1. Purpose
Prior Mindset is committed to safeguarding adults at risk of harm and promoting their wellbeing, safety, and rights. This policy ensures compliance with the Care Act 2014, Working Together to Safeguard Adults (ADASS, LGA, NHS England 2023), and other relevant statutory guidance. It sets out how all staff and associates will act to protect adults at risk from abuse, neglect, or exploitation.
2. Scope
This policy applies to:
All Prior Mindset practitioners, staff, contractors, volunteers, and associates.
All adults aged 18 and over who use Prior Mindset services.
Both in-person and remote/online service delivery.
3. Policy Statement
Adults have the right to live their lives free from abuse, neglect, and exploitation.
Safeguarding will be guided by the six principles of the Care Act 2014:
Empowerment – People being supported to make their own decisions.
Prevention – Taking action before harm occurs.
Proportionality – The least intrusive response to the risk presented.
Protection – Support for those in greatest need.
Partnership – Local solutions through working with communities and agencies.
Accountability – Transparency in safeguarding practice.
Prior Mindset will act promptly and proportionately to concerns, always considering the wishes of the adult concerned.
4. Key Definitions
Adult at Risk: A person aged 18 or over who has needs for care and support, is experiencing or at risk of abuse or neglect, and as a result of those needs is unable to protect themselves.
Abuse may be physical, emotional, sexual, financial, discriminatory, institutional, organisational, or neglect/self-neglect.
DSL (Designated Safeguarding Lead): The named individual at Prior Mindset responsible for coordinating adult safeguarding.
5. Responsibilities
All Staff
Complete safeguarding adults training at induction and refresher training every 12 months.
Remain alert to signs of abuse, neglect, self-neglect, exploitation, or financial control.
Record and report concerns immediately to the DSL.
Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL)
Oversees adult safeguarding processes within Prior Mindset.
Maintains a safeguarding log, investigates concerns, and escalates appropriately.
Liaises with the Local Authority Safeguarding Adults Board (SAB), social care, NHS, or police.
Ensures staff receive appropriate training.
Management
Provides resources and support for safeguarding responsibilities.
Ensures compliance with the Care Act 2014 and relevant safeguarding frameworks.
6. Safer Recruitment
All staff working with vulnerable adults must undergo enhanced DBS checks where applicable.
Safer recruitment procedures include reference checks, identity verification, and safeguarding-focused interview questions.
Ongoing suitability will be monitored, with staff required to declare any relevant changes.
7. Recognising Signs of Abuse and Neglect
Examples include:
Physical: hitting, misuse of medication, inappropriate restraint.
Emotional/Psychological: intimidation, humiliation, controlling behaviour.
Sexual: unwanted touching, sexual assault, exploitation.
Financial/Material: theft, fraud, misuse of property or benefits.
Neglect/Self-Neglect: ignoring medical or care needs, hoarding, poor nutrition.
Discriminatory: harassment or denial of services based on race, gender, disability, age, sexual orientation, religion.
Organisational/Institutional: poor care practices within a setting.
8. Responding to Concerns
Concerns must be reported immediately to the DSL.
Staff must create a factual written record within 24 hours.
The DSL will decide whether to escalate to the local authority Safeguarding Adults Team or the police.
In urgent situations, staff should call 999 without delay.
The wishes of the adult will be respected where possible, unless there is a risk of serious harm to themselves or others.
9. Information Sharing & Confidentiality
Information will be shared lawfully, in line with UK GDPR and safeguarding legislation.
Safeguarding concerns override confidentiality if safety is at risk.
Wherever possible, adults will be informed of what information is shared and with whom.
10. Remote & Online Safeguarding
Identity of the adult must be verified at the start of service.
Practitioners must ensure the adult is in a safe, private environment during sessions.
Secure, encrypted platforms must be used.
No sessions may be recorded without explicit written consent.
11. Allegations Against Staff
Allegations must be reported to the DSL immediately.
The DSL will inform the Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) or equivalent adult safeguarding contact.
Staff may be suspended pending investigation.
12. Empowering Adults
Adults will be encouraged to make their own safeguarding decisions wherever possible (“Making Safeguarding Personal” approach).
Practitioners will balance duty of care with respecting autonomy.
Advocacy services will be signposted where appropriate.
13. Training & Review
All staff trained to Level 2 Safeguarding Adults; DSL trained to Level 3 or above.
Additional specialist training will be provided as required (e.g. mental health crisis, domestic abuse).
Policy reviewed annually or sooner if legislation changes.
14. Monitoring Compliance
DSL to maintain a safeguarding log and present annual safeguarding report to management.
Lessons learned from incidents will be reviewed and integrated into training and policy.
15. Policy Ownership
Owned by: Designated Safeguarding Lead
Approved by: Senior Management Team
Applies across all Prior Mindset services and platforms.