarding AssessmentCoordination and collection of information from the various investigations, by the Safeguarding Manager. |
Safeguarding AssessmentEvaluating the Safeguarding Assessment and coordinating a multi agency response to the abuse that has been identified. Identifying timescales for a review of the plan. |
1.1 Alerting
1.1.1 Alerting occurs when a member of staff is informed, or has concerns, that abuse or neglect has occurred, or is suspected. The member of staff becomes the ‘Alerter’. For example, Alerters might be; care assistants, housing wardens, support workers, community nurses or Police Officers.
The timescale for 'Alerting' is immediately
1.1.2 Alerters have a duty to share the information with the person within their organisation responsible for referring (and their line manager if this is different), but should not discuss their concerns with anyone else (unless 1.1.3 below applies).
| Having a ‘duty to share information’ means; you are not at liberty to keep concerns to yourself and you should never promise to keep secrets. |
For more information about whistleblowing visit www.pcaw.co.uk |
1.1.3 If you feel that you are not able to share information with your manager, the person responsible for referring, or another manager within your organisation, as you believe that they are implicated or colluding with the alleged abuse, you should, in the first instance, follow your organisation’s own ‘Whistleblowing Policy’. If your organisation does not have such a policy or you are unable to follow this because of those implicated in the alleged abuse you should contact the regulatory body (i.e. Commission for Social Care Inspection or Healthcare Commission).
1.1.4 If your manager or the person responsible for making a referral makes a decision not to refer and you are unhappy with this decision you still have a duty share information. This should be done by speaking to the next senior person in your organisation.
1.1.5 When acting in the role of Alerter you should:
- Always take any concerns seriously, however insignificant they may seem to you;
- Where the concern comes directly from the vulnerable adult allegedly abused, accept it and avoid making comments other than to comfort or be sympathetic;
- Ensure the immediate safety and welfare of the vulnerable adult allegedly abused. (This may include urgent medical attention);
- Report the concerns urgently to the person within your organisation who is responsible for referring to Adult Social Care (and your manager if this is a different person) - always report, don’t assume someone else already has. If the allegation concerns a member of staff with the responsibility of ‘referrer’, the next senior member of management should be informed;
- State your concerns clearly - don’t use euphemisms;
- Keep a careful, detailed record of the concerns, clearly separating fact from opinion (bear in mind that the record may be required later as part of any legal proceedings). See Record Keeping;
- Follow the Checklist for Alerters.
| All staff have a duty to report suspicions or disclosures of abuse, and failure to do so is a failure in their duty of care. However difficult it may seem, staff must make known their concerns of abuse. |
1.2 Staff who suspect abuse in other organisations
1.2.1 There may be occasions when visiting staff witness or suspect abuse in another organisation (e.g. a district nurse visiting an independent nursing home). In such circumstances the visiting member of staff will be expected to act in the role of Alerter (as above), informing the Manager and the person responsible for Referring (unless 1.2.2 below applies). In addition to this you should inform your own line manager.
1.2.2 If you feel that you are not able to share information with the home manager, the person responsible for referring, or another manager within the organisation, as you believe that they are implicated or colluding with the alleged abuse you should contact the referral point and explain to the call taker that you wish to make a Safeguarding Adults Referral.
1.2.3 If you have concerns about an organisation not amounting to abuse or neglect as described in this document but related to the quality of care being provided you should, in the first instance, report this to the manager of the organisation and your own line manager.
1.2.4 This information should also be passed to the relevant body who commission services from this organisation (for example, local authority purchasing and contracting department) AND the regulatory body (Commission for Social Care Inspection or the Healthcare Commission).
Process for the Role of Alerter
A process chart has been devised to be used in conjunction with this multi agency Policy, Procedure and Guidance:
Process for the Role of the Alerter
2.1 Making a Referral
Maximum timeframe for Referral is: Within 24 hours of the Alert being received.
2.1.1 Referring is the responsibility of the nominated person who receives information from the Alerter, as detailed above. This member of staff becomes the ‘Referrer’. For example, Referrers might be; Ward Managers, Care Home Managers, Managers of Home Care Services, Housing Managers or Social Workers. It is important to note here that "Referrers" are not a separate type of staff – referring in this context is simply an aspect of the ‘manager’s’ overall responsibilities.
It is the responsibility of each organisation to have their own internal procedures, which must detail the nominated staff who are able to take on this role. See Internal Procedures.
2.1.2 Before making a referral to the Adult Social Care Department, you should:
- Consider the immediate health/welfare needs of the alleged victim or anyone else who may be affected;
- Consider whether emergency services are required (ambulance, police);
- You should not carry out a formal interview with the alleged victim at this point, however you may need to clarify facts with them.
- Consider whether there is a requirement to inform any regulatory body of the situation such as the Commission for Social Care Inspection or the Healthcare Commission;
- Gather information to clarify the facts. This will include speaking to the ‘Alerter’;
- Ensure that the ‘Alerter’ and the person who raised the original concern are fully supported;
- Keep detailed records, separating fact from opinion, direct evidence from hearsay (See Record Keeping);
- Inform and seek advice from more senior managers as per your organisation’s own internal procedures;
- Based on the work you carry out and utilising the relevant guidance sections, for example, Possible Indicators of Abuse and Is a Referral Required?, make a decision on whether a Referral to the relevant Adult Social Care Department is required. If in doubt, make a referral using the procedure below;
- Follow the ‘Checklist for Referrers’.
2.2 Making a Referral to Adult Social Care
2.2.1 Once you have gathered the relevant information and established that you believe there is an allegation of abuse, you have a duty to make a referral to the relevant Adult Social Care Department.
2.2.2 Prior to making a referral you will need to gather as much information as you can about the allegation, which you will be asked to provide once you telephone the Adult Social Care Team – you may find it useful to complete Appendix One – Referral Pro Forma, however you do not need to send this anywhere. A full list of the information you will require can be found in Guidance Six – The Referral.
2.2.3 When you have the information, make a referral by contacting either:
· City Adult Health, Social Care and Housing Department on 0115 915 1298 or 0115 915 8885. Or · County Adult Social Care and Health Department on 08449 80 80 80. This will depend on where the vulnerable adult lives, see Guidance 17 - Inter Authority Arrangements |
2.2.4 Explain to the call taker that you wish to make a ‘SAFEGUARDING ADULTS REFERRAL’.
2.2.5 It is important to provide contact details about yourself, as the Safeguarding Manager may need to contact you for further details and, should contact you in any event to offer feedback about the safeguarding assessment.
2.3 Decision NOT to make a referral
2.3.1 If, after assessing all the information available to you and after using Guidance 7 - Is a Referral Required?, you decide that there is no allegation of abuse you do not need to make a referral to the relevant Adult Social Care Department.
2.3.2 You should fully document any such decision and it would be good practice to discuss and agree this action with your line manager.
2.3.3 Any decision not to refer does not mean that the incident should be left or that other actions do not need to take place. Consideration still needs to be given to the needs of the vulnerable adult and to any other actions such as the complaints process, training needs, disciplinary or regulatory action if appropriate.
Process for the Role of Referrer
A process chart has been devised for the role of the referrer. This should be read in conjunction with this Multi Agency Policy, Procedure and Guidance:
Process Referral Chart for the Role of Referrer
3.1 Referral Point
3.1.1 Both Adult Social Care Departments have a referral point that is responsible for receiving safeguarding adults referrals.
3.2 Taking a Referral
3.2.1 When a call is received, the call taker must complete a referral form including the details set out in Guidance 6 - The Referral.
3.2.2 The call taker must then use their internal procedures for making the relevant team aware of the referral.
3.2.3 The ‘relevant team’ will usually be the one covering the area of the vulnerable adult’s normal residence. This could be an Assessment and Care Management Team (ACMT), a Community Mental Health Team (CMHT) or a Community Learning Disability Team (CLDT) for instance, depending on the community care group to which the vulnerable person belongs.
3.3 Safeguarding Manager
3.3.1 The Safeguarding Manager is responsible for making the decision about whether a referral should be dealt with under these procedures.
3.3.2 When a decision is made that a Safeguarding Assessment is required, the Safeguarding Manager is the person responsible for coordinating all of the potential investigations.
3.3.3 The Safeguarding Manager will come from the relevant team within the Adult Social Care Department either in the City or County, or the Healthcare Trust when they have line management responsibility for Integrated Teams.
3.4 The Safeguarding Decision
| The timescale for making the ‘Decision’ about whether a safeguarding assessment is required is: By the end of the working day following the one on which the safeguarding adults referral was made |
3.4.1 When a referral is received by the Adult Social Care Team, the call taker will instruct the relevant team using their internal procedures.
3.4.2 The Safeguarding Manager will assess the information from the referral and make a decision about whether to accept this and place it formally within the multi –agency context of the Policy and Procedures.
3.5 Safeguarding Assessment
3.5.1 The Safeguarding Assessment is the coordination and collection of information from the various investigations, by the Safeguarding Manager.
3.5.2 If it is decided that the allegation will be dealt with under this Policy and Procedure, the Safeguarding Manager is responsible for managing the Safeguarding Assessment.
3.5.3 A Safeguarding Assessment Strategy Discussion/ Meeting must be convened, led/chaired by the Safeguarding Manager.
| Stress of repeated interviews of a vulnerable adult should be avoided wherever possible and a single interview, if properly planned could fulfil the needs of several investigations. This possibility should be discussed at the strategy discussion. |
3.5.4 SAFEGUARDING ASSESSMENTS WILL NORMALLY INCLUDE A SAFEGUARDING ADULTS INVESTIGATION AND AN ASSESSMENT OF THE NEED FOR HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE PROVISION.
3.5.5 During the Safeguarding Strategy Discussion, any other investigations required should be planned and agreed, for example a criminal investigation, disciplinary or a breach of the Care Standards Act.
3.5.6 A Safeguarding Adults Strategy Plan should be devised and documented detailing all the necessary work which must be completed and by whom.
3.5.7 Any changes to timescales that may affect the Safeguarding Adults Strategy Plan must be reported to the Safeguarding Manager.
3.5.8 After the investigations have taken place, it is normal for a Safeguarding Plan Meeting to be held to consider the outcomes of the various investigations and to compile the Safeguarding Adults Plan, ensuring that any risks are identified, managed and minimised.
3.6 Decision not to place a referral into a multi agency context
3.6.1 When a decision is made not to deal with the referral under the Policy and Procedures, the full reason is documented and feedback is given to the referrer. Whilst discussion should take place and the decision can be questioned, it is the overall responsibility of the Safeguarding Manager to make the formal decision.
| PLEASE NOTE: A decision by the Safeguarding Manager NOT to undertake a Safeguarding Assessment DOES NOT mean that other forms of investigation do not need to take place. If appropriate; disciplinary, complaints or regulation inspections should still be undertaken. |