Safeguarding at No1 Healthcare Private Carers

Our Commitment to Safeguarding

Safeguarding and adult support and protection refer to the proactive measures we take to protect adults at risk from harm, abuse, or neglect and promote their well-being. This encompasses physical, emotional, sexual, and financial abuse, as well as neglect, discrimination, and any other forms of mistreatment.

An 'adult at risk' is an adult who has care and support needs and therefore has limited ability or is unable to protect themselves. At No1 Healthcare Private Carers, we use the term 'Care Recipient' to refer to adults with care and support needs for whom we are facilitating care.

Categories of Abuse

It's crucial to be aware of the different forms abuse can take:

• Physical: This includes hitting, slapping, kicking, or any act that may cause physical symptoms (e.g., misuse of medication, inappropriate restraint, poor moving and handling techniques).
• Financial or Material: Such as theft, fraud, internet scamming, or mismanagement of a person’s financial affairs.
• Sexual: This does not have to involve sexual contact; it includes displaying pornographic images, forcing a person to witness sexual acts/videos, or any sexual act to which an individual has not consented.
• Discriminatory: Racism, sexism, ageism, homophobia, or hate crimes.
• Organisational: Poor care practice, such as consistently low staffing levels or rigid routines benefiting the organization rather than the individuals receiving care.
• Neglect and Acts of Omission: Failing to provide or allow access to appropriate health, education, or social care or treatment. Neglect can be intentional or unintentional.
• Psychological: Including threats, harassment, intimidation, or cyber bullying.
• Domestic Violence or Abuse: Any incident or pattern of incidents of controlling, coercive, or threatening behavior, violence, or abuse between those aged 16 or over who are, or have been, intimate partners or family members.
• Self-Neglect: A wide range of behaviors where an individual neglects to care for their own needs, health, or surroundings, including hoarding.
• Modern Slavery: Encompasses forced labor, human trafficking, domestic servitude, and forcing individuals into criminal activity.

What to Do If You Have Concerns

We understand that safeguarding concerns can arise. It is important to us that families and carers know what steps to take if they have concerns.

If you believe a Care Recipient is in imminent danger, please contact emergency services by dialing 999 immediately.

Social Services

‍If you have a safeguarding concern, we recommend reporting it to the relevant local authority. To identify the appropriate local authority, please visit the official government website for local councils and enter the Care Recipient’s postcode.

The Police

‍If you believe a criminal offense has occurred, such as theft, assault, or gross neglect, it is crucial you escalate your concerns promptly to the police. Where the adult is at significant or imminent risk of harm, contact the police via 999. If you are escalating in retrospect, please contact the police via 101.

Reporting Concerns to No1 Healthcare Private Carers

‍If you suspect or become aware of abuse, neglect, or harm, please contact No1 Healthcare Private Carers immediately via email or phone. Our team actively monitors communications within business hours. All concerns are reviewed by our Designated Safeguarding Lead, who will work with you and cooperate with any third parties as required. We take safety and quality very seriously and aim to address serious concerns promptly.

Where concerns relate to the conduct of a self-employed carer we have introduced, we will follow our rigorous safeguarding and quality assurance procedures. The safety and integrity of the care we facilitate is underpinned by stringent vetting criteria for all carers. Our Integrated Governance Committee meets regularly to review safeguarding concerns actioned by our Designated Safeguarding Lead.