Safeguarding

Safeguarding means protecting an adult's right to live in safety, free from abuse and neglect. It is the responsibility of everyone who works with us, and it takes precedence over everything else — including commercial considerations and reputation.

If someone is in immediate danger

Call 999.

Raising a concern

If you believe an adult is being abused or neglected, or is at risk of it, you can tell us:

Telephone: 0800 000 0000 Email: info@annmariecare.com

You can also raise a concern directly with the adult safeguarding team at the local council, and you should do so if your concern is about us. Every council has an adult safeguarding team and a published telephone number, including Kingston, Richmond, Merton, Sutton, Croydon and Surrey County Council. You do not need our permission and you do not need to be certain — reporting a concern is not the same as making an accusation.

You can raise a concern anonymously, though it helps if we can come back to you for detail.

What we do when a concern is raised

1. We make sure the person is safe, immediately.
2. We record exactly what was reported, in the words it was reported in.
3. We refer to the local authority safeguarding team, and to the police where a crime may have been committed. We do this whether or not the concern is about one of our own carers.
4. Where a carer is involved, they are removed from the placement while the matter is looked into.
5. We cooperate fully with any enquiry, and we notify the regulator as required.
6. We keep the person, and whoever raised the concern, informed as far as we properly can.

What we ask of our carers

• An enhanced DBS check before any placement, and references verified directly.
• Safeguarding training at induction, with refreshers.
• A duty to report anything that concerns them, straight away, with no fear of being blamed for speaking up.
• An understanding that concerns about a colleague must be reported in exactly the same way as any other.

Types of abuse we train carers to recognise

Physical, emotional or psychological, financial or material, sexual, discriminatory, organisational, domestic abuse, modern slavery, self-neglect, and neglect by others.

Financial abuse is the one families most often miss, and it is one of the most common. If you are worried about money, say so.

Whistleblowing

Anyone working with us can raise a concern about practice without fear of reprisal. Concerns can be raised with a director, or directly with the Care Quality Commission on 03000 616161.

[TO CONFIRM — add the name and contact details of the designated safeguarding lead once appointed.]