成人保护政策

Reviewed:          07/12/2025

Due:                    07/12/2026

1. Purpose
The Elm Foundation is committed to protecting the safety, rights and wellbeing of adults who may be at risk of abuse, neglect, coercion or exploitation.
This policy outlines:
What safeguarding adults means
Legal duties under the Care Act 2014
How employees identify, report and respond to safeguarding concerns
When and how to make referrals to Safeguarding Adults
Roles and responsibilities within The Elm Foundation
Good practice in working with adults affected by domestic abuse, trauma and complex needs
Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility across the organisation.
2. Scope
This policy applies to:
All employees
Volunteers
Trustees
Students
It covers all situations where an adult may be at risk of abuse, neglect or exploitation, whether occurring:
In the home
In services or supported accommodation
In the community
Online
Through anyone including family members, partners or carers
 

3. Legal Framework
This policy reflects:
Primary legislation
Care Act 2014 – statutory duties for adult safeguarding
Mental Capacity Act 2005
Domestic Abuse Act 2021
Human Rights Act 1998
Equality Act 2010
Data Protection Act 2018 & UK GDPR
4. Who is an “Adult at Risk”?
Under the Care Act, an “adult at risk” is a person who:
Is aged 18 or over, AND
Has care and support needs, AND
Is experiencing or is at risk of abuse or neglect, AND
Is unable to protect themselves because of those needs
Care and support needs do not need to be formally assessed. They may include:
Physical disability
Learning disability
Mental ill-health
Substance misuse
Dementia
Trauma or PTSD
Neurodiversity
Chronic illness
Experience of coercive control
Homelessness or destitution
Adults without care and support needs may still require support, even if they don’t meet the adult safeguarding threshold.
More information can be found on Derbyshire County Council website following the link:
Safeguarding – Derbyshire Safeguarding Adults Board
5. Types of Abuse (Care Act Categories)
The Elm Foundation recognises the following types of abuse:
Domestic abuse
Physical abuse
Sexual abuse
Emotional/psychological abuse
Financial or material abuse
Neglect or self-neglect
Organisational/Institutional abuse
Discriminatory abuse
Modern slavery
Criminal exploitation
Hate crime
6. Safeguarding Principles (Care Act)
The Elm Foundation follows the six Care Act principles:
Empowerment – adults are supported to make their own decisions
Prevention – early help and intervention
Proportionality – least intrusive option appropriate to the risk
Protection – support and representation for those in need
Partnership – multi-agency responsibility
Accountability – transparency in safeguarding practice
7. Responsibilities
7.1 All Employees, Volunteers, Trustees and Students
Must:
Recognise signs of abuse and neglect
Respond quickly and safely to concerns
Report safeguarding concerns on the same working day
Record accurately and factually on the same working day
Understand Derbyshire safeguarding referral pathways
Attend mandatory safeguarding training
Work in a trauma-informed, anti-oppressive way
Share concerns even if the adult tells employees not to, where there is serious risk
7.2 Trustees and CEO
Provide strategic oversight
Review safeguarding reports
Ensure annual policy reviews
7.3 Designated Safeguarding Leads (DSLs) (Head of Operations/CEO in their absence)
Responsible for:
Internal advice
Supporting with decisions
Liaising with Derbyshire Adult Social Care if needed
Ensuring referrals are timely and accurate
Overseeing safeguarding quality and learning
Monitoring trends and risks
Ensuring safe recording practices
7.4 Managers
Ensure employees follow this policy
Ensure supervision covers safeguarding
Support employees following distressing incidents
Ensure training compliance
Apply safer recruitment practices
8. Mental Capacity and Consent
Before making a safeguarding referral, employees should consider:
8.1 Mental Capacity Act
Does the adult:
Understand the information?
Retain the information?
Weigh up the information?
8.2 Consent to Referral
Seek consent where safe and appropriate.
Consent is NOT required if:
A crime has been committed
Others (including children) are at risk
The adult lacks capacity
The adult is being coerced
Seeking consent increases danger
There is significant public interest
9. Recognising Abuse and Indicators
Concerns may arise due to:
Disclosures (direct or indirect)
Observation of injuries or behaviour
Third-party concerns
Repeated missed appointments
Signs of coercive control or fear
Indicators of neglect or self-neglect
Financial exploitation
Deteriorating mental health
Unsafe environments
Employees must use professional curiosity and avoid assumptions.
10. Making a Safeguarding Referral in Derbyshire
10.1 How to Refer
If an adult is experiencing or at risk of abuse or neglect AND unable to protect themselves:
Submit a safeguarding referral both verbally and electronically to:
Derbyshire Adult Social Care
Online concern form:
Safeguarding adult referrals – Derbyshire Safeguarding Adults Board
Phone: 01629 533190
Information required:
Details of the adult at risk
Nature of concern and evidence
Impact on the adult
Adult’s views / consent if known
Any risks to others
Details of the alleged perpetrator (if known)
Support offered so far
Your details and The Elm Foundation’s involvement
10.2 After Referral
Adult Social Care may:
Undertake a Section 42 Enquiry. (mandates local authorities to conduct inquiries when there is reasonable cause to suspect that an adult is at risk of abuse or neglect)
Offer early help or support
Request additional information
Coordinate a multi-agency meeting
Close the concern with guidance
11. Safeguarding Referrals Outside of Derbyshire
Although The Elm Foundation primarily works within Derbyshire, safeguarding concerns sometimes relate to adults who live outside the county or who move to another area while receiving support. In these cases, safeguarding referrals must be made to the appropriate local authority, in line with Care Act requirements and national guidance.
11.1 When a Referral Outside Derbyshire Is Required
A referral to another local authority must be made when:
a) Helpline or Support Contacts from Outside Derbyshire
If a caller or client:
Lives outside Derbyshire, or
Discloses a safeguarding concern involving an adult at risk located in another area.
Employees must make the safeguarding referral to the local authority responsible for that geographical area.
The Elm Foundation may still provide emotional support, advice and signposting, but statutory safeguarding responsibility lies with the local authority where the adult resides or is currently located.
b) Clients Moving from Derbyshire to Another Area
When a client supported by The Elm Foundation relocates—for example, leaving our refuge to move to a refuge or accommodation in another county—an external safeguarding referral may be required where:
There are ongoing safeguarding concerns.
The adult continues to be at risk.
Multi-agency involvement needs to continue in the new area.
Sharing relevant risk information is necessary for safe transition.
This includes clients fleeing domestic abuse who are moved for safety reasons.
11.2 Why External Referrals Are Necessary
Under the Care Act 2014, safeguarding concerns must be raised with the local authority where the adult is ordinarily resident or currently located.
External referrals ensure:
The adult receives timely protection.
Risks are managed by the correct safeguarding team.
Continuity of support when a client relocates for safety.
Compliance with statutory duties and defensible decision-making.
Multi-agency safeguarding responses are maintained across local authority boundaries.
11.3 Process for Referring Safeguarding Concerns to Another Local Authority
Identify the Correct Safeguarding Team
Use postcode information or the adult’s stated location to determine which local authority is responsible.
Employees should use the government’s online directory or the local authority website for contact details.
Discuss with the line manager or DSL (if required)
The Designated Safeguarding Lead may advise or support employees where there is complexity, uncertainty, cross-border risk, or the need for rapid escalation.
Make the Referral
Follow the external local authority’s referral form or process.
Clarify that The Elm Foundation is based in Derbyshire and is referring due to the adult’s location or relocation.
Record All Actions
Employees must record:
Reason for external referral
Consent status
Local authority contacted
Details provided
Any follow-up needed
Referral confirmation or reference numbers
12. Information Sharing
We will share information:
With consent
Without consent if there is risk of serious harm, crime, or abuse
In line with GDPR, Care Act, Data Protection Act and Caldicott principles
Sharing is lawful when necessary to:
Prevent harm
Protect vulnerable adults
Support a safeguarding enquiry
Reduce risk
13. Recording
Safeguarding records must:
Be factual, accurate and timely
Distinguish between fact, opinion and third-party information
Include decisions and rationale
Include referral reference numbers
Record who was spoken to and the time the referral was made
Upload all referral forms to the client file
Be stored securely and confidentially
Follow UK GDPR principles
14. Multi-Agency Working
The Elm Foundation participates in:
Section 42 enquiries
Strategy meetings
Multi-agency safeguarding meetings
MARAC
MAPPA (where relevant)
Multi-agency case conferences
Professional meetings
We cooperate fully and share relevant information.
15. Allegations Against Employees
Any allegation of abuse or misconduct by an employee, volunteer, trustee or student must be reported immediately to:
A Designated Safeguarding Lead
The CEO
Line manager
The Chair of Trustees (if allegation concerns senior leadership)
Adult Social Care procedures will be followed.
Disciplinary processes may run alongside safeguarding enquiries.
16. Training Requirements
All employees must complete:
Adult safeguarding training (refresher every 2 years minimum)
DASH risk assessment (MARAC)
Additional training for specialist roles will be provided.
17. Escalation Procedure
If employees disagree with another agency’s safeguarding decision, they must:
Escalate internally to the Designated Safeguarding Lead and Service Manager
This ensures adults are not left at risk due to disagreement. The DSL will decide how to challenge the decision.
 
18. Learning & Review
The Elm Foundation:
Reviews all safeguarding incidents
Identifies themes and improvements
Updates procedures accordingly
Contributes to Safeguarding Adults Reviews (SARs)
Shares learning with employees
19. Policy Review
This policy will be reviewed:
Every 12 months, or
After major safeguarding incidents
After changes in DSAB policy or national legislation