Safeguarding Policy

This policy applies to staff, volunteers, trustees and counsellors working with Frome Birth Talk.

 

 

The purpose of this policy:

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1. To provide staff, counsellors, trustees and volunteers with the overarching principles that guide our approach to child and adult safeguarding. Throughout this document the term ‘staff’ is used to mean all members of our team listed above. 

 

2. To protect:

• Children who attend our groups and events.

• Adults at risk who attend our groups and events.

• Adults at risk, who receive counselling through Frome Birth Talk.

• *Children related to adults who receive counselling, through Frome Birth Talk.

  

*Children refers to children born, and not yet born 

 

Frome Birth Talk’s Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) is Karen Patrick

Contact: kpatrick@fromebirthtalk.org Tel: 07974253461

 

The deputy DSL is Suzy Cristinacce

Contact: scristinacce@fromebirthtalk.org.uk Tel: 07767 955710

 

 

 

Safeguarding Statement

 

Frome Birth Talk believes that children and adults at risk must always be protected from harm.  

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We believe that every family deserves support for mental health problems and any other issues that lead them to feel unsafe or unable to thrive. We can support families’ mental health concerns through our counselling services, and by providing opportunities for peer support and connection at our baby and toddler groups. We hope that in building trusting and respectful relationships with families, they may share their concerns with us if they are feeling unsafe or need further support, and that we can effectively signpost and refer to other services. In line with local and national guidance, we seek to be transparent and include families in any referrals for support outside of our services, unless to do so poses risk of significant harm to anyone involved, or when delaying a referral may increase risk of harm.

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We want families who use our services to feel safe. We will achieve this by having an effective safeguarding procedure and following national and local guidance.

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If we discover or suspect a child is suffering harm, we will notify Somerset Children’s Social Care in order that they can be protected if necessary. If a child is in immediate danger, including for incidents relating to female genital mutilation (FGM) or extremism/radicalisation, we will contact the police.

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We will review our child protection policy and procedures every year to make sure they are still relevant and effective.

 

 

Safeguarding children

 

Legal framework:

 

This policy has been drawn up based on law and guidance that seeks to protect children. Further information is available via the links in Appendix 1.

 

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Child Protection Procedure

 

There will be a named Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL), who will be responsible for dealing with any concerns about the protection of children.  This person is currently Karen Patrick.

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All staff will be carefully selected to try and ensure they do not pose a risk to children. They will be asked to complete a safeguarding self-declaration document when applying for any role with Frome Birth Talk. Staff will always be DBS checked and volunteers where possible. Where they are not, and they are involved in an activity, a DBS-checked volunteer or staff member will accompany them. Volunteers without a DBS check will never be in a situation where they are alone with a child. 

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At least two members of the organisation will have completed DSL training. All staff and volunteers will receive basic safeguarding training appropriate to their role within the organisation. This will include information about what to do if they have concerns about a child, where to get advice and what to do if no one seems to have taken their concerns seriously.  

 

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Procedures relating to concerns about children

 

Staff and volunteers are expected to be familiar with the signs and symptoms of child abuse (see Appendix 2) and will record incidents on the appropriate form (see Appendix 3). Once completed these should be sent immediately to the DSL. Completed forms will be filed, sent and stored securely in line with our data protection policy.  

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Each incident or concern will be reported on a separate form with a full description of the issue as well as any actions taken and/or explanations given.

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The DSL will decide whether further action is necessary. Any action taken will comply with the Somerset Local Safeguarding Children Board procedures (see Appendix 4).

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Any child wishing to disclose an incident should be given the opportunity to be listened to in a non-judgemental way. The listener should limit their questioning to prevent possible contamination of evidence. (See Appendix 5 for ‘dos’ and ‘don’ts’).

 

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Procedures relating to allegations of abuse by a member of staff or volunteer

 

All staff and volunteers are expected to always follow Frome Birth Talk’s code of conduct for Staff, volunteers and Trustees (see Appendix 6)

Any allegations of abuse by a trustee, staff member or volunteer should be directed to the DSL. If the allegation is against the DSL, it should be referred to the director, Suzy Cristinacce.

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Any member of staff or volunteer accused of abuse should record their recollection of the event(s) as soon as possible, including names of any witness, but should not discuss the incident with colleagues or children.

The accused person should co-operate with any investigation, using the support of a third party if needed.

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An initial investigation will be carried out to obtain a fair and balanced picture of the alleged incident.

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If necessary, the matter should be referred to Somerset Children’s Social Care for action.

 

 

Domestic Abuse

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It is well-recognised that women and birthing people are at greater risk of domestic abuse during pregnancy. Police data highlights that in Somerset 38.7% of all violent offences are domestic abuse related. (Somerset Domestic Abuse Strategy 2021-2024) Furthermore 40%-60% of women experiencing domestic violence are abused while pregnant. (Department of Health, 2005)

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Domestic abuse increases the risk of miscarriage, infection, premature birth, and injury or death to the baby. It can also cause emotional and mental health problems, such as stress and anxiety, which can affect the development of the baby. (NHS)

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Children, including unborn babies, are seen as helpless victims, through witnessing and experiencing domestic abuse within the family, and child safeguarding procedures will be followed in any situation where a disclosure of domestic abuse is made. 

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For more information see - Domestic Abuse Act 2021 (legislation.gov.uk)

It may also be appropriate to follow the adult safeguarding procedure if the adult disclosing the abuse is deemed to be at risk.

 

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Safeguarding Adults 

 

Safeguarding adults only applies to an adult deemed “at risk“.

 

Definition of Adult at risk: An adult at risk is a person aged 18 or over who needs care and support (whether or not those needs are being met), who is experiencing, or at risk of abuse or neglect, and because of those needs is unable to protect themselves against the abuse or neglect or the risk of it. The term replaces ‘vulnerable adult’.

For further information please see-

https://ssab.safeguardingsomerset.org.uk/

 

Adults at risk Procedure: This policy has been drawn up based on law and guidance that seeks to protect adults at risk. For Further information is available via the links in Appendix 7

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There will be a named designated safeguarding lead (DSL), who will be responsible for dealing with any concerns about the protection of adults at risk. This person is currently Karen Patrick.

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For signs and symptoms of abuse in at-risk adults refer to Appendix 8

Each incident or concern will be reported on a separate form with a full description of the issue as well as any actions taken and/or explanations given. Once completed these should be sent immediately to the DSL. Completed forms will be filed, sent and stored securely in line with our data protection policy.  

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The DSL will decide whether further action is necessary. Any action taken will comply with the Somerset Local Safeguarding Adults Board procedures (see Appendix 9).

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Any adult at risk wishing to disclose an incident should be given the opportunity to be listened to in a non-judgemental way. The listener should limit their questioning to prevent possible contamination of evidence. (see Appendix 5 for dos and don’t’s).

 

Self-harming behaviours putting adults at risk: Some of FBT clients will be at risk by virtue of their mental health status and specifically when disclosing self-harming behaviours, including suicidal ideation. This information may come up when completing the CORE 34 initial assessment tool or later in the sessions. At either time, depending on the severity of the disclosure, the use of a risk assessment tool (see Appendix 10) is advised. 

Procedures relating to allegations of abuse by a member of staff or volunteer: Any allegations of abuse by a trustee, staff member or volunteer should be directed to the DSL. If the allegation is against the DSL, it should be referred to the director, Suzy Cristinacce.

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Any member of staff or volunteer accused of abuse should record the event as soon as possible including names of any witness but should not discuss the incident with colleagues or children.

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The accused person should co-operate with any investigation, using the support of a third party if needed.

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An initial investigation will be carried out to obtain a fair and balanced picture of the alleged incident.

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If necessary, the matter should be referred to Somerset adult's Social Care for action.

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Procedure for dealing with an incident at an event: If an incident occurs at one of our events or groups, staff will assess the situation and decide if emergency services need to be involved. If so, they will the call emergency Police/Fire/Ambulance as appropriate. The Director or Volunteer Co-Ordinator should be informed as soon as possible.

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Responsibility for actions involving children always remains with the parent/carer. All volunteers will be informed of this procedure.

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Photos and videos may be taken at events. These will be stored safely for no longer than a year and may be used for publicity purposes. Parental consent will be gained (either verbal or written) if a child or children can be visually identified and are not in a public place.

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Sharing information: Frome Birth Talk wish to make the process of sharing information transparent, to build respectful and trusting relationships. 

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At the outset of counselling sessions, the confidentiality agreement between counsellors and clients is discussed. This discussion includes a clear statement about what happens in the event of a safeguarding concern which negates the confidentiality agreement. Consent does not need to be given if concerns are only being passed to the DSL to store securely.  Although a volunteer, counsellor, member of staff or trustee could tell the family:

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"I would like to tell our Designated Safeguarding Lead about this, to see if more support is available.” 

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The DSL may use the Early Help Assessment Form to assess if support from other agencies is required (see appendix 11). This form will be done in partnership with families whenever possible.

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In most cases it is appropriate to seek consent. However, there are some cases where it is not. Consent should not be sought if doing so would: 

 

• Place a person (the individual, family member, worker or a third party) at increased risk of significant harm (if a child) or serious harm (if an adult); 

• Prejudice the prevention, detection or prosecution of a serious crime - this is likely to cover most criminal offences relating to children; 

• Lead to an unjustified delay in making enquiries about allegations of significant harm (to a child) or serious harm (to an adult). At any stage of a pregnancy where pre-birth vulnerabilities or risks are identified, the Early Help Assessment should still be completed to hold information, practitioners should record who has been given the information and why.

 

(Somerset Effective Support for Children and Families 2022)

 

 

Summary of training, responsibilities and escalation procedures 

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• All new volunteers, staff, trustees, and counsellors have current DBS checks in place, which are renewed every three years. 

• Training on the Frome Birth Talk safeguarding policy and processes is included in the induction of everyone joining the organisation in any role. Additional training is provided as and when there are any updates to the policy or where there may be learning from a specific case or incident.  

• Annual training in the essentials of child and adult safeguarding is provided for volunteers. Their point of contact is the volunteer co-ordinator for any queries or possible concerns, and these are then escalated via the DSL. 

• Counsellors will discuss any safeguarding concerns in supervision and escalate via the DSL.

• There is also discussion of any safeguarding issues at the quarterly meeting of Counsellors and FBT staff. 

• The DSL presents safeguarding updates at the monthly trustee meetings. 

• Staff members are line-managed through the director of FBT who has additional training in adult and child safe-guarding. 

• Any issues are escalated through the DSL. 

• There is a formal reporting process for any safeguarding cases or incidents, and these are stored securely in line with GDPR regulations. 

• Refresher training is provided every three years to staff, trustees, and counsellors. 

• Please see flow-charts in Appendix 12 for further information.

 

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Appendix 1   The legal framework for safeguarding adults and children

 

 

The Care Act

 

The Care Act 2014 is the law that sets out how adult social care in England should be provided. This law also sets out what local authorities (and some other organisations in the care sector) must do related to safeguarding adults (including by setting up a Safeguarding Adults Board in their area)

 

https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2014/23/pdfs/ukpga_20140023_en.pdf

Sections 42 – 47 

 

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Safeguarding children

 

The key pieces of legislation:

• The Children Act 1989 (as amended).

• The Children and Social Work Act 2017.

• Keeping Children Safe in Education.

• Working Together to Safeguard Children 2018.

• The Education Act 2002.

• The United Nations convention on the Rights of the Child 1992.

• The Equality Act 2010.

• The Children and Families Act 2014.

• The Human Rights Act 1998.

• Key information from the legislation

 

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The Children Act 1989

 

The full document can be found here: Children Act 1989. The essentials of this piece of legislation are –

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• To allow children to be healthy.

• Allowing children to remain safe in their environments.

• Helping children to enjoy life.

• Assist children in their quest to succeed.

• Help make a contribution – a positive contribution – to the lives of children.

• Help achieve economic stability for our children’s futures.

 

The Children Act outlined the definition of Children in Need, which is a useful definition to be aware of.

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“a child who is unlikely to achieve or maintain, or to have the opportunity of achieving or maintaining, a reasonable standard of health or development without the provision of services by a Local Authority; or

• a child whose health or development is likely to be significantly impaired; or further impaired, without the provision for him of such services; or

• a child is disabled”

 

It therefore places the responsibility with the local authority to ensure that these children are safeguarded. Local authorities are tasked with attempting to ensure, wherever possible, that children are brought up in their own families. This definition is key to safeguarding as in 2019 there were 399,500 children considered to be a child in need.

 

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Working Together to Safeguard Children 2018

 

The Working Together to Safeguard Children document defines abuse as: “A form of maltreatment of a child. Somebody may abuse or neglect a child by inflicting harm, or by failing to act to prevent harm. Children may be abused in a family or in an institutional or community setting by those known to them or, more rarely, by others. Abuse can take place wholly online, or technology may be used to facilitate offline abuse. Children may be abused by an adult or adults, or another child or children”.

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The full document can be found  here. The main purpose surrounding the development of this document was to share the importance of an inter-agency approach to safeguarding. This guidance was created after many instances of children not being kept safe due to the failure of different agencies to communicate and work together. When you think of safeguarding, it is important to think about it in terms of a jigsaw puzzle. Only once all the pieces are in place, can you see the full picture.

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For example, a well-know, very tragic incident was the murder of Victoria Climbie by her Great-Aunt and Great-Aunt’s bodyfriend. While I do not want to share the details here, if you do wish to learn more about this case, please do feel free to take a look at this link: The Victoria Climbie Inquiry. Simply, Victoria moved to England with her Aunt in 1999, at the age of 8, after leaving the Ivory Coast where she was born. Victoria’s Aunt moved in with her boyfriend a couple of months later, where Victoria began to be severely abused.

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Victoria visited the hospital on numerous occasions with various injuries, noticed by different professionals. Victoria’s Aunt managed to ‘explain’ the injuries and social services intervention was cancelled. This happened more than once. Victoria’s Aunt confessed to social services that her boyfriend sexually assaulted Victoria, but retracted her statement. No further action was taken. On 24 February 2000, Victoria was rushed to hospital suffering from malnutrition and hypothermia. She died the next day. When a home office pathologist examined her body, he noticed over 128 separate injuries and scars and described it as, “The worst case of child abuse I’ve encountered.”

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Sadly, this is one case of many that led to changes in current legislation. However, in Working Together to Safeguard Children, we see a considerable focus on an inter-agency approach to safeguarding, which aims to prevent occurrences such as that of Victoria Climbie’s from ever occurring.

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This document provides guidance on:

• Assessing need and providing help including early help.

• Organisational responsibilities.

• Multi-agency safeguarding arrangements.

• Local and national child safeguarding practice reviews; and child death reviews.

This guidance sets out details of the local authority’s responsibility regarding the protection, safeguarding and welfare of all children. It also sets out details regarding how organisations and individuals should work together when conducting assessments of children.

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The key principles from the legislation are:

• Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility: for services to be effective each professional and organisation should play their full part.

• A child-centred approach: for services to be effective they should be based on a clear understanding of the needs and views of children.

 

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Appendix 2: Signs and Symptoms of abuse in children

 

Possible signs of PHYSICAL ABUSE include:

• Unexplained injuries or burns

• Refusal to discuss injuries

• Untreated injuries or lingering illnesses not attended to

• Admission of punishment which appears excessive

• Shrinking from physical contact

• Fear of undressing

• Aggression / bullying

• Running away

• Unexplained pattern of absences which may serve to hide bruises or other physical injuries

• Bruises and finger marks / cigarette burns

• Improbable explanations for injuries

• Fear of returning home or of parents being contacted

• Fear of medical help

• Over-compliant behaviour

• Significant changes in behaviour without explanation

 

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Possible signs of EMOTIONAL ABUSE include:

• Fear of new situations

• Self-harm or mutilation

• Drug / solvent abuse

• Air of detachment – ‘don’t care’ attitude

• Social isolation – does not join in and has few friendsDesperate attention-seeking behaviour

• Eating problems

• Inappropriate emotional responses to painful situations

• Compulsive stealing / scrounging

• ‘Neurotic’ behaviour – obsessive rocking, thumb sucking

 

Possible signs of NEGLECT include:

• Constant hunger

• Inappropriate clothing

• Untreated medical problems

• Poor social relationships

• Constant tiredness

• Poor personal hygiene

• Frequent lateness or non-attendance at school

• Low self-esteem

• Compulsive stealing or scrounging

 

Possible signs of SEXUAL ABUSE include:

• Bruises, scratches or bite marks on the body

• Scratches, abrasions or persistent infections in the anal or genital regions – STIs /genital warts

• Pregnancy

• Sexual awareness inappropriate to the child’s age – e.g. shown in drawings, vocabulary, games etc.

• Frequent public masturbation

• Attempts to teach other children about sexual activity

• Refusing to stay with certain people or go to certain places

• Aggressiveness, anger, anxiety, tearfulness

• Withdrawal from friends

 

These lists may indicate that a child is being abused. However, in themselves they are not evidence of abuse, but they may suggest abuse if a child exhibits several of them or if a pattern emerges. Remember that there can be other explanations for a child showing such signs or behaving in such ways.

 

Appendix 3 – Record of Child and Adult at risk safeguarding concerns Incidents 

FBT due diligence form 

 

Due diligence form - Frome Birth Talk Please use this form to record any concerns about a Frome Birth Talk client not necessitating a safeguarding procedure and keep with the client’s paperwork, for instance to note if further counselling is recommended or if signposting to other services has taken place. 

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Appendix 4 - Somerset Local Safeguarding Children Board procedures

 

Policies, procedures and guidance are available on Somerset Local Safeguarding Children Board website:

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www.somersetlscb.org.uk

South West Child Protection Procedures

www.swcpp.org.uk

Direct and immediate child protection concerns should be made to the Police by dialling 999 and/or Somerset Children’s Social Care Emergency Duty team on: 0300 1232224

Early Help Advice Hub:

01823 355803

Children’s Safeguarding Leads Consultation line:

0300 123 3078

Appendix 5 - Do’s & Don’ts if a child or at-risk adult tells you they are being/have been abused in some way

 

DO

• Believe the child / young person and tell them you believe them.

• Tell the child / young person you are glad they told you.

• Acknowledge that the child / young person has been brave to tell you.

• Reassure the child / young person that what has happened is not their fault that the abuser is responsible for what has happened to them.

• Reassure the child / young person that what has happened to them is not unusual and has happened to other children. They are not alone – and that talking about it is the first step to helping them and making it stop

• Be honest about your position, who you will have to tell and why.

• Ensure that you make notes as soon after the disclosure as is possible.

• Keep the child / young person fully informed about what you are doing / what is happening at every stage.

• Give the child / young person information about other confidential sources of help (i.e. CHILDLINE (0800 1111) if appropriate.

• Ensure that the child is safe to remain in the environment where the abuse occurred.

• Feel able to talk about your own feelings – though not specific details of the situation – with a colleague.

 

DO NOT

• Make promises that you cannot keep.

• ‘Interrogate’ the child / young person with lots of questions. It isn’t your role to carry out an investigation – that is up to the Social Services / Police.

• Cast doubt on what the child / young person tells you. It has taken a great deal of courage for them to speak.

• Say anything which may make the child / young person feel responsible for the abuse

• (e.g. ‘why haven’t you told anyone before?’).

• Communicate your feelings of anger without stating that it is the abuser you feel angry towards: the child / young person may think you are angry with them.

• Do not return a child to an environment where they have told you they are unsafe, especially as the disclosure may have caused the abuser to be suspicious of the child / young person because they may be acting or speaking differently, or been late out of school, or unable to explain where they have been or who they have been with.

 

 

Appendix 6 - Frome Birth Talk Code of conduct for Staff, Trustees and volunteers    

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Frome Birth Talk Code of Conduct

I will respect and uphold the values of Frome Birth Talk, which provides free professional counselling and peer support for pregnant and new mothers and those who have recently lost a baby. 

 

General

• I will act within the governing document of Frome Birth Talk and the law and abide by the policies and procedures of the organisation. This includes having a knowledge of the contents of the constitution and relevant policies and procedures.

• I will support the objects and mission of Frome Birth Talk, championing it, using any skills or knowledge I have to further that mission and seeking expert advice where appropriate.

• I will be an active trustee, making my skills, experience and knowledge available to Frome Birth Talk and seeking to do what additional work I can outside trustee meetings, including sitting on sub-committees.

• I will respect organisational, board and individual confidentiality, while never using confidentiality as an excuse not to disclose matters that should be transparent and open.

• I will develop and maintain a sound and up-to-date knowledge of Frome Birth Talk and its environment. This will include an understanding of how Frome Birth Talk operates, the social, political and economic environment in which it operates and the nature and extent of its work.

• I will use Frome Birth Talk’s resources responsibly, and when claiming expenses will do so in line with Frome Birth Talk procedures.

• I will seek to be accountable for my actions as a trustee of Frome Birth Talk and will submit myself to whatever scrutiny is appropriate.

• I accept my responsibility to ensure that Frome Birth Talk is well run and will raise issues and questions in an appropriate and constructive way to ensure that this is the case.

 

Managing Interests

• I will not gain materially or financially from my involvement with Frome Birth Talk unless specifically authorised to do so.

• I will act in the best interests of Frome Birth Talk as a whole, and not as a representative of any group – considering what is best for Frome Birth Talk and its present and future beneficiaries and avoiding bringing Frome Birth Talk into disrepute.

• Unless authorised, I will not put myself in a position where my personal interests conflict with my duty to act in the interests of the organisation. Where there is a conflict of interest I will ensure that this is managed effectively in line with Frome Birth Talk policy. I understand that a failure to declare a conflict of interest may be considered to be a breach of this code. 

 

Meetings

• I will attend all appropriate meetings and other appointments at Frome Birth Talk or give apologies. If I cannot regularly attend meetings I will consider whether there are other ways I can engage with Frome Birth Talk.

• I will prepare fully for all meetings and work for the organisation. This will include reading papers, querying anything I do not understand, thinking through issues before meetings and completing any tasks assigned to me in the agreed time.

• I will actively engage in discussion, debate and voting in meetings; contributing in a considered and constructive way, listening carefully, challenging constructively and avoiding conflict. I will endeavour to communicate clearly to avoid misunderstanding.   

• I will participate in collective decision making, accept a majority decision of the board and will not act individually unless specifically authorised to do so.

 

Governance

• I will actively contribute towards improving the governance of the trustee board, participating in induction and training and sharing ideas for improvement with the board.

• I will help to identify good candidates for trusteeship at Frome Birth Talk and, with my fellow trustees, will appoint new trustees in accordance with agreed selection criteria.

 

Relations with Others 

• I will endeavour to work considerately and respectfully with all those I come into contact with at Frome Birth Talk. I will respect diversity, different roles and boundaries, and avoid giving offence (see Diversity Policy). I will endeavour to communicate clearly to avoid misunderstanding.  

• I recognise that the roles of trustees, volunteers and staff of Frome Birth Talk are different, and I will seek to understand and respect the difference between these roles. Where I also volunteer with the organisation I will maintain the separation of my role as a trustee and as a volunteer. 

• I will seek to support and encourage all those I come into contact with at Frome Birth Talk. In particular I recognise my responsibility to support the Chair and the Director. 

• I will not make public comments about the organisation unless authorised to do so. Any public comments I make about Frome Birth Talk will be considered and in line with organisational policy, whether I make them as an individual or as a trustee. 

 

Leaving the Board

• I understand that substantial breach of any part of this code may result in procedures being put in motion that may result in my being asked to resign from the trustee board. 

• Should this happen I will be given the opportunity to be heard. In the event that I am asked to resign from the board I will accept the majority decision of the board in this matter and resign at the earliest opportunity. 

• If I wish to cease being a trustee of Frome Birth Talk at any time, I will inform the chair in advance in writing, stating my reasons for leaving, giving at least four weeks notice. 

 

Trustees are expected to honour the content and spirit of this code.

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Appendix 7 – Safeguarding adults

 

The guidance for safeguarding adults applies to anyone over the age of 18 who:

• Has needs for care and support (whether or not the local authority is meeting any of those needs)

• Is experiencing, or at risk of, abuse or neglect

• As a result of their care and support needs is unable to protect themselves from either the risk of, or the experience of abuse and neglect

• (Care Act 2014 – Care and Support Statutory Guidance)

•  An adult at risk may therefore be a person who:

• Is elderly and physically disabled due to ill health or cognitive impairment

• Has a learning disability

• Has a physical disability and/or a sensory impairment

• Has mental health needs, including dementia or a personality disorder

• Has a long-term illness / condition

• Misuses substances or alcohol

• Is unable to demonstrate the capacity to make a decision and is in need of care and support

Please note that the above list is not exhaustive.

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Appendix 8 - Signs and Symptoms of Abuse in adults

What is abuse? – Somerset Safeguarding Adults Board (safeguardingsomerset.org.uk)

 

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Appendix 9 - Somerset Local Safeguarding Adults Board procedures

 

Telephone 0300 123 2224 (Monday to Friday 8am to 6pm, Saturday and Sunday closed)

 

Email adults@somerset.gov.uk

or Complete the Professionals safeguarding referral form

 

The phone number for Adults and Mental Health out of hours is 01823 368 244

 

Referrers should be notified of the outcome of the referral in a timely manner.

 

At all points during a referral, and if applicable a subsequent enquiry, staff must ensure that they consider the views of the individual by Making Safeguarding Personal and document how they have done this, particularly where a decision is taken to override them.

 

Guidance for Safeguarding Adults in Somerset – Somerset Safeguarding Adults Board (safeguardingsomerset.org.uk)

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Appendix 10 – Risk assessment tool for use with adults who disclose self-harm

 

RISK ASSESSMENT QUESTIONNAIRE

 

• Have you planned a date to end your life? 

• Do you have a plan and if so how likely are you to act on that plan?

• If No, what stops you ending your life? 

• What means will you use to end your life and do you have the means: 

• Have you made any suicide attempts in the past?

• Have you told others about these feelings (e.g. GP, Mental health team, parents)? 

• Would GP appointment make sense now?

• What do you think would be (re)solved if you ended your life?

• What do you look forward to in the future? 

• Hobbies, Support Network and ways of self-soothing/coping already?

 

Would a SAFETY PLAN be supportive?:  YES – Completed  / NO - because: 

Would it be helpful to liaise with a 3rd party? 

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