CODEC‐UK: Safeguarding Policy
Introduction
This CODEC‐UK policy follows guidelines set out in Brent Safeguarding Adults Boards Multi ‐Agency
Safeguarding Policy and Procedures which should be read in conjunction with this policy). CODEC‐UK
is committed to supporting the right of adults at risk to be protected from abuse and to making sure
all staff and volunteers work together in line with the acts promptly when dealing with allegations or
suspicions of abuse. We think that: SAFEGUARDING IS EVERYBODY’S BUSINESS ‐ Safeguarding is the
responsibility of everyone. We will work together to prevent and minimise abuse. If we have concerns
that someone is being abused our loyalty to the vulnerable person comes before anything else – our
group, other service users, our colleagues and the person’s friends and family. DOING NOTHING IS
NOT AN OPTION ‐ If we know or suspect that a vulnerable adult is being abused, we will do something
about it and ensure our work is properly recorded. We will work within the boundaries of the Multi‐
Agency Safeguarding Adults Procedures.
What is a vulnerable person?
The definition of a vulnerable adult is a person over the age of 18 years who:
 Is or may be in need of / eligible for Community Care Services by reason of mental or other
disability, age or illness
 AND is unable to take care of him / herself
 OR is unable to protect him / herself from significant harm or exploitation
A vulnerable person may fall into any one of the following groups: older and frail people; people with
a mental health need, a learning difficulty, a physical impairment, a sensory impairment; people who
substance or alcohol dependent; or family carers are providing assistance to another vulnerable adult.
Abuse is a violation of an individual’s human and civil rights by any other persons(s) or group of people.
Abuse may be single or repeated acts. It can be:
Physical: for example, hitting, slapping, burning, pushing, restraining or giving the wrong medication.
Psychological and emotional: for example, shouting, swearing, frightening, blaming, ignoring or
humiliating a person, threats of harm or abandonment, intimidation, verbal abuse. Financial: including
the illegal or unauthorised use of a person’s property, money, pension book or other valuables,
pressure in connection with wills, property or inheritance.
Sexual: such as forcing a person to take part in any sexual activity without his or her informed consent
– this can occur in any relationship.
Discriminatory: including racist or sexist remarks or comments based on a person’s disability, age or
illness, and other forms of harassment, slurs or similar treatment. This also includes stopping someone
from being involved in religious or cultural activity, services or support networks;
Institutional: the collective failure of an organisation to provide an appropriate and professional
service to vulnerable people. This includes a failure to ensure the necessary safeguards are in place to
protect vulnerable adults and maintain good standards of care in accordance with individual needs,
including training of staff, supervision and management, record keeping and liaising with other
providers of care.
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Neglect and acts of omission: including ignoring medical or physical care needs. These can be
deliberate or unintentional, amounting to abuse by a carer
Self‐neglect by the vulnerable person: for example, where a person is deprived of food, heat, clothing,
comfort or essential medication, or failing to provide access to appropriate health or social care
services.
How Might We Notice Abuse?
Concerns about or evidence of abuse can come to us through:
1) A direct disclosure by the vulnerable adult.
2) A complaint or expression of concern by another member of staff, a volunteer, another
service user, a carer, a member of the public or relative.
3) An observation of the behaviour of the vulnerable adult by the volunteer, member of staff or
carer.
Our Commitment
To support vulnerable adults who are experiencing, or at risk from, abuse, CODEC‐UK is committed to:
 Identifying the abuse of vulnerable adults where it is occurring.
 Responding effectively to any circumstances giving grounds for concern, or where formal
complaints or expressions of anxiety are expressed.
 Ensuring the active participation of individuals, families, groups and communities wherever
possible and appropriate.
 Raising awareness of the extent of abuse on vulnerable adults and its impact on them.
 Promoting and supporting work designed to reduce abuse and the fear of abuse as
experienced by vulnerable adults.
 Regularly monitoring and evaluating how our policies, procedures and practices for protecting
vulnerable adults are working.
 Making sure our policies, procedures and practices stay up to date with good practice and the
law in relation to safeguarding vulnerable adults.
 Ensuring our procedures are in line with the Multi‐Agency Safeguarding Procedures.
Prevention and Confidentiality
All staff and volunteers will have Disclosure of Baring Service/Criminal Records Bureau (DBS/CRB)
checks taken out and have two references provided before they will have direct contact with
vulnerable adults or their carers. All staff and volunteers will be requested to read CODEC‐UK’s
Safeguarding Policy and Procedure, Brent Safeguarding Adults Boards, Multi‐Agency Safeguarding
Policy and Procedures and will be requested to attend safeguarding training. CODEC‐UK will work with
vulnerable adults in a way that meets all the aspects of confidentiality in our different policies, but
where abuse to a vulnerable person is alleged, suspected, reported or concerns are raised, the
Safeguarding Adults Procedure must be followed. The confidentiality of the vulnerable person will be
respected wherever possible and their consent obtained to share information. The vulnerable person
should be made aware that staff cannot ignore issues around abuse and that steps will be taken to
deal with them in as sensitive a manner as possible. The welfare of the individual is paramount.
Useful Contacts:
Community Development Centre United Kingdom, Telephone Number:
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Please mention your concern regarding abuse with you or someone you have witnessed. CODEC‐UK
is responsible to action on safeguarding alert.
Chair Person direct contact number: 07735409666
Brent Safeguarding
Adult Social service Telephone Line: 02089374300
Email: customer.services@brent.gov.uk or safeguardingadults@brent.gov.uk
Fax: 02089374027
Brent urgent care centre
Telephone Number: 03339992527
Crimestoppers
Telephone Number: 0800555111
Safer Neighbourhood team Wembley central
Telephone Number: 02087212019
Or for any emergency just dial 999 or 101 or text phone: 18001101
The Procedure in Detail
1. You think abuse has or may have occurred. Act immediately. It is the responsibility of the
person first becoming aware of a situation where there may be a vulnerable adult subject to,
or at risk of, abuse to:
Make Safe Deal with the immediate needs of the person. This may mean taking reasonable
steps to ensure the adult is in no immediate danger and seeking medical treatment if required
as a matter of urgency. Do NOT discuss the allegation of abuse with the alleged perpetrator.
Do NOT disturb or destroy articles that could be used in evidence. Where an assault of some
kind is suspected do not wash or bathe the person unless this is associated with first aid
treatment necessary to prevent further harm. If the allegation is about a staff member or
volunteer of any organisation, ensure that the allegation is properly managed. This may
include suspending the member(s) of staff or volunteer. The staff member or volunteer is also
entitled to support at this stage. Please refer to the Disciplinary Policy and Procedure. Inform
Tell your line manager immediately or the Chief Executive if your line manager is unavailable
or is implicated in the allegation. Contact the police if it is thought a crime has just been
committed. Record details of the allegation as soon as possible somewhere that can be kept
secure.
Include:
You think abuse has or may have occurred. Act immediately. Make sure the person is safe.
Inform your line manager immediately. Contact the police if it is thought a crime has just been
committed. Record details of the allegation.
2. Bringing the concern to the attention of Your Manager who in turn will contact the CODEC‐UK
chair person or the Police. Your manager discusses the concerns with a senior manager or
trustee or contacts the local authority referral agency or the police straight away.
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3. CODEC‐UK will coordinate an investigation. If necessary they will hold a strategy discussion or
meeting to decide what action to take next. They might decide to call the police. You might
need to give a statement to CODEC‐UK or the police. Social services or the police will decide
what to do next.
Always make not on the followings:
a) The allegation or concerns, including the date and time of the incident, what the
vulnerable adult said about the abuse and how it occurred or what has been reported to
you.
b) The appearance and behaviour of the victim.
c) Any injuries observed.
4. It is the responsibility of the line manager or Chair Person to
 Decide without delay on the most appropriate course of action once the allegation
or suspicion of abuse has been raised.
 Deal with any immediate needs:
i. Ensure that the victim of the alleged abuse is safe
ii. Ensure that any necessary emergency medical treatment is arranged
iii. Ensure that no forensic evidence is lost
iv. If the alleged perpetrator is also a vulnerable adult, ensure that a member of
staff is allocated to attend to their needs and ensure that other service users
are not put at risk.
 Clarify the facts stated by the member of staff but do NOT in any circumstances
discuss the allegation of abuse with the alleged perpetrator or, if possible, the victim.
 Check that the circumstances fall within the safeguarding adults procedures i.e.
meeting the definition of abuse as defined in this Policy and Procedures. If at all
uncertain a referral should be made to Brent Adult Safeguarding.
 Address issues of consent and confidentiality.
 A formal referral must be made on the same day as the alert is raised wherever: A
crime has been, could have been, or yet could be committed. There is a suspicion that
an abuse has taken place. The allegation involves a member of staff or paid carer.
Other vulnerable adults are at risk. The alleged perpetrator is a vulnerable adult. They
are unsure if abuse has taken place.
 Where a decision is made NOT to refer, the alert must be recorded, with the reasons
for the decision not to refer Brent Safeguarding must be informed that an alert has
been considered.
 Bringing the concern to the attention of Brent Safeguarding, the referral stage
involves bringing the concern regarding alleged abuse or potential abuse formally to
the attention of Brent Safeguarding and other authorities. Any individual who has
been alerted to the possibility of abuse having occurred or being likely to occur should
make a referral.
 Contact any of the services number mentioned above if you think a crime may have
been committed. Specify it is a safeguarding issue (999 in an emergency). The person
making the referral should ideally have the following information available; however,
the lack of any of this information should not delay the referral:
a) The name of the vulnerable adult
b) Date of birth and age
c) Address and telephone number
d) Why the adult is considered vulnerable
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e) Whether consent has obtained for the referral, and if not the reasons e.g. the
vulnerable adult lacks mental capacity or there is an over‐riding public
interest (e.g. where other vulnerable adults are at risk)
f) Whether there are any concerns or doubts about the mental capacity of the
vulnerable adult Whether the police are aware of the allegation,
g) Whether a police investigation is underway
CODEC‐UK
46 Crabtree Avenue, Wembley, Middlesex
Date: 17/04/2016