Safeguarding and Coronavirus
While the ongoing public health crisis continues to dominate most people’s work across the system it is important to remember that The Coronavirus Act 2020 does not affect the safeguarding protections in the Care Act (2014), particularly at Section 42 of the Care Act. Safeguarding is everyone’s business, so it is important that we remain alert to possible abuse or neglect concerns and work together to prevent and reduce the risk of harm to people with care and support needs, including those directly affected by Coronavirus and those whose vulnerability to abuse and neglect may have been increased by public health measures taken to control it.
As additional resources become available we will add them to this page
General information:
A single phone number is now available for anyone in Somerset needing Coronavirus-related support from their councils: 0300 790 6275
- COVID-19 and safeguarding adults: resource pack
- Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE): Safeguarding adults during the COVID-19 crisis
- Check if you have coronavirus symptoms
- ADASS: Safeguarding people in ‘closed’ environments
- Covid-19 support pack: Supporting people with a learning disability during the Covid-19 pandemic (Somerset NHS Foundation Trust)
- Safeguarding Children and Vulnerable Adults: A message to all faith groups about the use of online/video conferencing for religious purposes during Covid-19
GOV.UK Coronavirus Information Service WhatsApp. This free to use service offers official, trustworthy and timely information and advice about coronavirus (COVID-19). To use the GOV.UK Coronavirus Information Service on WhatsApp, simply add 07860 064422 in your phone contacts and then message the word ‘hi’ in a WhatsApp message to get started.
Information about Domestic Abuse
- Domestic abuse during COVID-19: a reminder of advice for NHS staff: Letter from Kate Davies CBE and Kenny Gibson
- Domestic Abuse Housing Alliance: Guidance for housing providers during COVID-19
- Domestic violence and abuse: Safeguarding during the COVID-19 crisis
- Alcohol and Domestic Abuse in the Context of COVID-19 Restrictions. A briefing paper from Alcohol Change UK
Guidance and resources to support charities, voluntary organisations and volunteers
- Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport: Coronavirus: How to help safely
- Somerset Safeguarding Adults Board: Safeguarding Adults for COVID-19 Voluntary Groups and Volunteers
- Waltham Forest Council: Safeguarding Video for Volunteers (3min)
- Spark Somerset: Spark Somerset: Covid-19
- COVID-19: Free-of-charge DBS applications and fast-track Barred List check service
- Safeguarding Factsheet: Community volunteers during COVID-19 outbreak
- National Council for Voluntary Organisations: Guidance and resources to support charities, voluntary organisations and volunteers during the covid-19 pandemic
- the vulnerability of the adult at risk and the seriousness of the abuse that is occurring; and
- the impact of the abuse and the risk of it recurring.
It is not designed to determine further actions, but rather to provide guidance and key considerations for practitioners who are assessing and managing risk. Practitioners should always seek advice from agency Safeguarding Leads when unsure what action should be taken in relation to concerns they may have. Safeguarding procedures should be used to not only react to significant harm occurring, but also to prevent it from occurring where there are clear indicators of vulnerability and risk. Careful assessment of past information may indicate that although significant harm has not occurred on this occasion, it is highly likely to in the future. Therefore, a multi-agency response following safeguarding procedures is the best course of action.
The following appendices have been published separately to the main document:
- Appendix G: Local Authority Raising Concerns Planning Meeting Agenda
- Appendix H: Local Authority Raising Concerns Planning Meeting Template
- Appendix I: Local Authority Safeguarding Enquiry Review Meeting Template