Safeguarding Vulnerable Adults Policy

Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility

Safeguarding vulnerable adults is a part of the wider role of safeguarding and promoting welfare.

This refers to the activity which is undertaken to protect specific vulnerable adults who are suffering or are at risk of suffering significant harm. As professionals or volunteers, everyone has a responsibility to safeguard vulnerable adults and promote their welfare.

Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of vulnerable adults – and in particular protecting them from significant harm – depends upon effective joint working between agencies and professionals that have different roles and expertise.

Some of the most vulnerable adults and those at greatest risk of social exclusion, will need co-ordinated help from health, education, social care, and quite possibly the voluntary sector and other agencies, including justice services.

For those vulnerable adults who are suffering, or at risk of suffering significant harm, joint working is essential, to safeguard and promote their welfare and – where necessary – to help bring to justice the perpetrators of crimes against them. All agencies and professionals should:

• be alert to potential indicators of abuse or neglect;
• be alert to the risks which individual abusers, or potential abusers, may pose to vulnerable
  adults;
• share and help to analyse information so that an assessment can be made of the individual’s needs and circumstances;
• contribute to whatever actions are needed to safeguard and promote the individual’s welfare;
• take part in regularly reviewing the outcomes for the individual against specific plans; and
• work co-operatively with parents and/or other carers unless this is inconsistent with ensuring the individual’s safety.

The Loss Foundation’s response to safeguarding

• The charity does not currently provide support to children or vulnerable adults, however, we take seriously the welfare of all vulnerable adults and children who make contact with our
  organisation.
• The charity aims to ensure that children and vulnerable adults making contact with the organisation are treated with respect and signposted to the most appropriate support across the public and charitable sectors.
• The charity recognises its responsibility to implement, maintain and regularly review procedures in relation to safeguarding.
• The charity is committed to maintaining good links with the statutory social services authorities.

Policy approved by the Trustees
Updated March 2020