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{{org_field_name}}

Registration Number: {{org_field_registration_no}}

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Safeguarding Adults at Risk – Escalation and Reporting Policy

1. Purpose

The purpose of this Safeguarding Adults at Risk – Escalation and Reporting Policy is to provide clear, robust, and legally compliant guidance for all temporary workers, directors, and staff of {{org_field_name}} on the identification, reporting, and escalation of safeguarding concerns involving adults at risk. This policy ensures that all concerns of abuse, neglect, exploitation, or harm are taken seriously, reported promptly, and managed effectively in line with statutory duties, safeguarding principles, and multi-agency procedures. The protection of adults at risk is a legal, ethical, and professional obligation for all staff working under {{org_field_name}}. This policy ensures that staff fully understand their responsibilities, follow appropriate reporting lines, and work collaboratively with client organisations, safeguarding adults boards, local authorities, and regulatory bodies such as the Care Quality Commission (CQC). This policy is aligned with the Care Act 2014, The Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014, The Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006, The Human Rights Act 1998, The Equality Act 2010, The Mental Capacity Act 2005, and CQC Fundamental Standards.

2. Scope

This policy applies to:

• All temporary workers employed by {{org_field_name}} under zero-hours or casual contracts, including registered nurses, healthcare assistants, and support workers
• All office staff and directors responsible for recruitment, placement, training, and incident management
• All settings where temporary workers are placed including care homes, nursing homes, and other health and social care facilities
• All situations where temporary workers observe, suspect, or receive information about potential or actual abuse or neglect of an adult at risk

This policy applies equally to incidents within the workplace or external disclosures by clients, family members, or third parties.

3. Related Policies

• Safeguarding Children Policy
• Whistleblowing Policy
• Incident Reporting and Management Policy
• Mental Capacity and Best Interest Decision-Making Policy
• Complaints Policy
• Code of Conduct for Temporary Workers
• Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion Policy
• Record Keeping and Confidentiality Policy

4. Definition of an Adult at Risk

An adult at risk is any person aged 18 or over who:

• Has care and support needs (whether or not these are being met)
• Is experiencing or at risk of abuse or neglect
• Is unable to protect themselves from abuse, neglect, or exploitation due to their care and support needs

5. Categories of Abuse

Staff must be familiar with the following categories of abuse, as defined by the Care Act 2014:

• Physical abuse
• Domestic violence or abuse
• Sexual abuse
• Psychological or emotional abuse
• Financial or material abuse
• Modern slavery
• Neglect and acts of omission
• Organisational abuse
• Discriminatory abuse
• Self-neglect

6. The Six Principles of Safeguarding

All actions under this policy must adhere to the six safeguarding principles:

1. Empowerment: supporting people to make their own decisions
2. Prevention: acting before harm occurs
3. Proportionality: responding appropriately to the level of risk
4. Protection: supporting those most at risk
5. Partnership: working together with clients, families, and agencies
6. Accountability: being transparent and acting in a timely, responsible manner

7. Temporary Workers’ Responsibilities

All temporary workers must:

• Understand their duty to protect adults at risk from abuse or neglect
• Be vigilant for signs of abuse, neglect, or exploitation
• Report any safeguarding concern immediately following the procedures outlined in this policy
• Record information factually, clearly, and promptly
• Treat all safeguarding matters as confidential, sharing information only with those who need to know
• Fully cooperate with client organisations, safeguarding teams, and investigations

Temporary workers must never assume that someone else will report a safeguarding concern.

8. Identifying Safeguarding Concerns

Temporary workers should be alert to:

• Unexplained injuries
• Frequent or unexplained falls
• Changes in behaviour, mood, or engagement
• Signs of neglect (poor hygiene, malnutrition, untreated medical conditions)
• Fear, withdrawal, or reluctance to engage with certain individuals
• Financial discrepancies or unexplained loss of money or valuables
• Reports or disclosures from clients, families, or colleagues

9. Reporting and Escalation Procedure

9.1 Immediate Action

If a temporary worker identifies or suspects abuse or neglect, they must:

• Ensure the immediate safety of the adult at risk
• Summon emergency services if the adult is in immediate danger
• Notify the senior person on duty at the client organisation immediately
• Contact {{org_field_name}} without delay using the designated contact channels

9.2 Internal Reporting to {{org_field_name}}

Temporary workers must:

• Contact the director or appointed safeguarding lead of {{org_field_name}}
• Complete the Safeguarding Concern Report Form within 24 hours
• Record all information factually and without assumptions or personal opinions

9.3 Escalation to External Agencies

The director will:

• Refer concerns to the local authority’s Safeguarding Adults Team without delay
• Contact the CQC if the concern relates to regulated activity
• Notify the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) where applicable
• Liaise with the police if a crime has been committed
• Follow multi-agency safeguarding procedures and attend strategy meetings if required

10. Responding to a Disclosure

Temporary workers must:

• Remain calm and listen without interruption
• Avoid asking leading questions or expressing judgement
• Reassure the client that they are believed and help will be sought
• Explain that the information cannot be kept secret and will be shared with those who need to know
• Record the disclosure in the person’s own words as soon as possible

11. Recording Safeguarding Concerns

Records must be:

• Factual, accurate, and clear
• Recorded promptly
• Include details of what was seen, heard, or reported
• Include who was present and any immediate actions taken
• Submitted to {{org_field_name}} and the client organisation following their respective reporting procedures

12. Director’s Responsibilities

As the agency does not have a registered manager, the director will:

• Act as the designated safeguarding lead
• Oversee the implementation and review of this policy
• Receive, assess, and manage all safeguarding concerns reported by temporary workers
• Ensure concerns are escalated to external safeguarding teams in line with legal and professional obligations
• Maintain secure records of all safeguarding concerns, actions taken, and outcomes
• Support temporary workers involved in safeguarding incidents, including debriefing and supervision
• Collaborate with client organisations, safeguarding adults boards, CQC, and other regulators when required
• Review trends, patterns, and learning from safeguarding concerns to improve policy, training, and practice

13. Temporary Workers’ Protection and Support

Temporary workers who report safeguarding concerns:

• Will be supported and protected from victimisation or retaliation
• Are encouraged to raise concerns via the Whistleblowing Policy if they feel the concern is not being properly addressed
• Will be offered debriefing and reflective supervision following safeguarding incidents
• Will receive ongoing safeguarding training and guidance

14. Training

{{org_field_name}} will:

• Provide mandatory safeguarding adults training during induction for all temporary workers
• Provide refresher training in line with legislative updates, CQC requirements, and learning from incidents
• Include safeguarding in supervision, appraisal, and continuing professional development
• Ensure temporary workers are aware of local safeguarding procedures in each placement

15. Working with Client Organisations

{{org_field_name}} will:

• Ensure all temporary workers receive client-specific safeguarding instructions during induction and placement
• Support client organisations in safeguarding investigations and processes
• Share relevant information with clients while respecting confidentiality
• Collaborate with clients to develop safer systems of work and improve safeguarding arrangements

16. Record Keeping

The director will:

• Maintain safeguarding records securely, separately from general personnel records
• Retain records for the period required by legislation and guidance
• Provide access to records for inspection or audit by the CQC or safeguarding authorities where appropriate
• Review safeguarding records regularly to identify trends and learning opportunities

17. Continuous Improvement

The director will:

• Review this policy annually, or earlier if required by changes in law, best practice, or after significant safeguarding events
• Conduct audits of safeguarding incidents, complaints, and concerns
• Analyse findings to improve safeguarding arrangements and reduce risks
• Update training, policies, and procedures based on lessons learned

18. Policy Review

This policy will be reviewed annually by the director of {{org_field_name}} or sooner if prompted by changes in legislation, CQC guidance, or organisational learning. Any revisions will be communicated promptly to temporary workers, client organisations, and relevant stakeholders.

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Responsible Person: {{org_field_registered_manager_first_name}} {{org_field_registered_manager_last_name}}
Reviewed on: {{last_update_date}}
Next Review Date: {{next_review_date}}
Copyright © {{current_year}} – {{org_field_name}}. All rights reserved.