Safeguarding Policy

1. Policy Statement

Everwarm Companions is committed to the safety, dignity, and wellbeing of every older adult we support. We believe that all people, regardless of age, have the right to live free from abuse, neglect, exploitation, and harm.

Safeguarding adults is everyone's responsibility. This policy sets out our commitment to protecting the older adults in our care, the obligations of our companions and staff, and the clear procedures we follow when a safeguarding concern arises.

This policy is informed by:

• The Care Act 2014 and associated statutory guidance
• The Mental Capacity Act 2005 and the principles of supported decision-making
• Guidance from the Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE)
• The NHS and local authority safeguarding frameworks for Buckinghamshire
• The Six Principles of Safeguarding: Empowerment, Prevention, Proportionality, Protection, Partnership, and Accountability

2. Who This Policy Applies To

This policy applies to:

• All Everwarm Companions companions and employed or contracted staff
• Any volunteers or representatives acting on behalf of Everwarm Companions
• All older adults receiving our services
• Families and representatives of clients

3. Defining Abuse and Neglect

We follow the definitions set out in the Care Act 2014. Abuse and neglect can take many forms. We are alert to the following:

Types of Abuse

• Physical abuse, including hitting, pushing, restraint, or misuse of medication
• Emotional or psychological abuse, including threats, humiliation, intimidation, or isolation
• Sexual abuse, including non-consensual contact or exposure to sexual material
• Financial or material abuse, including theft, fraud, exploitation, or pressure regarding financial decisions
• Neglect and acts of omission, including failure to provide adequate food, warmth, medical care, or human contact
• Discriminatory abuse, including abuse based on age, gender, race, disability, religion, or sexual orientation
• Institutional or organisational abuse, including poor standards of care or a culture that disrespects the individual
• Self-neglect, including a person's inability or unwillingness to care for their own health, hygiene, or safety
• Modern slavery, including forced labour, trafficking, or exploitation
• Domestic abuse, including coercive control, economic abuse, or physical violence within a relationship

4. Recognising the Signs

Our companions are trained to notice and report indicators of concern, including but not limited to:

• Unexplained bruising, injuries, or changes in physical appearance
• Sudden changes in mood, behaviour, or demeanour
• Expressions of fear, anxiety, or withdrawal in the presence of certain individuals
• Evidence of financial difficulty or unexplained transactions
• Poor living conditions, inadequate nutrition, or untreated health issues
• A client becoming isolated from family, friends, or their normal support network
• Disclosures, direct or indirect, from the client or those around them

5. Our Safeguarding Commitments

Everwarm Companions commits to:

• Ensuring all companions are DBS-checked (Disclosure and Barring Service) before any client contact, where applicable under legislation
• Conducting thorough reference checks on all companions
• Providing safeguarding awareness training to all companions and staff
• Taking all safeguarding concerns seriously and responding promptly
• Acting in the best interests of the adult at risk at all times
• Maintaining clear records of all safeguarding concerns and actions taken
• Working in partnership with statutory authorities where appropriate
• Reviewing and updating this policy at least annually

6. Mental Capacity and Consent

We respect the right of every adult to make their own decisions. In accordance with the Mental Capacity Act 2005, we operate on the assumption that all adults have mental capacity unless there is specific evidence to the contrary.

Where there are concerns about a person's mental capacity to consent to receiving our service, we will:

• Consult with the family or appointed representative
• Act in the person's best interests
• Seek appropriate professional guidance if needed
• Document our decision-making process clearly

We will never provide our service where informed consent, either from the client or a legal representative, cannot be established.

7. Raising a Safeguarding Concern. Our Procedure

If a companion or member of staff identifies a safeguarding concern during or following a visit, they must follow this procedure without delay:

• Step 1, Do not ignore it. Any concern, however minor it may seem, must be reported. Companions are never expected to investigate alone.
• Step 2, Ensure immediate safety. If the client is in immediate danger, call 999 without delay.
• Step 3, Report to Everwarm Companions management as soon as possible on the same day. All reports are treated in confidence and recorded.
• Step 4, Management will assess the concern and determine whether a referral to the local authority Adult Safeguarding team or other statutory body is required.
• Step 5, Referral. Where a statutory referral is required, Everwarm Companions will contact Buckinghamshire Adult Social Care or, in urgent cases, the police.
• Step 6, Inform the family where appropriate and where this does not compromise the safety of the adult at risk.
• Step 7, Document everything. All concerns, decisions, and actions are recorded in writing and retained securely.

8. Confidentiality and Information Sharing

We understand that safeguarding concerns involve sensitive information. We treat all such information with the utmost discretion. However, confidentiality is not absolute, where a person is at risk of serious harm, we have both a legal and moral duty to share relevant information with appropriate authorities, even without the individual's consent if necessary.

Information sharing in safeguarding situations is governed by the Data Protection Act 2018, UK GDPR, and the statutory guidance Information Sharing: Advice for Practitioners.

9. Whistleblowing

Everwarm Companions encourages and supports any companion, staff member, or family member to raise concerns about the conduct of any individual, including members of our own team. All concerns raised in good faith will be taken seriously, investigated appropriately, and will not result in any detriment to the person raising them.

Whistleblowing concerns can be raised directly with management or, if the concern involves management, with an appropriate external body.

10. Safer Recruitment

Everwarm Companions follows safer recruitment practices for all companions and staff who work with vulnerable adults, including:

• Enhanced DBS checks (Disclosure and Barring Service) where required
• Verification of identity documents
• At least two professional references, verified by direct contact
• Employment history checks and gap analysis
• Face-to-face interview and values-based assessment
• Probationary period with regular check-ins

11. Training and Awareness

All Everwarm Companions team members receive safeguarding awareness training before beginning work with clients. This training is refreshed regularly and covers:

• Recognising the signs of abuse, neglect, and exploitation
• Our reporting procedures and responsibilities
• Mental Capacity Act principles
• Person-centred and dignity-respecting practice
• Appropriate boundaries in a companion relationship

12. Useful External Contacts

• Buckinghamshire Adult Social Care, 0300 131 6000 (safeguarding concerns in Buckinghamshire)
• Emergency services, 999 (immediate danger)
• Adult Social Care out of hours, 0800 999 7677
• Action on Elder Abuse Helpline, 0808 808 8141
• NHS Non-Emergency, 111
• Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO), for concerns about individuals in positions of trust

13. Policy Review

This Safeguarding Policy will be reviewed annually, or sooner if there is a relevant change in legislation, guidance, or following any significant safeguarding event. The review date is set out at the top of this document.