The Whiteley Homes Trust is committed to safeguarding adults and those at risk and has a responsibility to ensure that all colleagues know what to do if they encounter abuse or have concerns that an individual/s may be at risk of harm. The Whiteley Homes Trust is committed to working within agreed policies and procedures and in partnership with other agencies to ensure that the risks of harm to an individual is minimised. Furthermore, all employees at The Whiteley Homes Trust has the appropriate level of safeguarding training.
Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility and aims to protect individuals health, wellbeing, and human rights, and enable them to live free from harm, abuse, and neglect.
The aims of safeguarding are to:
- Stop abuse, neglect, and exploitation wherever possible.
- Prevent harm and reduce the risk of abuse or neglect.
- Safeguard individuals in a way that supports them in making choices and having control about how they want to live.
- Raise public awareness so that communities, alongside professionals, play their part in preventing, identifying, and responding to abuse and neglect.
- Help people understand the different types of abuse, how to stay safe and what to do to raise a concern about the safety or well-being of an individual.
The Care Act 2014 sets out the statutory framework for safeguarding individuals, stating that Local Authorities are required to make enquiries into allegations of abuse or neglect. Safeguarding is mainly aimed at people with care and support needs who may be in vulnerable circumstances and at risk of abuse or neglect by others. In these cases, local services must work together to identify those at risk and take steps to protect them. The support and protection of adults at risk cannot be achieved by a single agency, every service has a responsibility. Trust colleagues are not responsible for making a diagnosis of abuse and neglect; however, they are responsible to share concerns appropriately and refer onto the LA who have the Statutory Lead.
Our Safeguarding Policy further outlines how The Whiteley Homes Trust will fulfil its legal duties and statutory responsibilities.
