WCH251. Safeguarding from Bullying, Harassment, Exploitation and Other Forms of Social Abuse
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Safeguarding from Bullying, Harassment, Exploitation and Other Forms of Social Abuse (Wales) Policy
Policy Statement
This policy shows how {{org_field_name}} deals with the more social forms of abuse that are always likely to occur in group — including families — and community living arrangements as important dimensions of its overall safeguarding strategy. It reflects {{org_field_name}}’s commitment to ensure that the people using {{org_field_name}} are fully safeguarded from all forms of abuse.
The policy is written in line with the safeguarding standards (26–31) developed under the Regulated Services (Service Providers and Responsible Individuals) (Wales) Regulations 2017.
The service also seeks to comply in all respects with current safeguarding legislation and regulations, as developed by the Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014. It seeks to work in line with local authority safeguarding adults’ policies and procedures and guidance from the Care Inspectorate Wales (CIW). It recognises the importance of national guidance such as that contained in In Safe Hands and subsequent guidance issued by the Welsh Government.
It should be read and used in association with a range of other policies designed to make sure that every people receiving care is safe from abuse from any source and the risks of their coming to harm are kept to the minimum and well managed. The key policy is that for Safeguarding People Receiving a Care Service from Abuse or Harm (Overarching Policy) from Abuse or Harm (Wales).
Bullying can be defined as any unsolicited or unwelcome act that humiliates, intimidates or undermines the individual involved and includes cyberbullying. Bullying is a form of abuse, which can come from staff or peer behaviour. Harassment, which can take many different forms including stalking, is a form of bullying. Bullying can lead to exploitation in its different forms, including financial, social and sexual exploitation, scapegoating, and ostracism. Victims of bullying might suffer emotional distress, social isolation, accidents, illness, non-participation, poor self-esteem and morale and low levels of functioning in the different areas of their lives.
{{org_field_name}} works on the basis that everyone who uses its service must be treated with dignity and respect and feel that they are treated thus. It considers that bullying from any source is harmful. {{org_field_name}} will not condone any form of bullying, harassment or exploitation of a person receiving care from any source and is always prepared to take action to stop it and prevent further bullying, wherever it is encountered.
Management will take every step to prevent and eliminate anyone using the service from being bullied in line with its general safeguarding from abuse/harm policies and procedures. Staff are trained in and are expected to be aware of and report any signs and indications that any Person is suffering from any form of bullying, harassment and exploitation so that the appropriate interventions can be made to deal with it.
When appropriate, every effort will be made to resolve the situation with the parties concerned involving the victim of bullying, the bullies and their families and guardians/representatives. It should be acknowledged that some people receiving care might also engage in bullying behaviour, which must be addressed as any other bullying issue.
The priority for {{org_field_name}} is always to keep a victim safe from further bullying and to reduce the bullying behaviour of the perpetrator if the person is also subject to service provision.
Staff who observe or can identify that anyone receiving care is being bullied or bullying others, which is resulting in distress and harm to other people, eg in a domestic abuse situation, should report the matter to their manager, who can begin to investigate the situation with the individuals concerned and their representatives.
Staff practice issues are discussed in supervision. Where staff are observed to behave in ways that suggest they are bullying, harassing or intimidating people receiving care or complaints are made about such behaviour, the matters will be fully investigated and disciplinary and full safeguarding procedures initiated if the evidence indicates they are needed.
In cases where there is evidence that the victim might be suffering significant harm as a result of the bullying, harassment and possible exploitation inside or outside the service full safeguarding procedures should be invoked by alerting the local Safeguarding Adults’ Board and possibly the police if there is a need to prevent or prevent further criminal acts from taking place. (See the Safeguarding People Using a Care Service from Abuse or Harm Overarching (Wales) Policy for the procedures to be followed.)
Training
{{org_field_name}}’s anti-bullying and harassment policy and strategy will be included in its induction of new staff in line with the All Wales Induction Framework for Health and Social Care.
Any outbreaks or incidence of bullying and harassment will result in major reviews of {{org_field_name}}’s approach and further training to examine ways and means of preventing and addressing it constructively.
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}}
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