Life after Cancer Safeguarding Policy

Policy Approved - June 2024
Next review Date - May 2025
Policy Owner - Stephanie Davies - Founder and Director of Life after Cancer

This policy is applicable to all Life after Cancer staff, workers, volunteers and third party guests.

This policy will be reviewed following any concerns and/or updates to national and local guidance or procedures.

For urgent safeguarding queries, please speak to our Safeguarding Lead, Stephanie Davies (Director of Life after Cancer) - See Section 3.

Section 1: Safeguarding Adults Policy

Introduction
Policy Statement
Definitions
Identifying and recognising abuse
Persons affected
Purpose
Legal Framework
Commitments
Implementation

Section 2: Appendices

Appendix 1 - Key principles of safeguarding adults, Making Safeguarding Personal and Capacity, Consent and Decision Making
Appendix 2 - Role Description: Designated Safeguarding Lead

Section 3: Important Contact numbers and additional sources of information and support

Section 1 - Safeguarding Adults Policy

Introduction

Life after Cancer brings people together who have finished cancer treatment to form support groups, in Waltham Forest and online across the UK, with an aim to increase their physical, mental, emotional and social wellbeing. The support they receive reduces the risk of serious mental distress and helps them to build a positive life after their cancer experience.

At Life after Cancer we understand and recognise the impact that cancer and its treatment can have on the physical, mental and social wellbeing of those diagnosed. As such, we consider that all of the people we work with and provide services to have the potential to be at risk.

Life after Cancer is committed to developing and maintaining an organisational environment that is free of harassment, abuse and exploitation. We have a duty of care and are committed to the welfare, protection and safety of adults at risk involved as visitors and as participants in all of our activities. We also want to protect and support our staff who work or come into contact with these groups.

Policy Statement

Life after Cancer believes everyone has the right to live free from abuse or neglect regardless of age, ability or disability, sex, race, religion, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, marital or gender status.
Life after Cancer is committed to creating and maintaining a safe and positive environment and an open, listening culture where people feel able to share concerns without fear of retribution.
Life after Cancer acknowledges that safeguarding is everybody’s responsibility and is committed to prevent abuse and neglect through safeguarding the welfare of all adults involved.
Life after Cancer recognises that health, wellbeing, ability, disability and need for care and support can affect a person’s resilience. We recognise that some people experience barriers, for example, to communication in raising concerns or seeking help. We recognise that these factors can vary at different points in people’s lives.
Life after Cancer recognises that there is a legal framework within which we need to work to safeguard adults who have needs for care and support and for protecting those who are unable to take action to protect themselves and will act in accordance with the relevant safeguarding adult legislation and with local statutory safeguarding procedures.
Actions taken by Life after Cancer will be consistent with the principles of adult safeguarding ensuring that any action taken is prompt, proportionate and that it includes and respects the voice of the adult concerned.

Definitions

Safeguarding - is the action taken to promote welfare and protect an individual's right to live in safety, free from abuse and neglect.

Adult at risk - For the purposes of this policy, adult at risk refers to someone over 18 years old who, according to paragraph 42.1 of the Care Act 2014 -

Has needs for care and support (whether or not the local authority is meeting any of those needs) 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.

An adult may be unable to protect themselves from harm or exploitation due to many reasons, including their mental or physical incapacity, sensory loss or physical or learning disabilities. This could be an adult who is usually able to protect themselves from harm but maybe unable to do so because of an accident, disability, frailty, addiction or illness.

Identifying and recognising abuse

Abuse - It is abuse when someone misuses their power or control over another person, causing harm or distress. The abuser could be in a close relationship with the adult at risk. They could be someone the adult at risk depends on and trusts. Anyone can carry out abuse to others.

Neglect - Neglect occurs when a person deliberately withholds, or fails to provide, suitable and adequate care and support needed by another adult. It may be through a lack of knowledge or awareness, or through a decision not to act when they know the adult in their care needs help. It may impair the health or wellbeing of an adult.

Exploitation - Exploitation is the deliberate maltreatment, manipulation or abuse of power and control over another person. It is taking advantage of another person or situation usually, but not always, for personal gain.

There are different types and patterns of abuse, neglect and exploitation and different circumstances in which they may take place. Forms of abuse or neglect as set out in Waltham Forest ‘Guide to thresholds & practice for working with people’, include -

Physical abuse
Domestic violence
Sexual abuse and/or exploitation
Psychological
Neglect and acts of omission
Self-neglect
Financial abuse
Modern Slavery
Criminal exploitation
Discriminatory abuse
Organisational abuse

Abuse can take place in any relationship and there are many contexts in which abuse might take place; e.g. Institutional abuse, Domestic Abuse, Forced Marriage, Human Trafficking, Modern Slavery, Sexual Exploitation, County Lines, Radicalisation, Hate Crime, Mate Crime, Cyber bullying, Scams.

Abuse or neglect could be carried out by -

A spouse, partner or family member
Neighbours or residents
Friends, acquaintances or strangers
People who deliberately exploit adults they perceive as vulnerable
Paid staff, professionals or volunteers providing care and support

Often the perpetrator is known to the adult and may be in a position of trust and/or power.

It can be difficult to identify abuse or neglect. If a member of staff or volunteer has a “nagging doubt” that something is wrong, then it must be recorded and brought to the attention of the Designated Safeguarding Lead.

Something that may seem ‘trivial’ at the time may help to build up a pattern of abuse.

Persons affected

This policy and associated procedures apply to -

All Life after Cancer staff, paid and unpaid, these include volunteers and third party guests
All Life after Cancer service users

Safeguarding training provided to all staff and volunteers of Life after Cancer covers the signs of potential abuse and the process to follow if they are concerned about the welfare of an individual.

All staff and volunteers are expected to follow this policy and associated procedures. Failure to comply with the policy and related procedures is considered a serious offence and will be investigated thoroughly and dealt with through our Disciplinary Procedure. Serious breaches may lead to dismissal.

Third parties invited to join Life after Cancer must have their own appropriate safeguarding policies and procedures in place. These will be checked in advance by the Safeguarding Lead and kept on file.

Purpose

The purpose of this policy is to demonstrate the commitment of Life after Cancer to safeguarding adults and to ensure that everyone involved in Life after Cancer is aware of -

The legislation, policy and procedures for safeguarding adults
Their role and responsibility for safeguarding adults
What to do or who to speak to if they have a concern relating to the welfare or wellbeing of an adult within the organisation

Legal framework

Safeguarding adults is compliant with United Nations directives on the rights of disabled people and commitments to the rights of older people. It is covered by -

The Human Rights Act 1998
The Data Protection Act 2018
General Data Protection Regulations 2018

This policy has been drawn up on the basis of law and guidance that seeks to safeguard persons at risk of harm, namely -

The Care Act 2014 and the Care and Support statutory guidance
Mental Capacity Act 2005
Waltham Forest - ‘Safeguarding threshold guidance for working with people’
The Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006

Under the Human Rights Act 1998, everyone has the right to live free from abuse and neglect. https://www.equalityhumanrights.com/en/human-rights/human-rights-act

Commitments

In order to implement this policy Life after Cancer will ensure that -

We are committed to and follow the six key principles of safeguarding adults' work, Making Safeguarding Personal and Capacity, Consent and Decision Making (see Appendix 1).
Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility. Everyone involved with Life after Cancer is aware of the safeguarding adult policy and procedures and knows what to do and who to contact if they have a concern relating to the welfare or wellbeing of an adult.
An appropriate level of safeguarding training is available to its employees, volunteers and any relevant persons linked to the organisation who requires it.
Any concern that an adult is not safe is taken seriously, responded to promptly, and followed up in line with the Safeguarding Adults Policy and Procedures.
The wellbeing of those at risk of harm will be put first and the adult actively supported to communicate their views and the outcomes they want to achieve. Those views and wishes will be respected and supported unless there are overriding reasons not to (see the Safeguarding Adults Procedures).
Any actions taken will respect the rights and dignity of all those involved and be proportionate to the risk of harm.
Confidential, detailed and accurate records of all safeguarding concerns are maintained and securely stored in line with Life after Cancer’s Data Protection Policy and Procedures.
Life after Cancer acts in accordance with best practice advice from National and Local Governing Bodies.
Life after Cancer will cooperate with the Police and the relevant Local Authorities in taking action to safeguard an adult.
All staff and volunteers understand their role and responsibility for safeguarding adults and have completed and are up to date with safeguarding adult training and learning opportunities appropriate for their role.
Life after Cancer uses safer recruitment practices and continually assesses the suitability of volunteers and staff to prevent the employment/deployment of unsuitable individuals in this organisation.
Life after Cancer shares information about anyone found to be a risk to adults with the appropriate bodies. For example: Disclosure and Barring Service, Services, Police, Local Authority/Social Services.
When planning activities and events Life after Cancer includes an assessment of, and risk to, the safety of all adults from abuse and neglect and designates a person who will be in attendance as a designated Safeguarding Lead for that event.
Clear and effective whistleblowing procedures are in place and are suitably referenced in staff training and codes of conduct.
A safeguarding culture is promoted where staff and volunteers and adults treat each other with respect and are comfortable about sharing and addressing concerns.
Third parties invited to join Life after Cancer must have their own approproate safeguarding policies and procedures in place. These will be checked in advance by the Safeguarding Lead.
Actions taken under this policy are reviewed by the Founder and the Board on an annual basis.
This policy, related policies and the Safeguarding Adults Procedures are reviewed no less than on a yearly basis and whenever there are changes in relevant legislation and/or government guidance as required by the Local Safeguarding Board and/or National Governing Bodies or as a result of any other significant change or event.

Implementation

Life after Cancer is committed to developing and maintaining its capability to implement this policy and procedures. In order to do so the following will be in place -

A clear line of accountability within the organisation for the safety and welfare of all adults.
Access to relevant legal and professional advice.
Regular management reports to the Board detailing how risks to adult safeguarding are being addressed and how any reports have been addressed.
Safeguarding adult procedures that deal effectively with any concerns of abuse or neglect, including those caused through poor practice.
A Designated Safeguarding Lead (see Appendix 2).
A delegated Safeguarding Lead for events.
Arrangements to work effectively with other relevant organisations to safeguard and promote the welfare of adults, including arrangements for sharing information.
Codes of conduct for staff or volunteers that specify zero tolerance of abuse in any form.
Risk assessments for events that specifically include the welfare and safeguarding of adults.

Life after Cancer will ensure that staff and volunteers understand -

What they need to do, and what they can expect of one another, to safeguard adults at risk using this policy. The policy will be available at induction and training will be provided.
Core legal requirements, making it clear what individuals and Life after Cancer should do to keep adults at risk of abuse safe.
That all staff who come into contact with adults at risk of abuse are alert to their needs and any risks of harm that individual abusers, or potential abusers, may pose.
The requirement to share appropriate information in a timely way and how to discuss any concerns about an individual at risk of harm with colleagues and local authority organisations.
The necessity to use their expert judgement to put the adult’s needs at the heart of the safeguarding system so that the right solution can be found for each individual.
The necessity to contribute to whatever actions are needed to safeguard and promote a person’s welfare.
All staff working with adults at risk are afforded a position of status and authority in relation to service users. Services will be provided in an environment which lessens the imbalance of power and encourages independence and self-advocacy for service users. All working practices will minimise the risk of abuse by being sensitive to individual, gender and cultural needs.
The importance of capacity, consent and decision making (see Appendix 1)

Section 2 - Appendices

Appendix 1 -

Six Principles

Key six principles that underpin safeguarding adults work:

Empowerment - Supporting people to make their own decisions and give informed consent
Prevention - Taking action before harm occurs
Proportionality - The least intrusive response appropriate to the risk presented
Protection - Support and representation for those in greatest need
Partnership - Local solutions and community engagement
Accountability - Accountability and transparency in delivering safeguarding

Making safeguarding personal

In addition to the six key principles, Life after Cancer are committed to making safeguarding person led and outcome focused, also referred to as Making Safeguarding Personal (MSP).

Making Safeguarding Personal recognises that adults who've experienced abuse and neglect may need support to build up their resilience and to develop coping mechanisms and strategies.

We are committed to engaging the person concerned in a conversation about how best to respond to their safeguarding situation by giving them more choice and control as well as improving their quality of life, wellbeing and safety.

Capacity, Consent and Decision Making

The consideration of capacity is crucial at all stages of Safeguarding Adults procedures.

UK Law, as detailed in the Mental Capacity Act (MCA) 2005, assumes that all people over the age of 16 have the ability to make their own decisions, unless it has been proved that they can’t. It also gives us the right to make any decision that we need to make and gives us the right to make our own decisions even if others consider them to be unwise.

The Law says that to make a decision we need to -

Understand information
Remember it for long enough
Think about the information
Communicate our decision

A person’s ability to do this may be affected by things such as learning disability, dementia, mental health needs, acquired brain injury and physical ill health.

Most adults have the ability to make their own decisions given the right support however, some adults with care and support needs have the experience of other people making decisions about them and for them.

The Mental Capacity Act (MCA) is underpinned by a set of five key principles -

A presumption of capacity - every adult has the right to make his or her own decisions and must be assumed to have capacity to do so unless it is proved otherwise;
The right for individuals to be supported to make their own decisions - people must be given all appropriate help before anyone concludes that they cannot make their own decisions;
That individuals must retain the right to make what might be seen as eccentric or unwise decisions;
Best interests - anything done for or on behalf of people without capacity must be in their best interests; and
Least restrictive intervention - anything done for or on behalf of people without capacity should be the least restrictive of their basic rights and freedoms.

A person’s mental capacity can change. If it is safe/possible to wait until they are able to be involved in decision making or to make the decision themselves.

Mental Capacity is important for safeguarding for several reasons -

Not being allowed to make decisions one is capable of making is abuse.
Where an adult is being abused and they are scared of the consequences of going against the views of the person abusing them, it is recognised in the law as coercion, and a person can be seen not to have mental capacity because they cannot make ‘free and informed decisions’.
Mental Capacity must also be considered when we believe abuse or neglect might be taking place. It is important to make sure an ‘adult at risk’ has choices in the actions taken to safeguard them, including whether or not they want other people informed about what has happened, however, in some situations the adult may not have the mental capacity to understand the choice or to tell you their views.

The Mental Capacity Act details when and how we can make decisions for people who are unable to make decisions for themselves.

We can only make decisions for other people if they cannot do that for themselves at the time the decision is needed.
If the decision can wait, wait – e.g. to get help to help the person make their decision or until they can make it themselves.
If we have to make a decision for someone else then we must make the decision in their best interests (for their benefit) and take into account what we know about their preferences and wishes.
If the action we are taking to keep people safe will restrict them then we must think of a way to do that which restricts their freedom and rights as little as possible.

It is good practice to get as much information about the person as possible. Some people with care and support needs will have a ‘One page profile’ or a ‘This is me’ document that describes important things about them. It’s also important to have an agreement with the person who has enrolled the adult in an organisation activity about how different types of decisions will be made on a day to day basis.

If a person who has a lot of difficulty making their own decisions is thought to be being abused or neglected you will need to refer the situation to the Local Authority, and this should result in health or social care professionals making an assessment of mental capacity and/or getting the person the support they need to make decisions.

There may be times when an organisation needs to make decisions on behalf of an individual in an emergency.

Decisions taken in order to safeguard an adult who cannot make the decision for themselves could include -

Sharing information about safeguarding concerns with people that can help protect them
Stopping them being in contact with the person causing harm

Appendix 2 -

Role Description - Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL)

The Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) within Life after Cancer has primary responsibility for putting into place procedures to safeguard adults at risk, supporting welfare/safeguarding leads, where relevant and for managing concerns about adults at risk.

Duties and responsibilities include -

Working with others within the organisation to create a positive inclusive environment
Play a lead role in developing and establishing the organisation’s approach to safeguarding adults and in maintaining and reviewing the organisation’s implementation plan for safeguarding adults in line with current legislation and best practice
Coordinate the dissemination of the safeguarding adult policy, procedures and resources throughout the organisation
Contribute to ensuring other policies and procedures are consistent with the organisation’s commitment to safeguarding adults
Advise on the organisation’s training needs and the development of its training strategy
Receive reports of and manage cases of poor practice and abuse reported to the organisation – including an appropriate recording system
Co-ordinating the case management process
Manage liaison with, and referrals to, external agencies for example adult social-care services and the police
Create a central point of contact for internal and external individuals and agencies concerned about the safety of adults within the organisation
Represent the organisation at external meetings related to safeguarding.

Section 3 -

Important Contacts

Life after Cancer Designated Safeguarding Lead

Name: Stephanie Davies

Contact: 07772 257465

Email: hello@life-aftercancer.co.uk

Life after Cancer delegated Safeguarding Lead

Name: Kirsty Oldroyd

Email: support@life-aftercancer.co.uk

Police

Emergency – 999

Non-emergency – 101

Waltham Forest MASH team (Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub for children / families)

Contact - 020 8496 2310

Email- MASHrequests@walthamforest.gov.uk

Safeguarding Adults Team - Waltham Forest

Contact - 020 8496 3000

Additional Sources of Information and Support

Action on Elder Abuse

A national organisation based in London. It aims to prevent the abuse of older people by raising awareness, encouraging education, promoting research and collecting and disseminating information.

Tel: 020 8765 7000
Email: enquiries@elderabuse.org.uk
www.elderabuse.org.uk

Ann Craft Trust (ACT)

A national organisation providing information and advice about adult safeguarding. ACT have a specialist Safeguarding Adults in Sport and Activity team to support the sector.

Tel: 0115 951 5400

Email:Ann-Craft-Trust@nottingham.ac.uk

www.anncrafttrust.org

Men’s Advice Line

For male domestic abuse survivors

Tel: 0808 801 0327

National LGBT+ Domestic Abuse Helpline
Tel: 0800 999 5428

National 24 Hour Freephone Domestic Abuse Helplines:

England

Tel: 0808 2000 247

www.nationaldahelpline.org.uk/Contact-us

Northern Ireland

Tel: 0808 802 1414

www.dsahelpline.org

Twitter: www.twitter.com/dsahelpline

Facebook: www.facebook.com/dsahelpline

Scotland

Tel: 0800 027 1234
Email: helpline@sdafmh.org.uk
Web chat: sdafmh.org.uk

Wales

Llinell Gymorth Byw HebOfn/ Live free from fear helpline
Tel: 0808 8010 800

Type Talk: 18001 0808 801 0800
Text: 078600 77 333

Rape Crisis Federation of England and Wales

Rape Crisis was launched in 1996 and exists to provide a range of facilities and resources to enable the continuance and development of Rape Crisis Groups throughout Wales and England.

Email: info@rapecrisis.co.uk
www.rapecrisis.co.uk

Respond

Respond provides a range of services to victims and perpetrators of sexual abuse who have learning disabilities and training and support to those working with them.

Tel: 020 7383 0700 or 0808 808 0700 (Helpline)
Email: services@respond.org.uk
www.respond.org.uk

Stop Hate Crime

Works to challenge all forms of Hate Crime and discrimination, based on any aspect of an individual’s identity. Stop Hate UK provides independent, confidential and accessible reporting and support for victims, witnesses and third parties.

24 hours service:

Telephone: 0800 138 1625

Web Chat: www.stophateuk.org/talk-to-us/

E mail: talk@stophateuk.org

Text: 07717 989 025
Text relay: 18001 0800 138 1625

Susy Lamplugh Trust

The Trust is a leading authority on personal safety. Its role is to minimise the damage caused to individuals and to society by aggression in all its forms – physical, verbal and psychological.

Tel: 020 83921839
Email: info@suzylamplugh.org
www.suzylamplugh.org

Victim Support

Provides practical advice and help, emotional support and reassurance to those who have suffered the effects of a crime.

Tel: 0808 168 9111

https://www.victimsupport.org.uk/

Women’s Aid Federation of England and Wales

Women’s Aid is a national domestic violence charity. It also runs a domestic violence online help service.