Safeguarding adults (adult protection) procedures
Responsibility for reporting
Every individual who witnesses abuse, or hears of it, or learns of a potentially abusive situation in relation to a vulnerable person must report it to his/her superior or directly to the appropriate Care Management Team in Croydon. It is never someone else's responsibility.
Emergencies
When information is received which suggests an individual is at risk and/or that a criminal offence may have been committed to the extent they are injured or in immediate physical danger the person receiving such information must contact the police and other appropriate emergency services without delay.
Ensuring the person(s) is safe and have access to treatment, whether it is life saving or routine responses for shock or minor injuries, should always come first.
Referral to care management
The Croydon Adult Social Services Department Care Management Teams have an overarching responsibility for the protection of vulnerable adults and for ensuring that investigations are carried out.
When an allegation of abuse or suspected abuse is received a referral will be made to the duty care manager in the appropriate care management team within the same working day (or the Emergency Duty Team if it is out of normal office hours). The Care Management Team will then oversee the procedures ensuring that an appropriate investigation is undertaken within the agreed time frames:
- Preliminary investigation (fact finding) - within two working days
- Strategy meeting - within three working days
- Full investigation: - within five working days
- Adult protection conference - within 15 working days
- Adult protection plan - decided at adult protection conference
While it is likely that in most circumstances a care manager will take on the role of the investigating officer, responsibility for this may also be delegated to other services and agencies especially in gathering information at the Preliminary Investigation stage. It is following this initial stage that a decision will be taken by the care management service whether to proceed with a Full Investigation and Multi Agency Safeguarding Adults (Adult Protection) Conference and Plan.
In addition, provider services and agencies will have essential roles to play in:
- gaining knowledge of signs and symptoms of abuse
- recording and reporting factual evidence clearly and accurately
- supporting people in reporting incidents of abuse
- supporting victims through the investigation process
- supporting alleged perpetrators through the investigation process
- monitoring adults where concerns have been expressed previously or where the client is assessed as being in a specific risk category
Monitoring the overall process
A Safeguarding Adults (Adult Protection) Committee has been set up involving all the partner agencies and other appropriate personnel. This committee, chaired by Hannah Miller (Director, Adult Social Services Department), will be responsible for ensuring this policy is implemented and will review its progress over time. It will also be responsible for ensuring appropriate multi-agency training takes place.
It may also call for reports, issue questionnaires, canvas views in other ways or liase with neighbouring comittees to fulfil its duties as the multi agency 'driver' for Safeguarding Adults (Adult Protection) in Croydon. The procedures attached to this policy may themselves be reviewed by the comittee and changes suggested.
