Adult Safeguarding Policy

 

Adopted: 5 June 2023
Last reviewed: 2 September 2026
Next review due: 2 September 2027

Our Commitment

 

ADHD Pirates CIC is committed to safeguarding adults who engage with our services, including peer groups, advice, training and the Executive Function Support Programme.

We aim to provide an environment where people feel safe, respected, listened to and able to raise concerns.

Safeguarding will be approached in a person-centred and proportionate way. Wherever possible, adults will be involved in decisions affecting them, while recognising that action may sometimes be necessary to protect an individual or others from harm.

Our safeguarding practice is informed by relevant legislation and guidance, including:

• Care Act 2014 and associated statutory guidance;
• Mental Capacity Act 2005;
• Human Rights Act 1998;
• Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006;
• Equality Act 2010;
• Modern Slavery Act 2015;
• Domestic Abuse Act 2021; and
• Data Protection Act 2018 and UK GDPR.

Safeguarding information will be handled in accordance with our Data Protection Policy.

Who Is an Adult at Risk?

 

Under the Care Act 2014, safeguarding duties apply to an adult who:

• has needs for care and support, whether or not those needs are being met by a local authority;
• is experiencing, or is at risk of, abuse or neglect; and
• as a result of those care and support needs, is unable to protect themselves from the risk or experience of abuse or neglect.

Having ADHD, autism or another form of neurodivergence does not in itself mean that somebody is an adult at risk.

Some people may experience circumstances that affect their ability to recognise, respond to or seek support about harm. These may include communication differences, executive function difficulties, social isolation or difficulty acting on a concern.

Safeguarding decisions will therefore be based on the person’s individual circumstances rather than assumptions about neurodivergence.

Designated Safeguarding Lead

 

The Designated Safeguarding Lead for ADHD Pirates CIC is:

Robert Walmsley
Director
Email: hello@adhdpirates.co.uk

ADHD Pirates CIC currently has two directors. Robert Walmsley is responsible for day-to-day operations and safeguarding arrangements. The other director is not involved in operational service delivery and is not currently a deputy safeguarding lead.

The Designated Safeguarding Lead is responsible for:

• receiving and responding to safeguarding concerns;
• considering whether external advice or referral is required;
• making safeguarding referrals where appropriate;
• maintaining clear and secure safeguarding records;
• ensuring information is shared appropriately; and
• reviewing safeguarding arrangements as the organisation develops.

A deputy safeguarding lead will be appointed if ADHD Pirates CIC’s staffing, services or level of activity makes this necessary.

Safeguarding Principles

 

ADHD Pirates CIC follows the six principles of adult safeguarding:

Empowerment: Supporting people to make their own decisions and be involved in decisions affecting them.

Prevention: Taking appropriate action before harm occurs wherever possible.

Proportionality: Using the least intrusive response appropriate to the level of risk.

Protection: Providing appropriate support to people who need help to protect themselves.

Partnership: Working appropriately with individuals and other organisations to prevent and respond to abuse and neglect.

Accountability: Being clear and transparent about safeguarding responsibilities and decisions.

These principles will be applied in an accessible and neurodiversity-affirming way. People’s communication styles, support needs and individual circumstances will be respected.

Recognising Abuse and Neglect

 

Abuse may involve a single incident or repeated behaviour and may take place in person, within relationships, within organisations or online.

Forms of abuse recognised in adult safeguarding include:

Physical abuse: Including assault, hitting, pushing, inappropriate restraint or misuse of medication.

Domestic abuse: Including physical, psychological, sexual, emotional, controlling, coercive or economic abuse between people who are personally connected.

Sexual abuse: Sexual activity, contact or behaviour to which a person has not consented, cannot consent or has been pressured into consenting.

Psychological or emotional abuse: Including threats, humiliation, intimidation, coercion, harassment, bullying, isolation or controlling behaviour.

Financial or material abuse: Including theft, fraud, scams, coercion or misuse of money, property, possessions or benefits.

Modern slavery: Including human trafficking, forced labour, domestic servitude and other forms of slavery or exploitation.

Discriminatory abuse: Harassment or mistreatment connected with characteristics such as disability, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or age.

Organisational abuse: Abuse, neglect or poor practice resulting from the way an organisation, service or care setting operates.

Neglect and acts of omission: Failure to meet appropriate health, care, support or basic living needs.

Self-neglect: Serious neglect of a person’s own health, hygiene, safety or surroundings, including hoarding where this creates significant risk.

Abuse can also take place online, including through cyberbullying, scams, grooming, coercion and sexual or financial exploitation.

Possible signs may include:

• unexplained injuries;
• fearfulness, anxiety or withdrawal;
• sudden changes in behaviour;
• another person exercising unusual control over somebody;
• unexplained financial problems;
• unmet health or care needs;
• significant deterioration in personal hygiene or living conditions;
• isolation from support networks; or
• disclosures, comments or behaviour suggesting something is wrong.

These signs do not necessarily mean abuse has occurred. Concerns should be considered in context and taken seriously.

Peer Groups and Safeguarding

 

ADHD Pirates CIC facilitates peer groups for neurodivergent adults.

Peer group participants are not staff or volunteers and are not responsible for managing safeguarding concerns.

To support safe peer spaces:

• group expectations and boundaries will be explained;
• participants will be told how to raise a safeguarding concern;
• concerns will be referred to the Designated Safeguarding Lead;
• personal information will be treated confidentially and shared only where necessary; and
• safeguarding responsibility will remain with ADHD Pirates CIC rather than individual participants.

Confidentiality within peer groups is encouraged, but participants will be made aware that information relating to serious safeguarding concerns cannot always remain confidential.

Responding to a Safeguarding Concern

 

If somebody discloses abuse, neglect or another safeguarding concern:

1. Stay calm and listen carefully.
2. Take what the person says seriously.
3. Do not investigate the allegation yourself.
4. Do not ask leading questions. Ask only what is necessary to understand the concern.
5. Do not promise absolute confidentiality.
6. Explain that information may need to be shared if this is necessary to keep somebody safe.
7. Where possible, ask what the person would like to happen next.
8. Record the relevant facts as soon as possible, including the date, time and what was said. Use the person’s own words where possible.
9. Report the concern to the Designated Safeguarding Lead.
10. Take immediate action if somebody is in danger or needs urgent medical assistance.

Safeguarding should, wherever possible, be done with the adult rather than to them. Their wishes and desired outcomes should inform decisions.

Consent should normally be sought before safeguarding information is shared. However, information may need to be shared without consent where there is a serious risk of harm, another person may be at risk, a crime may have been committed, or there is another lawful safeguarding reason.

Only information that is relevant and necessary should be shared.

ADHD, autism or another form of neurodivergence must not be treated as evidence that somebody lacks mental capacity. Capacity must not be assumed to be absent because of a diagnosis or communication difference.

Emergency Situations and Referrals

 

If somebody is in immediate danger, seriously injured or requires urgent assistance, call 999.

Where a safeguarding referral is required, it should normally be made to the local authority safeguarding service for the area in which the abuse or neglect is taking place.

Staffordshire

 

Staffordshire County Council Adult Safeguarding
0345 604 2719
Out of hours: 0345 604 2886

Stoke-on-Trent

 

Stoke-on-Trent Adult Social Care
0800 561 0015

Current reporting information is available through the relevant local authority and the Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent Adult Safeguarding Partnership Board.

The Partnership Board itself does not process safeguarding referrals.

Where ADHD Pirates CIC is unsure whether a concern meets the threshold for referral, advice may be sought from the relevant local authority safeguarding service.

Reporting a Concern About ADHD Pirates CIC

 

Safeguarding concerns connected with ADHD Pirates CIC services or participants can be reported to:

hello@adhdpirates.co.uk

Using the subject line “Safeguarding Concern” may help the concern to be identified promptly, but this is not required.

Anyone who does not wish to report a concern directly to ADHD Pirates CIC can contact the relevant local authority adult safeguarding service or the police.

Allegations Against People Acting for ADHD Pirates CIC

 

If a safeguarding allegation concerns a future member of staff or volunteer, it should be reported to the Designated Safeguarding Lead.

The Designated Safeguarding Lead will consider:

• any immediate action needed to protect those involved;
• whether the matter should be referred to the local authority safeguarding service, police or another appropriate body; and
• whether any internal action is required.

If an allegation concerns the Designated Safeguarding Lead, the concern should be reported directly to the relevant local authority safeguarding service or police.

Where appropriate, ADHD Pirates CIC’s other director may be informed for governance purposes, provided this would not compromise anybody’s safety or an external investigation.

Independent safeguarding advice will be sought where necessary.

Recruitment and Training

 

ADHD Pirates CIC currently has no paid staff or formal volunteers.

The Designated Safeguarding Lead will maintain appropriate safeguarding knowledge and training through suitable sources, which may include Staffordshire County Council and Support Staffordshire.

Any future staff or volunteers whose roles involve participants or safeguarding responsibilities will receive appropriate safeguarding information, induction or training before undertaking those responsibilities.

They will also receive appropriate neurodiversity awareness relevant to their role.

Recruitment arrangements will be proportionate to the responsibilities and risks associated with each role and may include:

• clear role descriptions;
• identity checks;
• appropriate references;
• consideration of safeguarding responsibilities during recruitment; and
• appropriate induction and training.

ADHD Pirates CIC will determine whether a role is eligible for a Disclosure and Barring Service check and, where applicable, the appropriate level of check using current DBS eligibility requirements.

The non-operational director will be familiar with this policy and know how a safeguarding concern should be escalated, but will not normally require the same operational training as people directly delivering services unless their role changes.

Records and Confidentiality

 

Safeguarding records will be clear, factual and stored securely.

Access will be limited to people who need the information for an appropriate safeguarding purpose.

Safeguarding information will only be shared where necessary and appropriate, taking account of the person’s wishes, the level of risk and relevant legal responsibilities.

Records will be handled in accordance with ADHD Pirates CIC’s Data Protection Policy.

Monitoring and Review

 

This policy will normally be reviewed annually, or sooner where there is a significant change in:

• legislation or safeguarding guidance;
• ADHD Pirates CIC’s services or staffing;
• identified safeguarding risks; or
• learning from a safeguarding concern or incident.

Relevant feedback, safeguarding experience and external advice will be considered as part of the review.