u3a

Great Glen Oadby & Wigston

Safeguarding Policy and Procedure

Safeguarding Policy and Procedure for Great Glen Oadby & Wigston u3a

1. Statement

Great Glen Oadby & Wigston u3a is a learning co-operative and membership charity which enables members in their third age to share educational, creative and leisure activities. Members of each u3a draw upon their knowledge, skills and experience to teach and learn from each other (peer to peer learning).

2. Aims of Policy

It is not appropriate for Great Glen Oadby & Wigston u3a to take the lead role in any Safeguarding Enquiry under Section 42 of the Care Act 2014. Great Glen Oadby & Wigston u3a committee has a duty of care to its members but does not hold any statutory authority. Where there are serious concerns regarding abuse or neglect Great Glen Oadby & Wigston u3a committee will seek advice and support from the Trust, where possible, and will contact the relevant statutory authorities, as needed.

This Policy is written to enable the Committee to address issues where there are safeguarding concerns. Safeguarding includes incidents between members, concerns regarding abuse or neglect that a u3a member may be experiencing outside of the u3a, health related issues or previous or pending criminal convictions.

Great Glen Oadby & Wigston recognises that some people are potentially at risk of abuse and neglect. Abuse and neglect can take place in a person’s own home, in the home of a carer, family member or friend, and within any form of institution e.g. hospitals, residential care or nursing home. Where abuse or neglect is suspected Great Glen Oadby & Wigston u3a will aim to respond in a prompt and efficient manner to any situation where there is evidence of risk of or perceived risk of harm.

Great Glen Oadby & Wigston u3a recognises that there are various forms of abuse which can be perpetrated by volunteers, members, relatives, friends and neighbours. Great Glen Oadby & Wigston u3a will neither condone nor tolerate any form of abuse or neglect and believes that all people should be able and, where necessary, enabled to live in an environment which is safe and free from harm.

In following the safeguarding procedure Great Glen Oadby & Wigston u3a will strive to uphold the principles that those involved in incidents are entitled to:

  • privacy
  • be treated with dignity and respect
  • lead an independent life and to be enabled to do so
  • choose how they live their lives
  • the protection of the law
  • have their human and civil rights upheld regardless of ethnic origin, gender, sexuality, impairment or disability, age, religious or cultural background.

Great Glen Oadby & Wigston u3a will also follow the principles enshrined within the Care Act 2014: (Updated 2024)

  • Principle 1 – Empowerment – whereby the approach is focused on the individual making their own decision and gaining informed consent, where possible.
  • Principle 2 – Prevention – seeking to take steps to prevent issues from arising or escalating.
  • Principle 3 – Proportionality – responding in a proportionate way to the issue/s being presented.
  • Principle 4 – Protection – seeking to keep the membership safe and protection for those deemed to be at risk.
  • Principle 5 – Partnership – reporting incidents to the relevant statutory bodies and liaising with the Trust.
  • Principle 6 – Accountability – accurate recording of incidents. Reporting incidents, as required, to the Trust and relevant regulatory authorities.

3. Practical steps towards Safeguarding

  • Great Glen Oadby & Wigston u3a recognises that it has a responsibility to ensure that its committee members and group leaders understand their safeguarding responsibilities.
  • Depending on the nature of the allegation and the identified risk, Great Glen Oadby & Wigston u3a will support the alleged victims and the alleged perpetrators of any abuse as well as any volunteer who becomes aware of the abuse in so far as this does not compromise any safeguarding enquiry or investigation into the allegation or place other adults at risk.
  • Great Glen Oadby & Wigston u3a will make every effort to respect the confidentiality of any information that is disclosed under this Policy and Procedure, however due to seriousness of allegations this cannot be guaranteed. Information will be recorded and stored securely in accordance with GDPR 2018 but confidentiality is not absolute and information may have to be shared, on a ‘need-to-know’ basis only, to prevent:
  • Danger to a person’s life
  • Danger to a person’s health
  • Danger to others
  • Danger to the community
  • or to prevent or to facilitate the investigation of a serious crime.

5. Dealing with Safeguarding

  • Great Glen Oadby & Wigston u3a’s approach to safeguarding will encompass an awareness of members who exhibit health concerns that could put themselves or others at risk, convictions (previous or pending) that include offences of a sexual or violent nature, inappropriate behaviour exhibited by a member including sexual advances, bullying, aggression or violent behaviour, harassment and/or discrimination. This can include behaviour exhibited face to face as well as electronic communications or via social media platforms.
  • Where the committee becomes aware of a safeguarding concern it will take steps, as needed to ensure the safety of the adult(s) at risk is secured as a first priority.
  • The steps to take to address this will be discussed and agreed between the Executive Officers of the committee in the first instance. No committee member will act in isolation when dealing with a safeguarding concern.
  • The first step will be to gather as much information as possible to assist with the decision as to the next steps. Any committee member who becomes aware of a safeguarding issue, should as soon as possible, record the details and advise the rest of the committee.
  • As far as possible, the adult at risk’s wishes will be respected as to whether or not to refer any concerns to the local authority as a Safeguarding Enquiry under Section 42 of the Care Act 2014. However, it may be necessary to override their wishes in the best interests of other adults at risk.
  • The second step will be to construct and record a risk assessment. This will be developed and recorded as soon as possible after the concern comes to the attention of the committee.
  • In developing the risk assessment, the committee will consider the level of risk and the action that needs to be taken accordingly. Assessment of risk will include:
    • Risk to the individual member
    • Risk to other members within the u3a
    • Reputational risk for the individual u3a and the u3a movement as a whole.
  • The third step is to take action. Where it is deemed that the risk is high and immediate action needs to be taken, the committee will contact the relevant local authorities and – where possible - the Trust for advice and support
  • Where it is deemed that the risk is not high then future actions could include excluding members from certain groups i.e. groups held in people’s homes, requesting that a member attends the u3a with a carer or excluding a member from a group run by a particular group leader. Advice will always be sought before moving to exclude any member from the u3a on the basis of a safeguarding risk assessment.
  • Depending on the nature of the allegation it may be necessary to pursue the incident following Great Glen Oadby & Wigston u3a’s complaints procedure. Where it is decided that this is the best course of action the matter will not be investigated by any party that was privy to the detail of the initial reporting of the incident.
  • All actions taken will be recorded. Any records will remain confidential to the committee unless a prior decision has been taken to share the record with the relevant statutory bodies.

6. Availability and changes to this policy

This policy is available on the Great Glen Oadby & Wigston u3a website. This policy may change from time to time. If we make any material changes, we will make members aware of this through the newsletter.

7. Contact

If you have any queries about this policy, please contact us at CHAIRMAN@ggowu3a.co.uk or by contacting any committee member.

This policy was adopted on: 1 December 2020 Reviewed on 1 February 2022

Signed: Committee Role: CHAIRMAN

Print Name: ROBERT MANSFIELD

Reviewed: 7 January 2025

Next Review January 2027

Name Change 1st April 2024

Appendix 1 - Key Definitions:

1. Adult at risk:

is any person, who is over 18 years of age and who has need 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 risk of it.

2. Abuse:

is the “violation of a person’s human and civil rights by any other person(s). It may be a single or repeated act(s), physical verbal, psychological, sexual, institutional, discriminatory or financial, an act of neglect or failure to act”

3. Types of abuse:

a) Physical abuse – including assault, hitting, slapping, pushing, misuse of medication, restraint or inappropriate physical sanctions.

b) Domestic violence – including psychological, physical, sexual, financial, emotional abuse; so called ‘honour’ based violence.

c) Sexual abuse – including 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.

d) Psychological abuse – including 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.

e) Financial or material abuse – including 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.

f) 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.

g) Discriminatory abuse – including forms of harassment, slurs or similar treatment; because of race, gender and gender identity, age, disability, sexual orientation or religion.

h) Organisational abuse – including neglect and poor care practice within an institution or specific care setting such as a hospital or care home, for example, or in relation to care provided in one’s own home. This may range from one off incidents to on-going ill-treatment. It can be through neglect or poor professional practice as a result of the structure, policies, processes and practices within an organisation.

i) Neglect and acts of omission – including ignoring medical, emotional or physical care needs, failure to provide access to appropriate health, care and support or educational services, the withholding of the necessities of life, such as medication, adequate nutrition and heating

j) Self-neglect – this covers a wide range of behaviour neglecting to care for one’s personal hygiene, health or surroundings and includes behaviour such as hoarding.

Recommended agencies:

  1. Their Local Authority, Social Services, GP Surgery, Police, etc.
  2. Hourglass – (formerly Action on Elder Abuse) – wearehourglass.org.uk
  3. National Domestic Helpline – nationaldahelpline.org.uk
  4. Refuge.org.uk
  5. Respect – men’s advice – mensadvice.org.uk
  6. Womensaid.orrg.uk
  7. ManKind initiative – new.mankind.org.uk

Available weekdays 9am - 5pm on freephone 0808 8088141. https://www.elderabuse.org.uk/

  1. Voice UK is a national charity supporting people with learning disabilities and other vulnerable people who have experienced crime or abuse. They also support their families, carers and professional workers. Voice runs a helpline 0808 8028686.

Appendix 2 – Dealing with Disclosure

If someone discloses a safeguarding concern to you

Do:

  • Stay calm and try not to show shock or disbelief
  • Listen carefully to what they are saying
  • Be sympathetic (I’m sorry that this has happened to you’)
  • Be aware of the possibility that medical evidence might be needed
  • Tell the person that:
    • They did the right thing to tell you
    • You are treating the information seriously. It was not their fault
    • You are going to inform the appropriate person
    • You will take steps to protect and support them
  • Record and report the disclosure in line with the procedure

Do Not:

  • Press the person for more details; this will be done at a later date
  • Stop someone who is freely recalling significant events (Don’t say ‘hold on, we’ll come back to that later’; they may not tell you or anybody else again)
  • Do not promise to keep secrets; you cannot keep this kind of information to yourself
  • Make promises you cannot keep (Such as ‘This will never happen to you again’)
  • Contact the alleged abuser unless they are also a u3a member and it is necessary to do so to safeguard other members and/or the alleged abuser.
  • Be judgemental
  • Pass on the information other than to those with a legitimate ‘need-to-know’ under this Policy and Procedure

In your record of the disclosure you should aim to:

  • Note what people actually said, using their own words and phrases.
  • Describe the circumstances in which the disclosure came about.
  • Note the setting and anyone else who was there at the time of the disclosure.
  • Separate factual information from your own and others’ opinions.
  • Use pen or biro with black ink so that the report can be photocopied if needed.
  • And be aware that your report may be required later as part of a legal action or disciplinary procedure.