Siobhan Nunn_IASW_SIGA2016

Siobhan Nunn
Principal Social Worker
Safeguarding and Protection Team CHO7
29th Jan 2016
The Foundations
 “Protecting our Future” 2002
 2007 – 2015
8 Years experience of Elder
Protection Senior Case Workers
 2007 – 2014 Over 12,152 Elder Abuse
allegations investigated. 50,000 staff trained.
 Progression of the Assisted Decision-Making
(Capacity) Act 2015
 Evolving system of Child Protection in Ireland –
Child and Family Agency formed 1st Jan 2014
Aras Attracta
 Image
The Story so Far
 December 2014 Safeguarding Vulnerable Persons at





Risk of Abuse “National Policy and Procedure”
Jan. 2015 National Safeguarding Office established
May 2015 11 new Safeguarding Social Workers
appointed
2015 Elder Protection Case Workers transfer to
Safeguarding and Protection Teams
September - November 2015 9 new Principal Social
Workers appointed
December 2015 First meeting of the National Inter Sectoral Safeguarding Committee
Aim of the Policy
To provide a consistent approach to safeguard and
protect clients of Disability Services and Older
Persons’ Services from abuse and neglect.
The implementation of the policy is part of the six
step change programme of the National Task Force
set up following response to Aras Attracta
Scope of Policy
 Policy currently only covers social care division services
 Mental Health, Primary Care and acute services may in future come
under scope of policy. Still utilising own processes for dealing with
allegations and concerns
 Aware that some service users have dual diagnosis and access services
across HSE divisions
 Some providers of services involved across HSE Divisions
Started 23rd November 2015
PSW Principals in SPT Teams
safeguarding .CHO() @hse.ie
 CHO Area 1- Donna Carroll
 CHO Area 2- Pauline Levins
 CHO Area 3- Maggie McNally
 CHO Area 4- Kathleen O’ Mahoney
 CHO Area 5- Jacinta Brennan
 CHO Area 6- Tony McCusker
 CHO Area 7- Siobhan Nunn
 CHO Area 8- Frank McHugh
 CHO Area 9- Anne O Loughlin
What is the role of the SPTs?
 Receive reports of concerns or complaints regarding the abuse






of vulnerable persons.
Support services and professionals to assess and investigate
concerns/ complaints
Review and agree preliminary screening and safeguarding plan
outcomes with services
Develop intervention and protection plans as required
Directly assess complex cases/cases with conflict of interest
and co-ordinate service responses
Support best practice and positive culture around the welfare
of vulnerable person via training and information etc.
Maintain records and data
4. Information, Advice and
Education
3. Monitoring of
Safeguarding work
within Services
2. Individual
Casework
1. Data Collection
1.Data Collection
 New database has been established to gather
information about Preliminary Screenings,
Safeguarding Plans and their outcomes.
 The database creates a unique identifier for
every incident
What is the process of new policy
 Three stages
 Initially preliminary screening stage
 If required a Safeguarding Plan stage
 Stage three outcome in relation to future
courses of actions
2. Individual Casework
 Team receives referrals.
 Assess if referral meets our criteria - Vulnerable




Adult and there is a Concern of Abuse.
If meets criteria then complete Preliminary
Screening.
Send to Safeguarding address for review.
Develop Safeguarding Plan and review.
Close or transfer to another service.
Definition of Vulnerable Person
 A Vulnerable Person is an adult who may be restricted in capacity to
guard himself / herself against harm or exploitation or to report such
harm or exploitation.
 Restriction of capacity may arise as a result of physical or intellectual
impairment. Vulnerability to abuse is influenced by both context and
individual circumstances.
Everyone working with vulnerable persons should understand that they have a
responsibility for their protection.
Everyone has a duty to report suspected or alleged or confirmed incidents of
abuse immediately.
3. Quality Assuring Safeguarding within
Services
 Immediate safety and support
 Submission of preliminary Screening Forms to
safeguarding address within 3 working days.
 Safeguarding Team reviews outcome
 No grounds for reasonable concern
 Additional information required
 Reasonable grounds for concern
Team will agree or if not advise on further actions,
information.
Stage 1- Concern Arises.
Concern/complaint arises or is raised
(e.g. member of public/staff member/other
agency, etc.)
Flow Chart 1
Stage 1
Community Setting
Responding to Concerns
or Allegations of Abuse.

NOTE: At any stage in the
procedure, if there are significant
concerns in relation to a
vulnerable person, the Chief
Officer (CO) of the Community
Healthcare Organisation must be
notified immediately. The CO
must immediately notify the
Director of Social Care.
Notification to, and advice from,
the National Incident
Management Team should be
considered in such
circumstances and consideration
as to whether the concern should
be investigated using the HSE
Safety Incident Management
Policy (2014).



Staff (HSE, Primary Care, other Agency)
immediately ensures safety of client
Staff informs Line Manager /
Safeguarding and Protection Team
Contact An Garda Síochána as
appropriate
Staff outlines in writing all relevant
information
Line Manager/ Safeguarding and
Protection Team will ensure that
the preliminary screening is
undertaken and all necessary
actions are taken
Service Setting


DAY
1



Staff immediately ensure safety of client
Staff informs Designated Officer and Line
Manager
Line Manager assesses the need for
support and/or intervention
Contact An Garda Síochána as
appropriate
Staff outlines in writing all relevant
information
Line Manager, Director of
Services and Designated
Officer will meet to ensure
that the preliminary screening
is undertaken and all
necessary actions are taken
The Line Manager
will notify the
Safeguarding and
Protection Team
WITHIN 3 WORKING DAYS
Proceed to Stage 2 - Preliminary Screening - Section 11.0
If a Designated Centre,
Person in Charge will give
notice, in writing, to the
Chief Inspector (HIQA)
Immediate Safety & Support:
Establish and document the following:
 What is the concern?
Who is making the report?
 Mental capacity and of their wishes of vulnerable in relation to the abuse/neglect?
 Who is involved, how and are there risks to others. What actions have been taken to
date?
 Biographical information of those involved, What is known of their mental
capacity and of their wishes in relation to the abuse/neglect?
 Any immediate risks identified, or actions already taken, to address immediate risks.
 Establish the current safety status of the victim. Arrange medical treatment if required.
 Establish if An Garda Síochána have been notified and ensure referral to TUSLA where
a child is identified as being at risk of harm.
20
Flow Chart 2
Concern Arises (Stage 2)
Community Setting
Stage 2
Preliminary
Screening
Service Setting
Line Manager/Safeguarding & Protection Team will
carry out a preliminary screening. The purpose of
this is to establish if there are reasonable grounds
for concern.
Designated Officer will carry out a preliminary
screening and report findings to the Service
Manager. The purpose of this is to establish if
there are reasonable grounds for concern.
The outcome of the preliminary screening must be
notified to the HSE Safeguarding and Protection
Team and actions after this point must be agreed
with the HSE
Preliminary Screening
No grounds for
further
investigation
Additional
information
required
Lessons for
clinical/care
service
Immediate
safety issues
addressed
3 WORKING DAYS
Reasonable grounds for
concern exist. Immediate
safety issues addressed
Safeguarding
Plan
The outcome of any assessment/inquiry following preliminary screening must be
reviewed with the Safeguarding and Protection Team (Vulnerable Persons) and a plan to
address necessary actions approved.
Reasonable Grounds
What is a safeguarding plan ?
Outline of planned actions to address needs and minimise risks
 Safeguarding plan co-ordinator appointed by service manager
 Timescale –drafted and implemented with 3 weeks of





preliminary screening being completed
Plan agreed with safeguarding and protection team ( SPT)
Formulation- positive actions re safeguarding and prevention
Support and therapeutic intervention for vulnerable person
Update the plan
Reviewing, evaluating and closing plan
4.Information, Advice, Education
 National Safeguarding Office Training
 Members of Safeguarding Teams
 Designated Officers
 Training Trainers
 Development of training tools
 Members of the safeguarding teams will deliver
information sessions and train Designated
Officers in the future.
Safeguarding Policy principles
 Publicly declared “No Tolerance”
 Principles –






Human Rights;
Person-Centeredness;
Advocacy;
Confidentiality;
Empowerment;
Collaboration.
The Horizon

Work to set up IT case management system and
collate data on concerns of abuse and neglect.

Local Safeguarding Committees will be established by
the new Heads of Social Care within each CHO

Plan to develop a practice handbook, screening tools,
and documentation

Assisted Decision Making (Capacity) Act 2015
Final thoughts
 Safeguarding is everyone’s business
 Environmental factors can create
vulnerability
 If supported older people and persons with
disabilities are more likely to speak out
about concerns
 All professionals need to work together