Page 3 - TSAB Policy V6

Introduction

Safeguarding is ‘everyone’s business’

The Care Act 2014 requires that Safeguarding Adults Boards assure themselves that local safeguarding

arrangements are in place across their locality and that their partners act appropriately to help and protect

adults from abuse and neglect. Whilst protecting adults at risk of abuse or harm will always be the main

priority of the Teeswide Safeguarding Adults Board, the Board recognises the importance of raising

awareness in order to prevent abuse and neglect and that partners share collective responsibility for

ensuring that all efforts to keep people safe are effective and well-coordinated. In this, the role of every

Board member is crucial in ensuring that the Teeswide Safeguarding Adults Board is able to meet its

statutory duties by promoting the Teeswide Inter-Agency Safeguarding Policy, and when necessary holding

their own organisations to account.

Purpose

The purpose of this policy is to outline the principles and definitions that underpin safeguarding work and to

describe the statutory duties set out under the Care Act 2014. The policy is supported by the Teeswide Inter-

Agency Procedures and the individual policy and procedural guidance of each partner agency.

Scope

This policy sets out the Teeswide Safeguarding Adults Board’s responsibilities under the Care Act 2014 to

protect adults from abuse or neglect. The safeguarding duties apply to any adult who:

ï‚· has needs for care and support (whether or not the Local Authority is meeting any of those needs) and;

ï‚· is experiencing, or at risk of, abuse or neglect; and

ï‚· as a result of those care and support needs is unable to protect themselves from either the risk of, or the

experience of abuse or neglect.

The adult experiencing, or at risk of abuse or neglect will hereafter be referred to the adult throughout this

policy document.

This definition of adults at risk of abuse or neglect includes:

ï‚· those who are at a greater risk of suffering abuse or neglect because of physical, mental, sensory,

learning or cognitive illnesses or disabilities; and substance misuse or brain injury

ï‚· those who purchase their care through personal budgets

ï‚· those whose care is funded by Local Authorities and/or health services; and

ï‚· those who fund their own care

ï‚· informal carers, family and friends who provide care on an unpaid basis

This policy also applies to adults who are in prison or living in approved premises on licence.

Assessments of informal carers and the adult they care for must include consideration of both their wellbeing.

This includes protection from abuse and neglect.1

Policy Statement

The Teeswide Safeguarding Adults Board works in partnership to safeguard and promote the wellbeing and

independence of adults living in the Boroughs of Hartlepool, Middlesbrough, Redcar & Cleveland and

Stockton-on-Tees, who are experiencing, or at risk of abuse or neglect. This policy will become effective

from 1 April 2015.

1 Care Act 2014, Section 1

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