Safeguarding
Powys Teaching Health Board has a statutory duty under the Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014 to report any person whom it believes to be an adult or child at risk, to the Local Authority. The Health Board is also required to work closely with other agencies such as the Police, Social Services and Education to appropriately share information in order to safeguard children and adults at risk.
Some of the situations children and adults at risk are affected by include abuse & neglect, child sexual exploitation (CSE), violence against women, domestic abuse and sexual violence, female genital mutilation (FGM), human trafficking and radicalisation.
Who is an Adult at Risk?
An adult at risk is a person aged 18 or over who:
- is experiencing or is at risk of abuse or neglect
- Has needs for care and support
- As a result of those needs is unable to protect himself or herself against the abuse or neglect or the risk of it.
(Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014)
Who is a Child at Risk?
A child at risk is a child up to the age of 18 (including an unborn child) who:
- Is experiencing or is at risk of abuse, neglect or other forms of harm
- Has needs for care and support (whether or not the authority is meeting those needs)
(Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014)
Who might abuse or neglect someone?
Anyone can abuse - it could be a family member, a friend,
a professional person, a carer, another patient or even a stranger.
Where can abuse or neglect happen?
Abuse can happen anywhere - at home, in a hospital or care setting, at work, at school or in a public area.
Types of Abuse and Neglect
ChildrenPhysical Abuse – deliberately hurting a child e.g. by slapping, hitting, kicking, poisoning, causing injuries such as broken bones, bruises, burns or cuts. Also includes fabricated or induced illness where parents/carers make up or cause the symptoms of illness in their child.
Sexual Abuse – being forced or persuaded to take part in sexual activities whether or not the child understands what is happening. This includes non-contact activities, such as involving children in looking at, or in the production of, pornographic material or watching sexual activities, or encouraging children to behave in sexually inappropriate ways.
Emotional Abuse – ongoing emotional maltreatment or emotional neglect that can seriously damage a child’s emotional health and development. It can involve deliberately trying to scare or humiliate a child, or isolating or ignoring them.
Neglect – ongoing failure to meet basic physical and psychological needs, likely to result in serious impairment of their health and development.
There is growing awareness of other forms of child abuse such as child sexual exploitation (CSE), female genital mutilation (FGM), child trafficking and bullying/cyber bullying
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AdultsPhysical - this includes hitting, pinching, deliberately overmedicating or physically restraining someone in an inappropriate way - for example, being locked in or force-fed.
Sexual – any sexual act to which the vulnerable adult has not consented and may not understand. For example, being touched or kissed when it is not wanted, being made to touch or kiss someone else, being raped, being made to listen to sexual comments or forced to look at sexual acts or materials
Emotional Abuse this can happen where someone is isolated, verbally abused or threatened.
Neglect this includes ignoring or withholding physical or medical care needs. Examples are failing to provide appropriate food, shelter, heating, clothing, medical care, hygiene, personal care; inappropriate use of medication or over-medication.
Financial Abuse this includes taking another person's money or possessions - for example, having money or property stolen, being pressured into giving people money or changing a will, misuse of benefits, not being allowed access to money.
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To report abuse or for advice and support contact:
- Powys People Direct - 01597 827666
- Out of Hours – 0345 054 4847
Further details may be found at: https://en.powys.gov.uk/article/1898/Report-Abuse
If someone is in immediate danger contact the Police by calling 999.
What will happen if I report abuse or neglect?
The immediate priority is to ensure that the child and/or the adult at risk is safe and protected from any further abuse. The case will be investigated by the appropriate agency and may involve several agencies working together with relevant staff in order to establish the facts. This multi-agency approach has been advocated as the most beneficial way to protect children and adults at risk.
Domestic Abuse
Domestic abuse is the actual or threatened physical, emotional, psychological, sexual or financial abuse of a person by their partner, ex-partner or family member. Children living in a household where domestic abuse is present will suffer too and they are likely to experience abuse themselves.
Live Fear Free is a Welsh Government website, providing information and advice for those experiencing domestic abuse, sexual violence and other forms of violence against women. The website also provides details about the Live Fear Free helpline service managed by Welsh Women’s Aid.
- Live Fear Free website: https://livefearfree.gov.wales
- Live Fear Free helpline: 0808 8010 800
The Mid and West Wales chatbot (MWWBOT) is part of an approach to address domestic abuse by providing easy access to safety advice, relevant information, and signposting to local and national support services.
Powys Teaching Health Board Safeguarding Team
Our Safeguarding Team provides specialist advice and support to staff on all areas relating to safeguarding and works closely with Police, Local Authorities, Education and other external agencies to ensure a multi agency approach. The Team also develops and facilitates a programme of safeguarding training and supervision for staff.
Claire Roche is the Health Board’s Executive Lead for Safeguarding.
Kirsty Williams is the Health Board’s Vice Chair.
The Mid and West Wales Safeguarding Board
Powys Teaching Health Board is a member of The Mid and West Wales Safeguarding Board.
Regional Safeguarding Board arrangements were established to meet the requirements of the Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014.
The Board’s purpose is to co-ordinate the strategic direction, collaboration, consistency and improvement of practice across the region.
For more information on the Mid and West Wales Safeguarding Board and useful links please visit http://cysur.wales/home/