1. Introduction

Walk & Talk for Mental Health is committed to ensuring that vulnerable people who use its services are not abused and that working practices minimise the risk of such abuse. 

 

All people have a right to:

• live a life that is free from violence, fear and abuse
• be protected from harm and exploitation
• independence which may involve a degree of risk

 

Walk & Talk for Mental Health is committed to:

• Safeguarding and promoting the independence, wellbeing and safety of people with care and support needs
• Raising public awareness of safeguarding
• Promoting work on the prevention of abuse
• Tackling abuse in all settings
• Ensuring that all staff and volunteers understand their roles and responsibilities in respect of safeguarding
• Involving people who access services and carers in continual service improvements 
• Applying learning from serious case reviews 
• Ensuring that staff and volunteers are provided with appropriate training in safeguarding 

 

Walk & Talk for Mental Health will:

• Ensure people accessing services receive information about how to raise concerns if they suspect or experience abuse in all its forms including neglect
• Empower individuals with knowledge and understanding so that they will be aware of what is appropriate or inappropriate behaviour towards them
• Enable staff and volunteers to recognise poor practice, or abuse and respond appropriately
• Raise awareness of how staff and volunteers can enable people to acknowledge they may be at risk of abuse, and signpost them to effective support
• Recognise that children may also be at risk when working with families and adults with care and support needs. 
• Ensure rigorous recruitment and selection practice, and adhere to pre appointment checking requirements e.g. references will always be taken up and the Disclosure and Barring process followed where appropriate
• Ensure clear service standards are maintained and where relevant staff and volunteers receive clear operational guidance and appropriate training

 

2. Definitions

This policy relates to adults who may have care and support needs, whose independence and well-being would be at risk, permanently or periodically, if they did not receive appropriate support and who may be at risk of abuse, maltreatment or neglect. This includes adults with physical, sensory and mental impairments and learning disabilities however those impairments have arisen e.g. whether present from birth or due to advancing age, chronic illness or injury, and those who may or may not be eligible for community care services whose needs in relation to Safeguarding is for access to mainstream services and the police, or who are unable to protect themselves. This policy also includes any individual who may be at risk as a consequence of their role as a carer in relation to any of the above. 

 

The duty to identify abuse and report it applies to all staff, including senior managers and the board of trustees, paid staff, volunteers and sessional workers, agency staff, students or anyone working on behalf of Walk & Talk for Mental Health.

 

3. Nominated safeguarding lead person

The nominated person, Stuart Trotter, should be notified immediately by any volunteers who have concerns about a vulnerable adult if:

• abuse, maltreatment or neglect are occurring or suspected
• someone has behaved towards a vulnerable adult in a way that indicates they may pose a risk of harm

 

The nominated person will provide advice and support to staff unsure about how to proceed with a particular case, and take line management responsibility for the safe delivery, quality and effectiveness of Walk & Talk for Mental Health services. The nominated person is responsible for ensuring Walk & Talk for Mental Health is aware of developments in safeguarding best practice, advising on changes to policy and practice (in line with Local Safeguarding Board policies) and coordinating safeguarding audits and reporting.

 

One of Walk & Talk for Mental Health Trustees is nominated to take leadership responsibility for the organisation’s safeguarding arrangements. This includes ensuring that staff have sufficient time, funding, supervision and support to fulfil their safeguarding responsibilities effectively;

 

4. How to raise concerns 

• If someone is at immediate risk of harm, dial 999 for the police
• Contact Stuart Trotter by phone or email as soon as possible. A decision will be made which includes whether to make a referral, who will make the referral, and how information about the concern will be securely recorded, stored and, if appropriate shared. 
• To report a concern or to get advice:
  • Bedford Borough Council: 01234 276222
  • Central Bedfordshire Council: 0300 300 8122
  • Luton Borough Council: 01582 547730
  • Out of office hours: 0300 300 8123

 

5. How to report an allegation made against staff or volunteers

An allegation may relate to a person who works with vulnerable adults who has:

• behaved in a way that has harmed, or may have harmed a vulnerable adult;
• behaved towards a vulnerable adult in a way that indicates they may pose a risk of harm

 

Any such allegation should be reported immediately to Stuart trotter. The relevant local authority should be informed within one working day of all allegations (by contacting the Local Authority Designated Officer LADO).

 

The local authority will provide advice and guidance on how to deal with allegations against people who work with vulnerable adults and will also ensure that there are appropriate arrangements in place to effectively liaise with the police and other agencies to monitor the progress of cases and ensure that they are dealt with as quickly as possible, consistent with a thorough and fair process. Support and advice will be available to individuals against whom allegations have been made.

 

If Walk & Talk for Mental Health removes an individual (paid worker or unpaid volunteer) from work (or would have, had the person not left first) because the person poses a risk of harm to vulnerable groups, the organisation must make a referral to the Disclosure and Barring Service. It is an offence to fail to make a referral without good reason.

 

6. Information sharing

Walk & Talk for Mental Health will co-operate in the sharing of appropriate information based on the principles defined below:

• Information will be shared on a need to know basis when it is in the best interest of the individual and especially to protect people with care and support needs.
• Confidentiality must not be confused with secrecy
• Informed consent must be obtained, but if this is not possible and other adults are at risk, it may be necessary to override the requirement
• It is inappropriate to give absolute confidentiality in cases where there are concerns about abuse, particularly when other people may be at risk or there is a legal duty to report criminal activity. 
• Any exchange of information must be in accordance with the Data Protection Act 1998, the Human Rights Act 1998, and Caldicott Principles

 

Walk & Talk for Mental Health will keep secure records of any work undertaken under this policy including all concerns received and all referrals made, and the responses made to these concerns and referrals. We will keep a record of the decision – whether it is to share information or not – and the reasons for it. If we decide to share, then we will record what we have shared, with whom and for what purpose.

 

7. Being alert to signs of abuse and neglect and taking action

All staff and volunteers should be alert to the signs and triggers of abuse, maltreatment, neglect and harm. The impact of harm on a person is what is important, not who did it or what the intent was. Our aim is to protect people from abuse and avoidable harm, whether deliberate or not.

 

Abuse is behaviour towards a person that either deliberately or unknowingly, causes him or her harm or endangers their life or their human or civil rights. Abuse can take place in any setting, public or private, and can be perpetuated by anyone. Abuse includes physical, sexual, psychological, financial, discriminatory abuse, organisational, modern slavery,  domestic abuse, self-neglect and acts of neglect and omission. 

 

Walk & Talk for Mental Health will ensure all staff and volunteers are aware of;

• the signs of abuse and neglect, 
• how to handle a disclosure
• through induction, training and supervision. 

 

The seriousness or extent of abuse is often not clear when anxiety is first expressed. If a member of staff or volunteer is in any way concerned, they should raise their concerns with the nominated safeguarding lead person.

Walk & Talk for Mental Health aims to encourage, value and manage diversity and is committed to providing equality for all. Walk & Talk for Mental Health wishes to secure genuine equality of opportunity in all aspects of its activities. 

 

Walk & Talk for Mental Health is committed to eliminating discrimination and encouraging diversity amongst volunteers and users of its services. Equality and diversity will be considered in all activities and resources. This policy will be implemented within the framework of current legislation.

 

Purpose

The purpose of this policy is to provide equality and fairness for all in Walk & Talk for Mental Health volunteering and service delivery and to eliminate discrimination on grounds of:

 

Gender (including sex, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, gender re-assignment)

Women and men are fully and properly represented and rewarded for their contribution at all levels of the The organisation will support gender equality by: 

• challenging gender stereotypes 
• supporting employees and volunteers in balancing their life at work and at home

 

Volunteers and service users are treated fairly and equally irrespective of their marital/civil partnership or family status. 

Walk & Talk for Mental Health will take positive steps to support a transgender person and ensure they are treated with dignity and respect. 

 

Race (including ethnic origin, colour, nationality and national origin)

The racial and cultural diversity of the local community is represented through: 

• challenging racial stereotypes 
• understanding, respecting and valuing racial and cultural difference and perspectives 
• encouraging and enabling members of minority ethnic groups to volunteer for Walk & Talk for Mental Health at all levels

 

Disability

The abilities of disabled people are recognised and valued through: 

• focussing on what people can do rather than on what they cannot 
• challenging stereotypes about people with disabilities and in particular, not making false assumptions that disabled people are unable to do certain things 
• making appropriate adjustments in the workplace so that people can reach their full potential regardless of any disability. 

 

Sexual orientation

People are treated fairly irrespective of their sexuality through: 

• respecting the rights of everyone irrespective of whether or not they are open about their sexuality 
• respecting different lifestyles even if someone’s different lifestyle conflicts with one’s own religious or cultural beliefs 
• challenging negative stereotypical views 
• celebrating and welcoming significant lesbian, gay and bisexual (LGB) events in the same way that similar events of importance to heterosexual people are celebrated

 

Religion or belief

People are treated fairly irrespective of their religious beliefs, faith or lack of belief. Demands of religion (e.g. prayer times and religious holidays) and of culture (traditional dress) are accepted.

 

Age

Age diversity is promoted and valued through: 

• challenging age stereotyping, recognising that the new ideas and fresh approaches can come from anyone irrespective of their age 
• recognising the benefits of mixed-age volunteers 

 

Eliminating discrimination

 

Discrimination occurs when a condition or requirement is applied which cannot be justified. Forms of direct discrimination include less favourable treatment (denial of access to or a poor level of service), harassment or victimisation. 

 

Harassment occurs when someone’s actions or words, based on the relevant grounds, are unwelcome and violate another person’s dignity or create an environment that is intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating or offensive.

 

Walk & Talk for Mental Health will not tolerate harassment in any form and in particular:

 

Racial harassment is unlawful. Incidents include:

• physical assaults/threats against a person or group because of colour or ethnicity
• racist insult/joke/name calling
• racist graffiti/any other written insult
• provocative behaviour (e.g. wearing racist badges or insignia)
• racial comments in meetings conversation/workshops
• attempting to recruit for racist organisations or groups
• racist literature (leaflets, comics, magazines) brought into the organisation’s premises
• providing a platform for racism

 

Sexual harassment is unlawful. The definition adopted by Walk & Talk for Mental Health is:

• Repeated and unwanted verbal or sexual advances, sexually explicit derogatory statements or sexually discriminating remarks which are offensive to the person involved, which cause them to feel threatened, humiliated, patronised or harassed or which creates a threatening or intimidating environment.

 

Harassment against disabled people. It is unlawful to subject a disabled person to harassment by engaging in unwanted conduct which has the purpose or effect of violating the disabled person’s dignity, or creating an intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating or offensive environment for him/her.

 

Victimisation means treating someone less favourably because they have made a complaint of discrimination (a “protected act”), or are thought to have done so; or because they have supported someone else who has made a complaint of discrimination.

 

Indirect discrimination occurs where the effect of provisions, criteria or practices imposed by an employer have an adverse impact disproportionately on one group or other. Indirect discrimination generally occurs when a rule or condition, which is applied equally to everyone, can be met by a considerably smaller proportion of people from a particular group; the rule is to their disadvantage and it cannot be justified on other grounds. 

 

Walk & Talk for Mental Health will seek to overcome indirect discrimination by:

• provision of training for volunteers, and where possible service users
• provision of information about relevant support organisations
• making clear its expectations of volunteers in the conduct of their duties in any circumstances where they represent Walk & Talk for Mental Health

 

Responsibilities

Walk & Talk for Mental Healths commitment to equality and diversity means that everyone involved with Walk & Talk for Mental Health has a duty to: 

• promote equality and diversity in the delivery of Walk & Talk for Mental Health  services 
• ensure that everyone associated with Walk & Talk for Mental Health is treated in a non-discriminatory way 
• promote a welcoming environment in which individuals from all backgrounds feel welcome, valued and respected 
• promote this equality and diversity policy

 

Managers and trustees have additional responsibility to: 

• ensure systems, procedures and services do not discriminate 
• promote and implement diversity within the management of service provision 
• provide appropriate training to put this equality and diversity policy into practice 
• challenge inappropriate behaviour immediately 
• listen to and respect others, and not dismiss their problems as “trivial” 
• set a positive example in everything they do 

 

Volunteering

It is crucial that all volunteers are able to participate and enjoy the activities without discrimination. Walk & Talk for Mental Health believes that volunteers should not be excluded from any opportunity without due reason. 

Volunteers will not be discriminated against in the advice and support they are given. Nor will they be denied access to opportunities because of their assumed abilities, skills or behaviour and each volunteer will be judged on his/her own merits. Walk & Talk for Mental Health will actively encourage and support volunteers to participate in the planning and implementation of their work.

 

Monitoring, review and responsibility

The Trustees are responsible for implementing the equal opportunities policy. Any complaint or grievance should be made to the chair of the organisation.