What is Safeguarding?
Safeguarding refers to the processes and measures used to protect adults and children from abuse, neglect, and exploitation. It is a shared responsibility across public services and a key priority for Wellness Care Solutions.
Safeguarding focuses on protecting individuals in vulnerable situations who may be at risk due to the actions or inactions of others. Effective safeguarding requires proactive collaboration among public services to identify those at risk and implement measures to prevent abuse or neglect.
At Wellness Care Solutions, we are dedicated to creating a safe environment for all, ensuring that everyone in our care is treated with dignity, respect, and compassion.
Adult Safeguarding Policy
At Wellness Care Solutions, we are committed to safeguarding individuals and protecting their rights to live free from abuse or neglect. Safeguarding is fundamental to our mission, ensuring that vulnerable adults are supported, empowered, and protected in all aspects of our care.
Legal Framework The Mental Capacity Act 2005 outlines the role of the Public Guardian in safeguarding, including the responsibility to supervise deputies appointed by the Court of Protection and investigate concerns about their actions. At Wellness Care Solutions, we are dedicated to upholding these principles to ensure the safety and dignity of those in our care.
Our Policy and Commitment This policy demonstrates our dedication to supporting the Public Guardian’s role in safeguarding. We work in partnership with other agencies to identify, respond to, and manage suspicions or allegations of abuse concerning vulnerable adults at risk.
Our safeguarding approach is grounded in the following principles:
- Empowerment: Putting individuals first by ensuring those lacking mental capacity are informed and involved in decisions about their care.
- Protection: Providing support to victims and empowering them to take action when needed.
- Prevention: Acting swiftly to identify and prevent abuse before it occurs.
- Proportionality: Ensuring our actions are appropriate, balanced, and tailored to each individual’s circumstances.
- Partnership: Collaborating with relevant agencies to share information effectively and appropriately.
- Accountability: Defining clear roles and responsibilities for all stakeholders involved in safeguarding.
What is Abuse?
Abuse and neglect can take many forms and lead to the violation of an individual’s human and civil rights. Abuse may be physical, financial, verbal, or psychological, and it can result from both direct actions or the failure to act.
Abuse can occur in situations where an adult at risk is coerced into financial or sexual activities they have not consented to or cannot consent to. It can arise in any kind of relationship and may lead to significant harm or exploitation.
Some types of abuse are criminal offenses. In such cases, adults who lack mental capacity are legally protected in the same way as everyone else. If Wellness Care Solutions suspects that a crime has been committed against a client, we will refer the matter to the police immediately. Urgent referrals may also be made to ensure the safety of the individual and preserve evidence.
Abuse involves the misuse of power and control that one person exerts over another. When someone is dependent on another for care, there is always the potential for abuse or neglect if sufficient safeguards are not in place.
Types of Abuse
Abuse can fall into various categories, including but not limited to:
Physical Abuse: Includes hitting, slapping, pushing, restraining, or administering the wrong medication.
Domestic Abuse: Encompasses physical, emotional, financial, or psychological abuse, including ‘honour-based’ violence.
Sexual Abuse: Ranges from harassment and inappropriate touching to non-consensual sexual acts or exploitation.
Psychological Abuse: Emotional harm such as intimidation, isolation, threats, or verbal abuse.
Financial or Material Abuse: Fraud, theft, coercion related to wills, property, or misuse of someone’s finances.
Modern Slavery: Encompasses forced labour, trafficking, and other forms of exploitative servitude.
Discriminatory Abuse: Harassment or victimization based on someone’s age, disability, gender, sexual orientation, race, or religion.
Organisational Abuse: Poor care practices in an institutional or home setting, arising from neglectful or unethical professional standards.
Neglect and Acts of Omission: Failing to meet basic medical, emotional, or physical care needs.
Self-Neglect: Behaviour where an individual neglects their personal hygiene, health, or living conditions, including
Abuse can span across more than one category or may not fit neatly into these definitions. Even when abuse occurs between adults at risk, it should be addressed appropriately. The adult at risk who perpetrates the abuse may also require safeguarding measures if they are neglecting their own well-being.
Date Reviewed: March 2025
Person responsible for updating this policy: Thomas Yona
Next Review Date: March 2026
Approval for this statement
This statement was approved by: Thomas Yona
Date: 01 March 2025 Signature: T. Yona