Safeguarding Adults at Risk Policy

Introduction

The Trust (Ashford and St Peters Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (ASPH)) fully supports the Surrey Adult Safeguarding Policy and Procedures 2018 (ASPP) as a process to effectively ensure the safety of all adults at risk of harm and abuse. This policy should be read in conjunction with the Surrey Safeguarding Adult Board (SSAB) Adult Safeguarding Policy and Procedures 2018.

The Trust acknowledges that, due to the nature of hospitals, many people who would not normally be considered at risk can be in a position where they lack capacity or have reduced control. It also recognises that abuse of adults can occur within domestic, institutional and public settings, and as such we have a responsibility to protect patients within our care.

Scope

This Policy applies to all substantive and temporary staff who have contractual obligations to the Trust, it also covers all those working in a voluntary capacity within the organisation. Agency and contracted staff are expected to familiarise themselves with this document and to ensure that their practice is in line with the Trust. Staff that are not directly employed by the Trust should have appropriate training from their employer and the Trust will seek reassurance from contractors to assure themselves of this.

The Trust will also consider safeguarding concerns when reviewing serious incidents and will report all appropriate concerns to Clinical Commissioning Group(s) (CCG), Adult Social Care (ASC) and the Care Quality Commission (CQC) as required.

Purpose

3.1. The purpose of these arrangements is to clarify the legal framework by which the Trust safeguards adults at risk of harm, either from Trust staff, external providers or other family/paid carers. It also outlines the requirement for staff to consider whether other people within the community/household may be affected by abuse and escalate these concerns accordingly.

Policy Details

See also:

• Safeguarding Children Policy
• Mental Capacity Policy
• Management of Safeguarding Allegations Made Against Staff and Volunteers Working in the Trust Policy
• Information Governance Policy
• Deprivation of Liberty Safeguarding Policy
• Supporting People with Learning Difficulties
• Incident Reporting Policy
• Surrey Safeguarding Adults Board Multi-Agency Procedures