Downton Link Safeguarding

TELEPHONE:    01725 513807                                                                      EMAIL:   info@downtonlink.org.uk

Safeguarding Policy & Procedures

What is safeguarding?

Safeguarding means protecting a person’s right to live in safety, free from abuse and neglect. It applies when an adult or child:

• has needs for care and support
• is experiencing, or is at risk of, abuse or neglect, and
• as a result of those needs is unable to protect himself or herself against the abuse or neglect or the risk of it

Effective safeguarding involves organisations working together to prevent the risks and experience of abuse or neglect, while ensuring that the views and wishes of an individual are at the heart of decisions that affect them wherever it’s possible.

In our work with adults and children who may be at risk due to age, illness or disability, Downton Link (DL) will endeavour at all times to provide a service which minimises risk and is as safe as we can make it.

Guiding Principles

Everyone’s responsibility – Everyone at DL has a responsibility to keep adults who need care and support safe from abuse and neglect.

Prevention – We will put sensible measures in place to prevent abuse, including the use of safe recruitment practices, promoting safe working practice and raising awareness of safeguarding.

Protection – We will provide policy, procedures, information and training to enable all DL volunteers to identify and respond appropriately to concerns about abuse.

Partnership – DL will work in partnership with statutory, regulatory and other relevant

 organisations to ensure that safeguarding concerns are responded to appropriately.

Empowerment – We will be person-centred and uphold rights in our safeguarding work.

Accountability – We aim to be transparent in our approaches and recognise the need for continuous learning and improvement.

Roles and Responsibilities

All Volunteers

Every individual working for DL, irrespective of their role, has a part to play in safeguarding adults who need care and support. All volunteers will be recruited using appropriate procedures, safeguards and checks. They will undertake training and must familiarise themselves with our Safeguarding Policy and Procedures so that they are alert to potential indicators of abuse or neglect and know how to respond appropriately if they have concerns.

Trustees

DL Trustees approve the Safeguarding Policy and have a duty of care to their charity, which includes taking the necessary steps to safeguard those at risk from abuse, managing risk and protecting the reputation of the charity.

Safeguarding Officer

The Safeguarding Officer (SO) is the Designated Person for Safeguarding at DL. They are responsible for developing safeguarding activity and supporting best practice.

Phil Rogers is the appointed Safeguarding Officer.  He will be available to speak to all volunteers and service users when they have any concerns, issues or complaints regarding the safety, well-being or conduct of service users or volunteers.

The Safeguarding Officer will have access to appropriate training to support them in this role. He  will liaise with appropriate local agencies if necessary, contribute to appropriate policies, maintain records and keep confidentiality, adhere to and promote this policy within the organisation, and provide access to support for individuals if necessary.

Breaches of Policy

Failure to comply with the DL safeguarding policy may be managed in a number of ways, depending on the nature and consequences of any incident.  In some cases, a combination of responses may be required.

• Local authority co-ordinated safeguarding investigation
• Police investigation
• Referral to the Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS)
• Serious incident reporting to The Charity Commission
• Internal review or co-operation with an external review

Equality Statement

DL is committed to providing services which embrace diversity and promote equality of opportunity. Everyone who accesses our service or volunteers for us should be safe, empowered to play a part in promoting their own welfare and that of others and able to live a life free from abuse. This applies to all, regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, disability, sexuality or belief.

Guidance and Procedures for Adult Safeguarding

If you have concerns about an adult because of something you have seen or heard, or because they disclose something to you:

• Do not promise confidentiality, you have a duty to share this information and refer to Adult Social Care Services.
• Listen to what is being said, without displaying shock or disbelief.
• Accept what is said.
• Reassure them, but only as far as is honest. Don’t make promises you may not be able to keep e.g.: ‘Everything will be alright now’, ‘You’ll never have to see that person again’.
• Do reassure and alleviate guilt, if they refer to it.   For example, you could say, ‘You’re not to blame’.
• Do not ask leading questions (e.g.: Did he touch your private parts?), ask open questions such as ‘Anything else to tell me?’, it is not your responsibility to investigate.
• Do not ask them to repeat the information for another volunteer.
• Explain what you have to do next and who you have to talk to.
• Take notes if possible or write up your conversation as soon as possible afterwards.
• Record the date, time, place any non-verbal behaviour and the words used by the person (do not paraphrase).
• Record statements and observable things rather than interpretations or assumptions.

Report any concerns to the Safeguarding Officer / Chairman, who will complete a Client Safeguarding Incident Report (see Appendix 2 attached).

Handling of Safeguarding Concerns

In the first instance the Safeguarding Officer will refer to the Investigation Officer (Wiltshire CC Safeguarding Team) as soon as possible on 01380 826516 or 07471 187561.  If the Investigating Officer considers further action is necessary, the SO will follow his guidance. See Process Chart below.

If the SO is concerned about the vulnerable adult they should contact the social care team:     

Telephone: 0300 456 0111

              Email: customeradvisors@wiltshire.gov.uk

              Monday to Thursday: 08:30 – 17:20 Friday: 08:30 – 16:20

If urgent help or advice is needed outside of these hours, the telephone number is 0845 607 0888

In the event of a crime the SO will contact Wiltshire Police by calling 101. 

In an emergency always dial 999.

The SO will be asked to provide as much information as possible, such as the client’s full name, address, languages spoken, any disabilities they may have, and in the case of a child, details of the parents.   Do not be concerned if all these details are not available, the call should still be made to the Investigating Officer.

The SO will be given guidance by the Investigating Officer and will follow up as appropriate.

Confidentiality and consent

DL accepts the principle that only those with a need to know should be made aware of safeguarding concerns or other confidential information. All volunteers are expected to share confidential information appropriately and to ensure that written records and verbal information are shared responsibly and stored securely.

Consent: DL accepts that all people have a right to make their own views and wishes known and that these wishes should be followed wherever possible.

Adults have the right to make their own decisions about their lives. Consent should be sought from an adult before information is shared about them. Where an adult withholds consent for a safeguarding concern to be shared with statutory authorities (police and local authority), this should be accepted except where there may be others at risk (e.g. if the abuse or neglect is happening in a care home or hospital or the abuser has access to other adults at risk or children) or where there is reason to doubt that the individual has capacity to make that decision or where there is imminent risk of serious harm. Advice should be sought from statutory services (Adult Social Care or Police) where there is any doubt as to whether a concern should be referred.

Record Keeping

Records of all safeguarding concerns will be kept by DL. They will keep a record of the initial concern and all actions taken. The records will be securely held by the Safeguarding Officer at their home address.  All those involved with any safeguarding concern must ensure that they provide to the Safeguarding Officer any records related to that case for secure storage.

DL does not have access to secure email systems so great care should be taken where email is used to ensure that confidential information is not open to being accessed by unauthorised individuals.  Individuals’ confidential information should not be communicated via email (e.g. information should not make the individual identifiable by name, address etc.).

Records must be maintained of volunteer Safeguarding training. These will be maintained by the Safeguarding Officer.

SO / Chairman completes Client Safeguarding Incident Report Form

Volunteer has concerns about a client’s welfare

Volunteer reports concerns to SO/ Chairman

Concerns require further safeguarding action

Concerns do not require further safeguarding action

In case of emergency call police. In other cases, refer matter to Investigation Officer and follow their guidance

No further safeguarding action, although may consider other agencies which could offer support

Social work team decide on next course of action.

Process Chart – Handling Safeguarding Concern

Allegations Involving a Volunteer

DL is committed to having effective recruitment procedures, including checking all volunteers to make sure they are safe to work with vulnerable adults.  However, there may still be occasions when there is an allegation against a volunteer.  All allegations of abuse must be taken seriously.  

The following procedure should be applied in all situations where it is alleged that a volunteer has:

• Behaved in a way which has harmed a client, or may have harmed a client;
• Possibly committed a criminal offence against or related to a client;
• Behaved towards a client in a way which indicates that he/she is unsuitable to work for DL

The matter must be referred to the Safeguarding Officer / Chairman.  They may require further details of the allegation and the circumstances in which it was made.   The discussion should also consider whether there is evidence / information that establishes that the allegation is false or unfounded, and / or whether an internal review is appropriate.

Some allegations may be so serious as to require immediate referral to Social Services or the Police, but common sense and judgement must be applied in reaching a decision about what action to take.

It is important to ensure that even apparently less serious allegations are followed up and examined objectively and referred to the appropriate authority if necessary.

Appendices:

1.          Potential Abuse Examples and Indicators for Safeguarding Cases

2.          Client Safeguarding Incident Report Form

Version Record

Version No	Date	Comments:
1.0	15 November 2025	PR undertakes Safeguarding training
1.1	20 November 2025	Drafted by PR / DS
1.2	20th May 2026	Approved by Committee

Potential Abuse Examples and Indicators for Safeguarding Cases

Type of Harm	Definition	Examples	Indicators
Physical   Adults and Children	Non-accidental harm to the body. From careless rough handling to direct physical violence. Unlawful or inappropriate use of restraint or physical interventions.	Hitting, slapping, pinching, shaking, pushing, scalding, burning, dragging, kicking, physical restraint, locking an individual in a room or a car.	History of unexplained falls or minor injuries, bruising which is characteristic of non-accidental injury – hand slap marks, pinch marks, grip marks, bite marks, scalds, flinching, reluctant to undress.
Sexual   Adults and Children	Direct or indirect involvement in sexual activity without capacity and/or consent. Individual did not fully understand or was pressured into consenting.   Note: A child under 16 years old can never consent to any sexual act	Coercion to be involved in the making or watching of pornographic material.  Coercion to touch e.g. of breasts, genitals, anus, mouth, masturbation of either self or others, penetration or attempted penetration of vagina, anus, mouth with or by penis, fingers and or other objects	Pregnancy in a woman unable to give consent, difficulty in walking or sitting with no apparent explanation, torn, stained or bloody underclothes or bedding, Bleeding, bruising to the rectal and/or vaginal area, bruising. Behavioural changes, sexually explicit behaviour, explicit language, self-harm, obsession with washing, fear of pregnancy may be exaggerated
Emotional   Adults and Children	Behaviour which has a harmful effect on an individual’s emotional well-being or development, causing mental distress undermining their self-esteem and affecting individual’s quality of life. Wilful infliction of mental suffering by a person in a position of trust and power.	Shouting, coercion, bullying, blaming, insulting, ignoring, threats of harm or abandonment, intimidation, harassment, humiliation, depriving an individual of the right to choice and their privacy, dignity, self -expression, deprivation of contact, undermining self-esteem, isolation and over-dependence. Failure to provide a loving environment for a child.	Loss of interest, withdrawn, anxious or depressed, frightened, avoiding eye contact, irritable, aggressive or challenging behaviour, unexplained sleep disturbance, self-harm, refusing to eat, deliberate soiling, unusual weight gain or loss
Neglect   Adults and Children	Failure of any person who has responsibility for the charge, care or custody of an adult at risk or child to provide the amount and type of care or treatment that a responsible person could be expected to provide.	Fail to meet basic needs including food, environment, access to health care and education, failure to provide for social needs.	Unwashed/ dirty appearance, clothes too small/big, untreated sores or infections, isolation.
Financial   Adults	The unauthorised taking (theft), deprivation or misuse of any money, income, assets, funds, personal belongings or property or any resources of an adult at risk without their informed consent or authorisation.	Misuse of Power of Attorney or appointeeship. Money and possessions stolen, misuse or misappropriating money, valuables or property, possessions or benefits, undue pressure in connection with wills, property, inheritance or financial transactions, denying the adult at risk the right to access funds, unauthorised disposal of property or possessions, being asked to part with money on false pretences.	Unexplained or sudden inability to pay bills, Power of Attorney obtained and misused when a person lacks or does not lack mental capacity to understand, unexplained withdrawal of money with no benefits, person lacking goods or services that they can afford, extortionate demands for payments for services
Organisational Adults	Involves the collective failure of an organisation to provide safe, appropriate and acceptable standards of service to adults at risk.   Mainly relates to health and social care provision.	Lack of individualised care, inappropriate confinement or restriction, sensory deprivation, inappropriate use of rules, custom and practice	Whistle blowing policy not in place and accessible, insufficient employees training and development. Organisational standards not meeting those laid down by regulatory bodies, service users not treated with dignity and respect, diverse needs not recognized and valued in terms of age, gender, disability, ethnic origin, race or sexual orientation, services not flexible
Discriminatory Adults	Exists when values, beliefs or culture result in a misuse of power that denies opportunity to some groups or individuals.	Verbal abuse, harassment or similar treatment, unequal treatment, deliberate exclusion from services such as education, health, justice and access to services and protection, harmful or derisive attitudes, inappropriate use of language	Repeated exclusion from rights afforded to citizens such as health, education, employment and criminal justice
Modern Slavery	Encompasses slavery, human trafficking, forced labour and domestic servitude. Traffickers and slave masters use whatever means they have at their disposal to coerce, deceive and force individuals into a life of abuse, servitude and inhumane treatment.	Adult or Child trafficked into UK or between places in UK for purpose of sexual abuse or labour. Adult or Child forced to work as domestic servant. Adult or child forced to work as sex worker, farm labourer, car cleaner.	Person may look uneasy, unkempt or malnourished. Possible untreated injuries. Live in poor conditions. They may not speak for themselves and are always accompanied and never left alone. They may not have access to or contact with friends/ family. May be picked up and dropped off at different locations at odd times. May have no access to funds and someone else pays for travel. May not be able to tell you their own address. Individual may not have their passport or Identity documents.
Self-Neglect	A wide range of behaviour involving neglecting to care for one’s personal hygiene, health or surroundings and includes behaviour such as hoarding.	May not react to or appropriately fulfil needs for health care, food, warmth. May live in an environment that is an environmental or fire risk and not take any measure to reduce risk or inadequate measures.	Environment which is poorly maintained, dirty, animal infested, cramped to the degree that it places the individual’s wellbeing at risk. May have untreated or inadequately treated physical health issues.
Domestic Violence	Incident or pattern of incidents of controlling, coercive or threatening behaviour, violence or abuse by someone who is or has been an intimate partner or family member regardless of gender or sexuality. Age range 16+.	Includes: psychological, physical, sexual, financial, emotional abuse; so called ‘honour’ based violence; Female Genital Mutilation; forced marriage.	Appears to be afraid of partner, of making own choices. Behaves as though they deserve to be hurt or mistreated. Low self-esteem or appears to be withdrawn. Appears unable or unwilling to leave perpetrator. Makes excuses for or condones the behaviour of the person alleged to have caused harm. Blames abuse on themselves.

CLIENT SAFEGUARDING INCIDENT REPORT
VOLUNTEER NAME
DATE OF INCIDENT
TIME OF INCIDENT (if appropriate):
CLIENT’S FULL NAME:
CLIENT’S ADDRESS:
CLIENT’S TEL NO:
DISABILITIES:
CONSENT GIVEN BY CLIENT:
CAPACITY:
LANGUAGES SPOKEN (if appropriate):
DETAILS OF INCIDENT:
DATE REPORTED TO SO:
ACTION TAKEN/REFERRAL TO IO:
SIGNED:
PRINT NAME:
DATE: