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Safeguarding

Adult safeguarding

This section gives you the important information you may need if you are concerned about the safety and welfare of a vulnerable adult.

Who is at risk of abuse?

Some adults are less able to protect themselves than others and some have difficulty making their wishes and feelings known. This may make them vulnerable to abuse.

An adult at risk is defined as someone 18 years of age or over who is or may be in need of care services and is or may be unable to take care of him or herself, or unable to protect him or herself against significant harm or exploitation.

Abuse can take many forms and can include:

  • Physical abuse, such as being hit, kicked, locked in a room.
  • Sexual abuse, such as being made to take part in sexual activity when the adult has not given or is not able to give consent.
  • Psychological abuse, such as being shouted at, ridiculed or bullied.
  • Financial or material abuse, such as theft, fraud, exploitation or misuse of someone else’s finances.
  • Neglect, where a person’s physical, medical or emotional needs are not met.
  • Modern slavery, including human trafficking and forced labour.
  • Domestic abuse, including psychological, physical, sexual, financial or emotional abuse (this may be carried out by a family member or someone who is, or has been, in a close relationship with the person being abused).
  • Self neglect, when an adult refuses care which has a significant impact on their wellbeing.
  • Organisational abuse, when neglect or poor practice occurs within an organisation.
  • Discriminatory abuse, such as harassment or insults due to disability, age, religion, sexuality, gender or race.

What can I do if I suspect abuse?

If you suspect abuse, take action. Don’t assume that someone else is doing something about the situation. If you are concerned about yourself or a person you know, it is important you share your concerns. No one should have to live with abuse or neglect. It is always wrong, whatever the circumstances.

Contact adult social care services in your local area to report concerns or seek advice. Find your local authority (adult social care)

How we can help you?

Share your concerns and seek advice from your doctor, nurse or any health or social care professional.

Further support

  • National domestic violence helpline - available 24 hours a day - freephone: 0808 200 0247
  • Samaritans helpline - available 24 hours a day - 116 123
  • Action on Elder Abuse helpline - available 9am-5pm, Monday to Friday: 0808 808 8141
  • Mencap learning disability helpline - available 9am-5pm, Monday to Friday: 0808 808 1111
  • National dementia helpline - available 9am-8pm, Monday to Wednesday, 9am-5pm, Friday, 10am-4pm, Saturday and Sunday: 0300 222 1122
  • Shelter housing advice helpline - available 8am-8pm, Monday to Friday, 9am-5pm, Saturday and Sunday: Emergency number: 080 8302 5861 Non- emergency number: 0808 301 4551
  • Moorfields’ patient advice and liaison service (PALS): 020 7566 2324 or 020 7566 2325 or moorfields.pals@nhs.net

For further information regarding safeguarding adults at Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, please email moorfields.safeguarding@nhs.net. 

 

Last updated: 21st October 2019

Safeguarding children and young people declaration

Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people, achieving and maintaining good compliance with national safeguarding standards and guidance and fulfilling its statutory responsibilities as stated in Section 11 of the Children’s Act 1989/2004.

A number of safeguarding children and young people arrangements are in place including:

  • Meeting statutory requirements with regard to the carrying out of Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks including compliance with Islington Safeguarding Children Partnership requirements. Human resources provide assurance via submission of DBS compliance data into the safeguarding children and young people group meeting.
  • A process in place for following up children and young people who were not brought to appointments (WNB) to ensure their care and health is not affected in any way and an electronic system is in place for flagging children and young people for whom there are safeguarding and/or child protection concerns. The WNB policy and procedures were reviewed in 2022 incorporating audiovisual consultations in response to the recovery from the Covid-19 global pandemic.
  • In line with government legislation and guidance, policies and procedures are reviewed regularly to strengthen safeguarding children practice. Newly published national guidance is scrutinised with recommendations for practice implemented.
  • Working within the London Child Protection Procedures (2021) and where the trust has network sites: Bedfordshire Interagency Child Protection Procedures (2021) and Hertfordshire Inter Agency Child Protection Procedures (2021).
  • A robust training strategy in place with regard to delivering safeguarding training to ensure that staff are trained to the appropriate level required for their role. The strategy is aligned with the competencies and levels of training and as detailed in safeguarding children and young people: roles and competences for health care staff intercollegiate document (2019). The trust also endorses the core skills training framework (2020) and competence still matters (2012).
  • The percentage compliance of training as at 01 June 2022 is as follows against a target of 80%:
    • Level 1 - 91% of staff eligible for level 1 training have been trained.
    • Level 2 - 91% of staff eligible for level 2 training have been trained.
    • Level 3 - 82% of staff eligible for level 3 training have been trained.
    • Level 4 - 67% of staff eligible for level 4 training have been trained.
  • Professionals who lead on issues in relation to child protection and the safeguarding of children and young people broken down by discipline as follows:
    • Named nurse for child protection and interim head of safeguarding adults and children 1.0WTE.
    • Safeguarding children & young people nurse advisor 1.0WTE.
    • Safeguarding coordinator for children, young people and adults 1.0WTE.
    • Named doctor for child protection – vacant post (July 2022)
    • Chief nurse and director of allied health professions is the executive lead for safeguarding and deputy chief nurse chairs the safeguarding children and young people committee.
  • A commitment to strengthening the “think family” agenda and safeguarding the children of adult patients. The safeguarding children, young people and adult professionals are co-located and work collaboratively to address the shared aspects of the safeguarding agenda including domestic violence and abuse, modern day slavery, prevent and county lines.
  • Being a member of Islington Safeguarding Children Partnership (ISCP) represented by the deputy chief nurse. The trust is committed to achieving ISCP key priorities in relation to safeguarding children and young people.
  • Having robust audit programmes in place to assure the board that safeguarding systems and processes are working and monitored via Islington Directorate of North Central London Integrated Care System (ICS).
  • In accordance with the Modern Day Slavery Act (2015) ensuring to the best of our knowledge slavery and human trafficking is not taking place in any part of our business or our supply chains.
  • Working in partnership with statutory services and agencies to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and young people.
  • A quarterly safeguarding children and young people committee meeting which reports to the clinical governance committee.
  • The trust board taking the issue of safeguarding extremely seriously and receiving via the quality and safety committee, the annual safeguarding children and young people (0-18y) report 2021 – 2022 on 19th July 2022.

 

Last updated: 31st August 2022

Learn more about modern slavery and human trafficking.

Further support

National Domestic Violence

24 hour helpline: 0808 200 0247

www.nationaldomesticviolencehelpline.org.uk

 

Scottish Domestic Abuse and Forced Marriage

24 hour helpline: 0800 027 1234

www.sdafmh.org.uk

 

Women’s Aid Northern Ireland Domestic Abuse

24 hour helpline: 0808 802 1414

https://www.womensaidni.org

www.womensaid.org.uk

 

Wales Domestic Abuse

24 hour helpline: 0808 801 0800

www.welshwomensaid.org.uk

 

Childline

24 hour freephone helpline: 0800 1111 

www.childline.org.uk

 

Mens Advice Line

freephone: 0808 801 0327

Opening hours: Monday-Friday, 9am-5pm

www.mensadviceline.org.uk

 

Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)

24 hour helpline: 0800 028 3550

www.nspcc.org.uk

 

Rape Crisis Services

24 hour freephone helpline: 0808 500 2222

www.rapecrisis.org.uk/

 

Forced Marriage Unit

Opening hours: 9am - 5pm, Monday to Friday. Phone: 0207 008 0151.

Out of hours: 0207 008 5000 (ask for the Global Response Centre).

Overseas: +44 (0)207 008 0151

Email: fmu@fcdo.gov.uk

For more information: https://www.gov.uk/stop-forced-marriage

 

Honour Based Violence/Abuse (HBV)

Opening hours: Monday - Friday: 9am -5pm. Freephone: 0800 599 9247

www.karmanirvana.org.uk/

 

National Centre for Domestic Violence

Freephone: 0800 970 2070 

www.ncdv.org.uk

 

Find your local authority (adult social care) via this link: www.gov.uk/find-local-council

Safeguarding and abuse frequently asked questions

All forms of domestic violence and abuse are serious crimes. No one deserves to be assaulted, abused or humiliated and it is important to realise that you are not to blame. The police can protect you and your children. If you ever feel that you are in immediate danger, please do not be afraid to call the police on 999.

What is domestic violence and abuse?

Domestic violence and abuse is any incident or pattern of incidents of controlling, coercive or threateningbehaviour. This includes violence and/or abuse, between those aged 16 or over who are, or have been, intimate partners or family members.

It is a pattern of behaviour and can happen regardless of sex, age, class, disability, carer responsibility, gender identity, ethnicity, geography, immigration status or religion.

These are acts of domestic violence and abuse:

  • Always being blamed for things.
  • Being humiliated.
  • Always being put down.
  • Being made to feel stupid.
  • Being physically hurt.

 

What actions are forms of domestic abuse?

Domestic abuse takes many forms including (but not limited to) physical, sexual, emotional, psychological andfinancial abuse.

It also includes digital abuse (using smartphones and social networking to harass and intimidate), stalking,forced marriage,honour based violence (HBV) and female genital mutilation (FGM).

  • Domestic abuse actions include:
  • Insults.
  • Nasty phone calls and texts.
  • Punches, kicking and hitting.
  • Threats.
  • Being bullied.
  • Being made to explain how you spend your money or having it taken away.
  • Being kept away from family and friends.
  • Being made to look at things that upset you like pictures or videos.

 

What are types of domestic abuse?

Domestic abuse takes many forms including (but not limited to) physical, sexual, emotional, psychological and financial abuse.

It also includes digital abuse (using smartphones and social networking to harass and intimidate), stalking,forced marriage,honour based violence (HBV) and female genital mutilation (FGM).

 

Who can experience domestic abuse?

Anyone can experience domestic abuse. It is not based on sex, gender or age.

Domestic violence and abuse is based on one person having power or control over another and it often gets worse over time, sometimes starting during pregnancy.

Children and young people may experience domestic violence and abuse through witnessing or hearing the abuse, by being encouraged to take part in bullying or threatening a parent, or by being threatened by one parent as a way of controlling the other.

 

Who is at higher risk of abuse?

Some adults are less able to protect themselves than others, and some have difficulty making their wishes and feelings known. This may make them vulnerable to abuse.

An adult at risk is defined as someone 18 years of age or over who is/or may be in need of care services and; is/or may be unable to take care of him or herself, or unable to protect him or herself against significant harm or exploitation.

 

Who can be an abuser?

Anyone. It could be your friend, a teacher, relative, carer or a stranger.

It might be:

  • A partner or relative.
  • A friend or neighbour.
  • A paid or unpaid carer.
  • Other service users.
  • Someone in a position of trust e.g. a teacher.
  • A health or social care professional.
  • A stranger.

Abuse can happen between any ages, sexes or genders.

 

Where can abuse happen?

Abuse can happen anywhere.

It can happen at home, in hospital, at work, or in a public place.

 

What is safeguarding and abuse?

Abuse can take many forms and can include:

  • Physical abuse– being hit, kicked, locked in a room.
  • Psychological abuse– being bullied or shouted at.
  • Financial abuse– when someone takes your money, fraud.
  • Neglect – not being looked after properly or ignored.
  • Sexual abuse – when someone touches your body or your private parts without permission.
  • Self-neglect – not looking after yourself.
  • Discrimination – not being treated in the right way because of race, gender, religion or sexuality.

Information about abuse in more detail

  • Physical abuse - being hit, kicked, locked in a room.
  • Sexual abuse - being made to take part in sexual activity when the adult has not given or is not able to give consent.
  • Psychological abuse - such as being shouted at, ridiculed or bullied.
  • Financial or material abuse - theft, fraud, exploitation, or misuse of someone else’s finances.
  • Neglect - not meeting a person’s physical, medical or emotional needs.
  • Modern slavery - includes human trafficking and forced labour.
  • Domestic abuse - includes psychological, physical, sexual, financial or emotional abuse. This may have been carried out by someone who is a family member or is, or has been, in a close relationship with the person being abused.
  • Self-neglect - when an adult refuses care which has a significant impact on their wellbeing.
  • Organisational abuse - when neglect or poor practice occurs within an organisation.
  • Discriminatory abuse – harassment or insults due to disability, age, religion, sexuality, gender or race.

 

What can I do if I am experiencing or know someone who is experiencing domestic violence and/or abuse?

If you, or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence and/or abuse, please tell someone and remember that you are not alone. Take action.

Don’t assume that someone else is doing something about the situation. If you are concerned about yourself ora person you know, it is important you share your concerns.

No-one should have to live with abuse or neglect. It is always wrong, whatever the circumstances.

You can talk to a family member that you trust, a health professional, social services, or the police. Every local authority has information on domestic abuse and violence support services available in your area; you can contact them for further advice and support. You can also reach out to one of the helplines or services listed on this page.

Taking action

Find your local authority (adult social care) via this link: www.gov.uk/find-local-council

  • Try to include the person in the decision to seek help- for example let the person being abused know that help is available by offering them this leaflet.
  • Contact adult social care services in your local area to report concerns or seek advice.
  • Share your concerns and seek advice from your doctor, nurse or any health or social care professional.
  • Contact the police if you think a crime has been committed by calling 101 or 999 in the case of an emergency.
  • Be aware that a vulnerable adult who is injured may not be able to express that they need your help to get a doctor or call for an ambulance.

 

What is controlling behaviour?

Controlling behaviour is a series of actions designed to make the other person feel inferior and less independent. This can range from being in charge of their everyday behaviour, to using their income for personal gain, making sure there is no opportunity for the other person to be independent, and cutting the person off from getting support so they cannot resist or escape the abuse.

 

What is coercive behaviour?

Coercive behaviour is an action or series of actions of assault, threats, humiliation, intimidation or other abuse that is used to harm, punish, or frighten the other person.

 

What should I do if I am experiencing domestic violence and/or abuse?

If you are experiencing domestic violence and/or abuse, please tell someone and remember that you are not alone. You can talk to a family member that you trust, a health professional, social services, or the police.Every local council has information on domestic abuse and violence support services available in your area; you can contact them for further advice and support. You can also reach out to one of the helplines or services listed in this page.