| Author: | Jono Erodotou |
| Responsibility: | All Staff |
| Effective Date: | 01 June 2024 |
| Review Date: | 30th May 2025 |
| Approved By: | |
| Version Number: | 01 |
Amendment / Review History #
| Date | Author | Comments |
|---|---|---|
Scope #
K4 Medical Services acknowledges the duty of care to safeguard and promote the welfare of children, young persons and vulnerable adults and is committed to ensuring safeguarding practice reflects statutory responsibilities, government guidance and complies with best practice and Care Quality Commission requirements.
Aims #
The intention of this policy is to safeguard people who use the Medicore Ambulance Service from suffering any form of abuse or improper treatment whilst receiving care and treatment. Improper treatment includes discrimination or unlawful restraint, which includes inappropriate deprivation of liberty under the terms of the Mental Capacity Act (2005)
To meet the requirements of the Health and Social care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014: Regulation 13 as described by the CQC – K4 Medical Services has this safeguarding policy which works in cooperation with the K4 Medical Services Safeguarding procedure algorithm. K4 Medical Services declares to meet the requirements of this regulation by having a zero-tolerance approach to any sort of abuse, unlawful discrimination, and restraint – this included:
– Types of Abuse Examples
- Neglect
The ongoing failure to meet a child’s or a vulnerable adult basic need. They may be left hungry or dirty, without adequate clothing, shelter, supervision, medical or health care. This is the most common form of abuse in children and younger adults. - Subjecting people to degrading treatment
The prohibition of torture, inhuman or degrading treatment is one of the most important provisions (article 3) of the Human Rights Act. Subjecting people to degrading treatment is both humiliating and undignified. This is often hidden behind closed doors, but signs are severe withdrawal from interaction, scare or anxious behaviour in the presence of the abuser and physical injuries. - Unnecessary or disproportionate restraint
It is not acceptable to use unnecessary or disproportionate restraint and is classed as physical abuse. Acting benevolently in the best interest of the patient lacking capacity must be undertaken with the least restrictive option. - Deprivation of liberty
Declaring someone lacking in capacity is depriving them of their liberty. In the course of a HCPs career this may be required. However, capacity can be dynamic and thus All interventions you make must be assessed beforehand.
There is also a mandatory requirement for reporting Deprivation of Liberty to the CQC under the K4 Medical Services Reporting of significant incidents policy. - Physical abuse
Any intentional act causing injury or trauma to another person by way of bodily contact. In most cases, children are the victims of physical abuse, but vulnerable & younger adults can also be victims. - Domestic violence
Also named domestic abuse or family violence, is violence or other abuse by one person against another in a domestic setting, such as in the family arena, marriage or cohabitation. Domestic violence can include, but not limited to the following: coercive control, intimidation, degradation, isolation, control or the threat of physical or sexual violence. It is more common in females but does happen in men. - Sexual abuse
Also referred to as molestation, is usually undesired sexual behaviour by one person upon another. It is often perpetrated using force or by taking advantage of another. The term also covers any behaviour by an adult or older adolescent towards a child to stimulate any of the involved sexually. - Psychological or emotional abuse
A form of abuse, characterised by a person subjecting, or exposing, another person to behaviour that may result in psychological trauma, including anxiety, chronic depression, or post-traumatic stress disorder. It is often associated with situations of power imbalance in abusive relationships including bullying, gaslighting, and abuse in the workplace. - Financial or material abuse
A form of abuse when one intimate partner has control over the other partner’s access to economic resources, which diminishes the victim’s capacity to support him/herself and forces him/her to depend on the perpetrator financial. - Modern slavery
The recruitment, movement, harbouring or receiving of children, women or men through the use of force, coercion, abuse of vulnerability, deception or other means for the purpose of exploitation. Individuals may be trafficked into, out of or within the UK, and they may be trafficked for a number of reasons including sexual exploitation, forced labour, domestic servitude and organ harvesting. - Discriminatory abuse
Includes forms of harassment, slurs or similar treatment because of but not limited to age, race, gender, disability, sexual orientation. - Organisational or institutional 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. - Female Genital Mutilation
Female genital mutilation (FGM) comprises all procedures that involve partial or total removal of the external female genitalia, or other injury to the female genital organs for non medical reasons. The practice is mostly carried out by traditional circumcisers, who often play other central roles in communities, such as attending childbirths. In many settings, health care providers perform FGM due to the belief that the procedure is safer when medicalised. - CSE & Trafficking
Child sexual exploitation (CSE) is a type of sexual abuse. When a child or young person is exploited they’re given things, like gifts, drugs, money, status and affection, in exchange for performing sexual activities. Children and young people are often tricked into believing they’re in a loving and consensual relationship. This is called grooming.
They may trust their abuser and not understand that they’re being abused. Children and young people can be trafficked into or within the UK to be sexually exploited. They’re moved around the country and abused by being forced to take part in sexual activities, often with more than one person. Young people in gangs can also be sexually exploited.Sometimes abusers use violence and intimidation to frighten or force a child or young person, making them feel as if they’ve no choice. They may lend them large sums of money they know can’t be repaid or use financial abuse to control them.
Anybody can be a perpetrator of CSE, no matter their age, gender or race. The relationship could be framed as friendship, someone to look up to or romantic. Children and young people who are exploited may also be used to ‘find’ or coerce others to join groups. - Forced Marriage
You have the right to choose who you marry, when you marry or if you marry at all.
Forced marriage is when you face physical pressure to marry (for example, threats, physical violence or sexual violence) or emotional and psychological pressure (eg if you’re made to feel like you’re bringing shame on your family).
Force marriage offences is illegal in England and Wales. This includes:
– taking someone overseas to force them to marry (whether or not the forced marriage takes place)
– marrying someone who lacks the mental capacity to consent to the marriage (whether they’re pressured to or not) - Honour based Violence
The concept of ‘honour’ is for some communities deemed to be extremely important. To compromise a family’s ‘honour’ is to bring dishonour and shame and this can have severe consequences. The punishment for bringing dishonour can be emotional abuse, physical abuse, family disownment and in some cases even murder.
In most honour-based abuse cases there are multiple perpetrators from the immediate family, sometimes the extended family and occasionally the community at large. Mothers, sisters, aunties and even grandmothers have been known to be involved in the conspiring of honour crimes.
Prevent Strategy #
K4 Medical Services will attempt to identify in-line with the government strategy of counter-terrorism by
adopting the PREVENT Strategy.
- Prevent
The purpose of Prevent is to stop people from becoming terrorists or supporting terrorism. This includes countering terrorist ideology and challenging those who promote it, supporting individuals who are especially vulnerable to becoming radicalised, and working with sectors and institutions where the risk of radicalisation is assessed to be high. The deradicalization programme is known as Channel. It is led by the police and liberal Muslim mentors who do not espouse any anti-Western violence As of February 2015, all NHS staff are required to undergo basic Prevent awareness training] and schools have a statutory duty to have due regard in the prevention of terrorism.This ‘duty’ does not extend to teachers, but enables schools to embed safeguard measures against radicalisation within their standard safeguarding policies.
The leader of the 2017 London Bridge attack and his brother were involved with Prevent.
The perpetrator of the Parsons Green train bombing had been referred to Prevent. - Pursue
The purpose of Pursue is to stop terrorist attacks by detecting, prosecuting and otherwise disrupting those who plot to carry out attacks against the UK or its interests overseas. - Protect
The purpose of Protect is to strengthen protection against a terrorist attack in the UK or its interests overseas and thus reducing their vulnerability. The work focuses on border security, the transport system, national infrastructure and public places. The process works by first recognising the threats and then identifying the measures to reduce risks. - Prepare
The purpose of Prepare is to mitigate the impact of a terrorist attack in an event whereby that attack cannot be stopped. This includes bringing a terrorist attack to an end and increasing the UK’s resilience so the country can recover quickly in its aftermath.
LADO #
The Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) deals with allegations of abuse made against adults working with children. Every local authority must have a LADO in place who is responsible for coordinating the response to the allegation.
The purpose and duties of the role are set out in the HM Government statutory guidance Working Together to Safeguard Children (July 2018). Chapter 2, Organisational Responsibilities, lays out the procedures for managing allegations against people who work with children, for example, those in a position of trust, including volunteers.
These procedures for managing allegations against adults who work or volunteer with children are to be used in all cases in which it is alleged that a person who works with children has:
– Behaved in a way that has harmed a child, or may have harmed a child
– Possibly committed a criminal offence against or related to a child
– Behaved towards a child or children in a way which indicates they may pose a risk of harm to children (and therefore may be unsuitable to work with children) Whenever an allegation/referral is made against a person working or volunteering with children, the LADO:
– Manages and oversees individual cases ensuring independent scrutiny.
– Liaises with police and other organisations and ensures the appropriate agencies are involved in the safeguarding investigation process.
– Is involved in child protection procedures initiated by Children’s Social Care and/or the Children’s Advice and Duty Service (CADS) where the child is considered to be at risk of significant harm Provides advice and guidance to employers; voluntary organisations and senior managers about the operation of the procedure ‘Allegations against Persons who work/ volunteer with children’ – Ensures issues of sharing information with parents and other relevant individuals and organisations are considered.
– Monitors progress of investigations to ensure timely responses
Staff Compliance #
Until such time as a dedicated safeguarding lead is appointed – safeguarding duties will remain with the Medical Director.
Any staff at point of commencing employment with K4 Medical Service will have the following:
– A mandatory safeguarding taught session on-line with the national curriculum from the NHS England, delivered during company induction. This will be revisited with a company refresher on a basis not exceeding 3 years or at the point of significant change.
– Familiarisation with the K4 Medical Service referral algorithm.
– Staff made aware of the safeguarding vulnerable groups act 2006
– https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2006/47/contents
– Staff will sign to state they have had their safeguarding training at induction and that they are aware of the K4 Medical Service referral algorithm in order to produce a safeguarding referral when required.
All staff employed (including the company directors) will undertake an enhanced DBS certificate via the Disclosure and Barring service in relation to working within an adult and child workforce.
Staff at time of application will fill in a self-staff declaration.
Staff will have to show a enhanced DBS certificate at time application this must not be older than 2 years.
If Staff DBS certificate is out of date or do not have one in place K4 Medical Services will support staff applying for a NEW DBS certificate. Using our supplier Aarons Department https://www.aaronsdepartment.com/
PAYE – This cost will be meet by K4 Medical Services.
Self Employed – This cost is to be paid for by staff member at time of application of DBS check.
Staff will be encouraged to registered for the annual update services, this cost to be meet by the staff member.
Rechecking of DBS Certificates:
Staff DBS Certificate ONLY a new DBS certificate will be requested.
Staff on the DBS update checker will be checked yearly.
All Staff DBS information will be stored on the companies managerment software.
Training and Induction #
The K4 Medical Services safeguarding training will be delivered on-line with our training provider following the
NHS England The Core Skills Training Framework.
Non Patient Facing Staff to complete Level 1 Safeguarding Children and Adults
All Patient Facing Staff to complete Level 2/3 Safeguarding Children and Adults
Dementia #
Some of the current legislation that helps govern dementia are the Equality Act, The Care
Act, Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act, Human Rights Act, Mental Health Act. These acts
are in place to protect and support people living with dementia in the UK. The are 3 main
cognitive conditions that sit under the umbrella of dementia these are Alzheimer’s, Vascular
Dementia and Lewy Body Dementia.
Every K4 Medical Services employee has a responsibility of supporting any individual with dementia that they may have an interaction with. K4 Medical Services will adopt an approach that has any dementia patient at the centre of its care. The HCP may have to use alternative techniques to support this:
– Speaking slowly and clearly
– Using aid to help explain
– Demonstrate patience
– Dignity and respect always
– Hand gestures
– Pictures
– Demonstrations
Dementia has a key set of symptoms that K4 Medical Services employee will be encouraged to do online training.
– Memory
– Confusion
– Forgetfulness
– Mislaying items
– Delusion
– Inability to carry out daily tasks
– Behavioural changes
– Dependency
Dementia & Capacity #
Deprivation of liberty safeguards (DOLS) is when restraints and restrictions are used, this is under the mental health act.
You can only restrain or restrict someone if it is their best interests to do so and this act enables professional to be protected as long as the restraints are necessary.
All K4 Medical Service employees will be made aware of and instructed to works to the 5 key principles for the mental health act.
- Principle 1
A presumption of capacity – everyone has the right to make their own decisions and you must assume that they have capacity unless it is proved otherwise. - Principle 2
Individuals must be supported to make their own decisions – an individual must be given the support when deciding and not just presume they are unable to make their own decision. Even if the lack capacity and cannot decided, still try an include them so they are part of the decision-making process. - Principle 3
Unwise decisions – Individuals have the right to make unwise decisions, you cannot presume someone doesn’t have the capacity just because they have made an unwise decision. Everyone’s beliefs and values differ. - Principle 4
Best Interest – you must work within the best interests of the individual who lacks capacity. - Principle 5
Least restrictive option – Making a decision or acting on an individuals behalf who lacks capacity, you must decide if it is the best way to go about it, if there is something else you can do that interferes less with the individual’s rightsand freedom. All interventions you make must be assessed beforehand.
Referral Contacts #
K4 Medical Services has adopted the local authority recognised reporting for all safeguarding concerns and will when required report any criminal / legal concerns to the relevant Police Constabulary.
- Hounslow Council Referral Forms
– Children Referral Form
https://earlyhelp.hounslow.gov.uk/web/portal/pages/publicreferral#page1
Phone Number
020 8583 6600
– Adult Referral Form
https://eforms.hounslow.gov.uk/A093_SAFEGUARDING_ADULTS.eb?ebd=0&ebz=1_1719237100134
Phone Numbers
Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm : 020 8583 3100
Out of hours : 020 8583 2222
Managing Safeguarding #
- Managing Internal SafeGuarding Concerns
Internal safeguarding concerns should be reported by the K4 Medical Service Safeguarding Referral Form.
FORM NEEDED
Data will be collated at Ops Manager level and any K4 Medical Service employee will be placed on
suspension and referral made until any such time a safeguarding agency investigation has been completed. If deemed safe the employee may then return back to normal working duties. If any external investigation highlights issue this could result in disciplinary action and or reporting to the police 101 / 999 a Ops Manager will undertake said action. - Managing External SafeGuarding Concerns
Any external concerns of safeguarding when K4 Medical Service are operating in a professional capacity will require the K4 Medical Service staff are to fill in our Safeguarding Referral Form. Should the K4 Medical Service employee have any queries regarding process or filling in the referral form there are to call control.
– Control: 02031433998
– Dedicated K4 Medical Services Safeguarding Email: concern@k4medical.co.uk
Monitoring and Review #
The policy will be reviewed a year after development and then every three years, or in the following circumstances:
– changes in legislation and/or government guidance
– as required by any Local Safeguarding Children Board, accreditation partners and the Care Quality Commission.
– as a result of any other significant change or event.
References #
– Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act (2006)
https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2006/47/contents
– Safeguarding children and young people (2014): roles and competences for health
care staff INTERCOLLEGIATE DOCUMENT.
https://www.rcpch.ac.uk/resources/safeguarding-children-young-people-roles-competencies
– Supporting victims of honour based violence and forced marriage.
https://karmanirvana.org.uk/get-help/
– What is Child Sexual Exploitation.
https://www.nspcc.org.uk/what-is-child-abuse/types-of-abuse/child-sexual-exploitation/
– Female Genital Mutilation
https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/female-genital-mutilation
