Welcome to Hope Housing Training & Support

Hope Housing is CELEBRATING 15 YEARS in July 2024!!! 

Hope Housing is based in Bournemouth is a charity offering supported accommodation for the homeless. Our intensive support programme is tailored to each individual, empowering them to reach their full potential through support, guidance, career skills & counselling. 

With 100 beds across Dorset, we work alongside over 25 local organisations to house as many vulnerable adults as we can, supporting them to rebuild their lives and move forward into their own accommodation and employment. With the efforts of our incredible team of Support Workers, Maintenance team & volunteers it makes it all possible to help those that really need it. 

Are you in need of our help? Are you or someone you know need of housing?

If the answer is yes, please contact us and one of our friendly team will get back to you to discuss your requirements and needs. 

Do not be afraid to reach out to us, our team are here for YOU.

'Take the first step in faith. You don't have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step'

Safe Guarding at Hope Housing 

Our Structure

Hope Housing works within the framework and culture of the Care Act 2014 to prevent and stop the risks and experience of abuse and neglect whilst promoting well-being and choice for everyone.  It is important that this policy is considered in conjunction with the Local Authority Safeguarding Framework or Policy. 'Safeguarding' is everyone's business and relies on people accepting responsibility and doing the following things:

• Being aware of the risks of abuse and neglect that vulnerable adults can face
• Understanding their role/responsibility to safeguard vulnerable adults
• Be familiar with the help that is available
• Work together to report and investigate concerns
• Work together to prevent abuse and neglect

Safeguarding encompasses the following core elements:

• Prevention of harm and abuse through provision of high quality care
• Effective responses to allegations of harm and abuse, responses that are in line with local multi agency procedures
• Using learning to improve service to service users.

Lessons from serious case reviews and inquiries have highlighted the need to make safeguarding integral to care. Prosecutions by the courts, enforcement measures by regulators and adverse media attention, all demonstrate the high cost to services, staff and service provision when there is a failure to safeguard patients. The following safeguarding principles are agreed within the Care Act 2014 as a foundation to achieving good outcomes for patients:

• Principle 1 – Empowerment - Presumption of person led decisions and consent
• Principle 2 – Protection - Support and representation for those in greatest need
• Principle 3 – Prevention - Prevention of neglect, harm and abuse is a primary objective
• Principle 4 – Proportionality - Proportionate and least intrusive response to the risk presented
• Principle 5 – Partnerships - Local solutions through services working with their communities
• Principle 6 – Accountability - Accountability and transparency in delivering safeguarding.

The different types of abuse are summarised below:

Physical Abuse

This is non-accidental harm to the body. It can include hitting, pushing, punching, kicking, pulling hair, rough handling, spitting, misuse of medication or inappropriate use of restraint.

Physical abuse can present as:

• Cuts, lacerations, puncture wounds, open wounds, bruises, welts, discolouration, black eyes, burns, bone fractures, broken bones, and skull fractures
• Untreated injuries in various stages of recovery, or not properly treated
• Poor skin condition or poor skin hygiene
• Dehydration and/or malnourishment without illness-related cause
• Loss of weight
• Soiled clothing or bed
• Broken eyeglasses/frames, physical signs of being subjected to punishment, or signs or being restrained
• Inappropriate use of medication: over dosing or under dosing
• A person telling you that they have been hit, slapped kicked or mistreated.

Domestic Violence

Domestic violence and abuse should only need to be addressed under Safeguarding Adults procedures and guidance if;

• The person has care and support needs and as a result is unable to protect himself or herself from abuse;
• and where it is likely to be best for the person involved, taking into account their wishes.
• Women's Aid defines domestic abuse as 'physical, sexual, psychological, or financial violence that takes place within an intimate or family type relationship and forms a pattern of cohesive and controlling behaviour. This can include forced marriage and so called ' honour crimes'. Domestic violence and abuse may include a range of abusive behaviours that may not include physical violence.

Sexual Abuse

Sexual abuse- including rape or attempted rape, sexual assault or sexual acts to which the adult at risk has not consented, could not consent or was pressured into consenting. Sexual abuse also includes acts of sexual harassment or non-contact abuse such as pornography.

Signs of sexual abuse include:

• Change in behaviour
• Fear, withdrawal, depression, flinching from physical contact
• Difficulty in walking/sitting
• Injuries or bruising to genital and intimate areas
• Pregnancy in a person unable to consent

Psychological/Emotional Abuse

Psychological/emotional abuse can include threats of harm or abandonment, intimidation, deprivation of contact or cultural needs, humiliation, blame or verbal. Signs of psychological abuse include:

• Withdrawal, depression
• Cowering and fearfulness
• Change in sleep patterns
• Agitation
• Confusion
• Change in behaviour
• Change in appetite/weight

Financial or Material Abuse

Financial or material abuse includes property theft, fraud, and exploitation: internet scamming, pressure in connection with wills, property, inheritance or financial transactions; or the misuse or misappropriation of property, possessions or benefits. Modern Slavery

Modern slavery encompasses; slavery, human trafficking, forced labour and domestic servitude. Traffickers and slave masters use whatever means they have at their disposal to coerce, deceive and force individuals into a life of abuse, servitude and inhuman treatment. Radicalisation is defined as the process by which an individual comes to support any form of extremism or terrorism. It has potential to cause significant harm to the individuals and to others and is therefore aligned to safeguarding principles.

Discriminatory Abuse

Discriminatory and oppressive attitudes towards race, gender, cultural background, religion, physical and/or sensory impairment, sexual orientation and age. Signs of discriminatory behaviour include;

• Low self-esteem
• Withdrawal
• Depression
• Fear or anger

Mate Crime and Hate Crime

Hate crime can be defined as; “Any hate incident, which constitutes a criminal offence, perceived by the victim or any other person, as being motivated by prejudice or hate". (ACPO). Adults may therefore be victims of mate/hate crime due to age, disability, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, socio-economics, race/ethnicity, religion/beliefs or lifestyle choice.

Mate crime is usually used to refer to abuse of an adult with care and support needs where the victim is being abused or exploited by one or more people who the victim wanted to be their friend, particularly in situations where the victim was otherwise isolated and lonely.

Organisational Abuse Organisational abuse of people with care needs can occur in any service provided to people with care needs, including;

• Home-based or domiciliary care services
• Care Homes
• Hospital or other in-patient setting
• Any primary, community or secondary health services
• Social or supported housing
• Any universal public service(e.g. Police)

Organisational abuse can involve

• Abuse where there is a culture of abusive behaviour, tolerance of abusive behaviour, repeated failure to prevent abuse or neglect within a service; including incorrect use of restraint, isolation or unauthorised deprivations of liberty.
• Repeated lower level or initially unsubstantiated concerns about a service may indicate possible organisational abuse or neglect.
• Safeguarding concerns within a service relating solely to the behaviour of an individual staff member would not usually be seen as organisational abuse but where there are wider concerns about the culture, practice or supervision within an organisation this can indicate organisational abuse.

Neglect and acts of omission

Including ignoring medical or physical care needs, failure to provide access to appropriate health, social care or educational needs or services, inadequate nutrition or heating, failure to protect privacy or dignity, poor environmental conditions. Self Neglect

Is now a category of abuse under the Care Act Statutory Guidance 2014. The Care Act includes duties on health and care services and service commissioners to promote well being. There are many types of self-neglect and many factors that can contribute to people neglecting themselves and putting themselves at risk. People who neglect themselves can often be at risk of other forms of abuse and exploitation.

Process

1.0       Recruitment

1.1      Staff appointments are not confirmed until an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service and Protection of Vulnerable Adults (PoVA) check has been completed. 

2.0       Training

2.1       All staff should receive basic training in safeguarding adults at risk and identifying and responding to evidence or suspicions of abuse. This training is included in the induction process for all staff, we offer introductory training for all staff and this is then supplemented by higher level, formalised in-house and / or external training and individual supervision throughout employment as appropriate to the role.

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3.0      Monitoring

3.1       The Trust has a ‘Whistle Blowing Policy’ so that all staff feel able to report any suspicions, concerns or incidents of alleged abuse without fear of recrimination.

4.0       Reporting

4.1       As soon as a member of staff becomes aware or suspicious of an abusive incident it is their duty to inform the line manager immediately, unless of course the allegations concern that person, in which case the relevant authorities should be contacted.  Any delay in reporting can put the safety of the abused person and other individuals at risk, and may result in the loss of forensic evidence. All referrals should be directed to the Local Authority Adult Safeguarding Board. 

4.2       If the service user requires medical attention this should be sought immediately either by calling for an ambulance or the GP depending on the level of injury / assault. If it is considered that a crime has been committed i.e. rape or assault then the Police should also be informed.  If there is a possibility that forensic evidence still exists it should be preserved and not cleaned up.

4.3      Immediate steps must be taken to comfort the person who has been the victim and re-assure them that every care will be taken to prevent a further incident. Arrangements must be made to ensure that there is no further contact between the person and the alleged abuser until the incident has been fully investigated.  Any subsequent contact between the person who is alleged to have been abused and the alleged abuser will be dependent upon the outcome of the investigation.

4.4       Unless the service user wishes otherwise, their next of kin or representative should be notified of the abusive incident at an early opportunity.

4.5       Where the service user does not have mental capacity in accordance with the Mental Capacity Act (MCA) (2005) and has not specified to the contrary, their family or Lasting Power of Attorney for Personal Welfare should be informed of what is alleged to have occurred, but without identifying the person(s) alleged to have been the perpetrator(s).

4.6       The Support Manager considers whether other residents or persons may be at risk from the alleged abuser(s) and act accordingly to protect them.

4.7       The organisation has a duty to report any allegations or suspicions that a vulnerable adult is being abused in accordance with the local Policy and Procedures for the Protection of Vulnerable Adults from Abuse, and as such the local Adult Safeguarding Team must be informed. In an extreme situation, or where a crime has been committed, it will be necessary to contact the police immediately both for intervention and/or protection.

4.8       In documenting the incident in the facts must be clearly separated from opinion and the presence of witnesses to an incident recorded in detail. Such documented information must be made available to the Adult Safeguarding Investigation.

4.9       An Incident Form must be completed to ensure that themes emerging from the reporting of incidents relating to safeguarding can be identified and any learning shared appropriately across the whole organisation.  In the event of a serious injury, a Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (RIDDOR) form may also need to be completed.

4.10    The CEO or appropriate Trustee should be contacted for advice with regard to management action if the alleged abuser is a member of staff; for example, there may be grounds for suspension pending the completion of an investigation.

5.0       If the alleged abuser is a member of staff, the CEO or the appropriate Trustee should be involved in advising on subsequent management action pending the results of an investigation, for example; consideration for inclusion on the Protection of Vulnerable Adults (PoVA) list.