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RIASS Redbridge
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Safeguarding Vulnerable Adults Policy

RIASS believes that no one should ever experience abuse of any kind. We have a responsibility to promote the welfare of all people that come into contact with our service and to keep them safe. We are committed to practice in a way that protects them.

The purpose of this policy is:

  • To protect young people and adults who receive RIASS services. This includes the peers of adults who use the service.
  • To provide staff and volunteers with the overarching principles that guides our approach to safeguarding.

Legal Framework

This policy has been drawn up on the foundation of law and guidance that seeks to protect adults.

RIASS Safeguarding policy is incorporated from LONDON MULTI-AGENCY ADULT SAFEGUARDING POLICY & PROCEDURES which the service adheres to.

Abuse

Anyone can carry out abuse or neglect, including:

  • Spouses/partners
  • Other family members
  • Neighbours 
  • Friends
  • Acquaintances
  • Local residents
  • People who deliberately exploit adults they perceive as vulnerable to abuse
  • Paid staff or professionals
  • Volunteers and strangers.

Abuse can happen anywhere, for example, in someone’s own home, in a public place, in hospital, in a care home or in college. It can take place when an adult lives alone or with others.

Types of Abuse

Disability Hate Crime

The Criminal Justice System defines a disability hate crime as any criminal offence, which is perceived, by the victim or any other person, to be motivated by hostility or prejudice based on a person’s disability or perceived disability.

Discriminatory Abuse

Discrimination on the grounds of race, faith or religion, age, disability, gender, sexual orientation and political views, along with racist, sexist, homophobic or ageist comments or jokes, or comments and jokes based on a person’s disability or any other form of harassment, slur or similar treatment.

Domestic Abuse

Any incident or pattern of incidents of controlling, coercive or threatening behaviour, violence or abuse between those aged 16 or over, who are or have been intimate partners or family members regardless of gender or sexuality.

Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)

Involves procedures that intentionally alter or injure female genital organs for non-medical reasons.

Financial or Material Abuse

Theft, fraud, internet scamming, coercion in relation to an adult’s financial affairs or arrangements, including in connection with wills, property, inheritance or financial transactions, or the misuse or misappropriation of property, possessions or benefits.

Forced Marriage

Is a term used to describe a marriage in which one or both of the parties are married without their consent or against their will.

Honour-based Violence

Honour-based violence includes domestic violence, concerns about forced marriage, enforced house arrest and missing person’s reports. Women are predominantly (but not exclusively) the victims and the violence is often committed with a degree of collusion from family members and/or the community.

Human Trafficking

It is run like a business with the supply of people and services to a customer, all for the purpose of making a profit. Traffickers exploit the social, cultural or financial vulnerability of the victim and place huge financial and ethical obligations on them. They control almost every aspect of the victim’s life, with little regard for the victim’s welfare and health.

Mate Crime

A ‘mate crime’ is when a vulnerable people are befriended by members of the community who go on to exploit and take advantage of them. It may not be an illegal act but still has a negative effect on the individual.

Modern Slavery

Slavery, servitude and forced or compulsory labour.

Neglect and Acts of Omission

Ignoring medical, emotional or physical care needs, failure to provide access to appropriate health, social care or educational services, and the withholding of the necessities of life such as medication, adequate nutrition and heating. Neglect also includes a failure to intervene in situations that are dangerous to the person concerned or to others particularly when the person lacks the mental capacity to assess risk for themselves.

Organisational Abuse

Is the mistreatment, abuse or neglect of an adult by a regime or individuals in a setting or service where the adult lives or that they use. Such abuse violates the person’s dignity and represents a lack of respect for their human rights.

Physical Abuse

Assault, hitting, slapping, pushing, misuse of medication, restraint or inappropriate physical sanctions

Psychological Abuse

Emotional abuse, threats of harm or abandonment, deprivation of contact, humiliation, blaming, controlling, intimidation, coercion, harassment, verbal abuse, cyber bullying, isolation or unreasonable and unjustified withdrawal of services or supportive networks.

Restraint

Unlawful or inappropriate use of restraint or physical interventions. In extreme circumstances unlawful or inappropriate use of restrain.

Sexual Abuse

Rape, indecent exposure, sexual harassment, inappropriate looking or touching, sexual teasing or innuendo, sexual photography, subjection to pornography or witnessing sexual acts, indecent exposure and sexual assault or sexual acts to which the adult has not consented or was pressured into consenting.

Sexual Exploitation

Involves exploitative situations, contexts and relationships where adults at risk (or a third person or persons) receive 'something' (e.g. food, accommodation, drugs, alcohol, cigarettes, affection, gifts, money) as a result of them performing, and/or another or others performing on them, sexual activities.

Radicalisation

Radicalisation is comparable to other forms of exploitation, such as grooming and child sexual exploitation. The aim of radicalisation is to attract people to their reasoning, inspire new recruits and embed their extreme views and persuade vulnerable individuals of the legitimacy of their cause. 

Colluding

While RIASS is an independent service working at an arm’s length from the local authority, we do not abide colluding with the people who are accessing the service. 

We have a duty to raise concerns to the appropriate agencies and although we can offer Information, Advice and Support in regard to these agencies, we are independent and will stay within the services policy and procedures on reporting our concerns and raising safe guarding issues.

Reporting

If you are the victim of abuse, or you know someone who you think is being or has been abused, then it is really important to seek help.

Who can I speak to / what shall I do?

  • If you are being abused, tell someone you trust
  • If you have concerns about someone, find out what you can do to help
  • If you are caring for someone in difficult circumstances, get help early from social services or a carers organisation
  • Report your concerns as early as possible.

Report concerns to Redbridge Health and Adult Social Services on 020 8708 7333 (Monday to Friday 9.00am to 5.00pm) or 020 8554 5000 (Monday to Friday 8.30am to 6.00pm). adults.alert@redbridge.gov.uk

Report any concerns about a crime to the police on 101. In an emergency call 999  RedbridgePolice-JI@met.police.uk

The terms of this policy may change. This statement was last reviwed August 2024 and is due for review August 2025