This document provides an overview of roles and responsibilities regarding safeguarding vulnerable adults. It defines who is a vulnerable adult, outlines types of abuse, and explains how to respond to suspicions or incidents of abuse by alerting the designated referrer, ensuring safety, and documenting the situation. Key responsibilities include reporting concerns immediately, keeping information confidential except what is necessary to ensure protection, and knowing policies and procedures for safeguarding vulnerable adults.

1. Safeguarding Vulnerable Adults
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2. Aim of the Session
To provide participants with an overview of
your roles and responsibilities, regarding the
safeguarding of vulnerable adults.
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3. Learning Outcomes
At the end of this session you should be able to:
 Know who is a vulnerable adult.
 Be aware of the Nottingham(shire) Safeguarding Adults Multi-
Agency Policy, Procedure and Guidance.
 Explore various legislation and guidance that impact on the
vulnerable adult
 Recognise your individual responsibilities regarding the
Safeguarding of Adults.
 Respond appropriately to incidents or suspicions of abuse.
 Have an awareness of some of the practical issues and challenges in
Safeguarding Adults.
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4. Legislation and Guidance
 No Secrets (2000)
 Nottinghamshire Safeguarding Adults Policy (Revised 2010)
 Mental Capacity Act 2005
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5. Mental Capacity Act 2005
 Always assume a person has capacity unless it is proven
otherwise
 Make practical steps to support people to make their own
decisions
 Do not assume incapacity simply because someone makes
an unwise decision
 Always act or decide for a person for their best interests
 Ensure least restrictive option
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6. Who is a vulnerable adult?
As defined by No Secrets (DH 2000)
“A person aged 18 years or over who is or maybe in
need of community care services by reason of mental
or other disability, age or illness;
AND
Who is or maybe unable to take care of him or
herself, or unable to protect him or herself against
significant harm or exploitation”
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7. What is Abuse?
Abuse is the violation of an individuals human
and civil rights by any other person or persons
(DH 2000)
Abuse may consist of a single act or repeated
acts
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8. Proactive Principles in Practice
Principle 1 Empowerment
Principle 2 Protection
Principle 3 Prevention
Principle 4 Proportionality
Principle 5 Partnerships
Principle 6 Accountability
(The Role of Health Service Practitioners
DH 2011)
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9. Financial or Material
Includes;
Theft
Fraud
Misappropriating funds
Eg........
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10. Discriminatory Abuse
Includes;
 Psychological abuse that is racist, sexist
or linked to a persons sexuality, disability
or age.
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11. Neglect
Includes;
A persons wellbeing is
impaired and care needs not
met
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12. Physical
Includes;
 Assault, rough
handling, unreasonable physical
restraint
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13. Psychological/Emotional
Includes;
Bullying
Intimidation
Verbal attacks
Or other behaviour that effects the
wellbeing of the individual
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14. Sexual & Sexual Exploitation
Includes;
Any non-consenting sexual act or
behaviour
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15. Institutional Abuse
Observed lack of dignity and respect in the care
setting, rigid routine, processes/tasks
organised to meet staff needs.
Disrespectful language and attitudes.
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16. Who is an Alerter?
 Any Member of Staff who is informed,
or has concerns that abuse or neglect
has occurred or is suspected.
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17. Disclosure
You are working with a male patient when he
suddenly says to you, “ You know that other
nurse, she keeps touching me every time she
comes to see me. I don’t like it and I want it to
stop.”
a)How will you react?
b)What will you do or say?
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18. Hearing disclosure
Some simple rules:
Listen to what is being said
Watch for non-verbal clues
Do not react/interrupt/make
comments
Do not question in depth
Record as soon as possible
Feel comfortable with silences
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19. Hearing disclosure -
Don’ts
 Laugh or Joke about what has been said
 Ignore or Dismiss what you have heard
 Change the subject
 Don’t make promises you cannot keep
Don’t say things like:
‘Don’t be stupid’ ‘That’s ridiculous’ ‘Come off it’
‘She wouldn’t do that’ ‘Stop messing’ ‘You’re joking’
‘Pull the other one’
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20. Role of the Alerter
To share the information with the
person within their team or
organisation responsible for referring
(& their line manager if this is a
different person)
REFERRAL TRAINING??
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21. Responsibilities
Responsibilities?
To ensure immediate safety/welfare
To take allegations seriously
Record information
Staff and volunteers must urgently report
concerns to the Referrer
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22. Timescale
IMMEDIATE
All suspicions or incidents of abuse must be
reported immediately, do not think someone
else will do it.
Better to have 2 reports than none at all.
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23. You are informed or have
concerns that abuse or neglect has occurred
or is suspected
Ensure the immediate safety and welfare of the
Vulnerable Adult
Is urgent Medical Is urgent Police
attention required? presence required?
Yes Yes
No Contact the relevant No
emergency services 999
Alert the person who is identified as the referrer
for your team
Keep a careful record of the
concerns and your actions
(From the Nottingham(shire)
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Safeguarding Adults Multi Agency
Procedure Page 9)

24. Duty to Report
 “All staff have a duty to report suspicions or disclosures of abuse
and failure to do so is a failure in their duty of care.
 However difficult it may seem, staff must make known their
concerns about abuse”
• When you have the information, make a referral by contacting
either:
• City Adult Health, Social Care and Housing Department on 0115 915
1298 or 0115 915 8885.
• County Adult Social Care and Health Department on 08449 80 80 80.
(Nottingham(shire) Safeguarding Adults Policy, Procedure & Guidance – (Pg
10)
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25. Key principles - Confidentiality
The key principles relating to the sharing of information are:
 Information should not be shared any more widely than is
necessary to secure protection of vulnerable adults from
abuse.
 Information disclosed belongs to the agency not to the
individual. Any suspicion or allegation of abuse must be
shared with the referrer and your line manager (if a different
person).
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26. Your Responsibilities
 If you have heard or seen something that makes you
concerned about the welfare of an adult you must take action
 Because of this never agree to keep things secret
 Alert your designated referrer of your concerns
 Clearly document what you have seen and/or heard
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27. Proactive Principles in Practice
Principle 1 Empowerment
Principle 2 Protection
Principle 3 Prevention
Principle 4 Proportionality
Principle 5 Partnerships
Principle 6 Accountability
(The Role of Health Service Practitioners
DH 2011)
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