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Welcome to the Safeguarding Adults and Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA) and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards 2007 (DoLS) section of this website.
NHS Eastern and Coastal Kent is committed to Safeguarding Adults, the MCA and DoLS and expects all independent contractors and their staff are able to meet their statutory responsibilities. NHS Eastern and Coastal Kent also seek to ensure the Human Rights of vulnerable people are upheld in accordance with the Human Rights Act 1998 and they are empowered to make decisions for themselves wherever possible.
All adults at risk of abuse and neglect should be able to access public organisations for appropriate interventions which enable them to live a life free from fear, violence and abuse. Although illness and disability at any age can make people vulnerable, some people are more vulnerable to abuse than others, for example, those who are physically frail, those who have mental health problems and those with a learning disability.
Abuse can happen anywhere and by anyone, including friends, relatives, neighbours, paid workers, volunteers, professional staff, other service users, contractors and strangers. NHS Eastern and Coastal Kent sets out to ensure all vulnerable adults living within east Kent receive protection and support from professionals contracted by the PCT.
Whatever your position in your organisation, you have a duty to report any allegation or suspicion of abuse of a vulnerable adult, wherever you may observe it or be made aware of it.
This section aims to provide information on the responsibilities of organisations, employers and individual professionals. It provides guidance on what to do if you are concerned about a safeguarding situation. This website also includes useful links related to adult protection.
Key Principles for all Health services
All organisations commissioning or providing healthcare, whether in the NHS or third sector, independent healthcare sector or social enterprise, should ensure there is board level focus on adult protection and that safeguarding is an integral part of their governance systems.
Key Guidance to Health Professionals
All health professionals working directly with vulnerable adults should ensure safeguarding and supporting empowerment and choice forms an integral part of all care they offer and no act or omission to act on the part of the organisation, or that of its staff puts a vulnerable adult inadvertently at risk: and that rigorous systems are in place to proactively safeguard and promote the welfare of vulnerable adults.
Other healthcare professionals who come into contact with vulnerable adults, families and carers in the course of their work also need to be fully informed about their responsibility to safeguard and promote the welfare of vulnerable adults.
It is the responsibility of all health professionals to know what to do if you have concerns about a potentially safeguarding situation.
Additional guidance on responsibilities can be found in the document
No Secrets 2000
Multi-agency safeguarding vulnerable adults adult protection policy, protocols and guidance for Kent and Medway can be viewed online.
Top tips
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Always act in the persons best interests
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A possible crime may have been committed
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Discuss with your line manager if you have a concern – don’t go home with it
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Information given to a member of staff belongs to the agency not to the staff member
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Don’t promise to keep secrets
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Listen to what is being said
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Write it down – use the same language used by the person
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If you have an uncomfortable feeling – the chances are you need to discuss with your line manager or Social Services
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It is not your role to investigate, but to recognise and refer
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Discuss these concerns with the person unless it puts the person or yourself at further risk
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Adults can be abused in any section of our society
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Consult with Social Services or Safeguarding Nurse if you are not sure.
