Safeguarding policy

Sometimes we come across adults and children who need safeguarding. They could be customers, employees, or people we engage with in either a paid or unpaid capacity. We are committed to ensuring the safety and wellbeing of all individuals who interact with our services.

From time to time we may engage with adults and children – defined as individuals under the age of 18 – who are at risk. They may bring complaints about a financial businesses to us.  

But we don't engage in any regular activity with:

• adults who have care and support needs, or
• young people who are regulated by domestic safeguarding legislation.

We take seriously our obligation to act appropriately to any allegations, reports or suspicions of abuse and won't tolerate abuse in any form.

Under the Human Rights Act 1998, everyone has the right to live free from abuse and neglect.

However, some people may find it hard to get the help and support they need to stop abuse. An adult may be unable to protect themselves from harm or exploitation because of:

• mental or physical incapacity
• sensory loss
• frailty or illness
• a physical or learning disability
• an accident or addiction.

Our safeguarding policy and procedures help us prevent abuse and guide us if we're concerned about someone's safety. We are committed to working to:

• stopping abuse or neglect wherever possible
• promoting the wellbeing of the adults with care and support needs and children and adults with safeguarding arrangements
• safeguarding adults and young people in a way that supports them to make choices and control how they want to live
• promoting an approach that helps to improve life for the adults and children concerned
• raising awareness of safeguarding adults and children to ensure that everyone can play their part in preventing, identifying and responding to abuse and neglect
• increasing understanding among our employees of the risks involved with safeguarding
• providing accessible information and support to help people understand the different types of abuse, how to stay safe and how to raise a concern about the safety or wellbeing of an adult or young person, and
• ensuring safeguarding concerns are addressed promptly and through the appropriate channels.

This policy is based on The Care Act 2014 and the Care and Support statutory guidance and London Safeguarding Adults policy and associated procedures.

A child at risk is any individual aged under 18.

An adult at risk is defined as any individual aged over 18 who:

• has needs for care and support, and
• is experiencing, or is at risk of, abuse or neglect, and
• as a result of those care and support needs is unable to protect themselves from either the risk of, or the experience of abuse or neglect.

Abuse and neglect can be:

• deliberate or unknowing
• a single act or repeated acts
• physical, domestic, sexual, psychological or emotional
• related to radicalisation
• financial or material
• discriminatory
• organisational or institutional
• self-inflicted.

We have named safeguarding leads, who are responsible for deciding whether to notify adult social services or considering alternative actions, where necessary.

Our safeguarding leads make sure that:

• we follow our safeguarding policies and procedures correctly
• we promote a safe environment for our employees and consumers
• they are always up to date with their safeguarding training.

We're committed to maintaining confidentiality wherever possible. So, we will only share information about safeguarding with those who need to know.

We will keep any recorded information secure and comply with the Data Protection Act 2018 and General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR). 

See our confidential information and data protection policy. 

If we think an adult is at risk of immediate harm, we will share  information with the appropriate authorities. Sharing the right information, at the right time with the right people, can make all the difference to preventing harm.

See guidance on sharing information and safeguarding on the Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE) website.

We recognise our duty to act on reports – or suspicions – of abuse and neglect. If one of our employees witnesses or hears about abuse, we will:

• reassure and listen to the person concerned
• record what we've been told or have witnessed as soon as possible
• reassure the person involved that the information will be treated seriously
• inform the appropriate safeguarding lead.

Where necessary, we will also:

• call an ambulance or arrange a welfare visit
• call the police if we think a crime has been committed
• make a referral to the individual’s local social services team or – if children are involved – to the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC)
• explain the safeguarding process to the person concerned and offer them appropriate support.

We recognise that issues surrounding complaints can be stressful and upsetting. We’re here to support our customers through the complaint process as best we can.

Our staff are committed to treating everyone with kindness and respect. We also ask this of our customers. We won’t tolerate abusive or threatening behaviour and we reserve the right to report it to the police. We have internal policies in place to protect and support our staff, including safeguarding our people.

• Care act
• London Safeguarding adults policy and procedures
• Carer and support statutory guidance
• Prevent (against radicalisation)
• Prevent in Tower Hamlets
• Information sharing
• Coventry City Council Safeguarding Adults information
• NSPCC​