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
- Check if you have coronavirus symptoms
- Getting NHS help when you need it during the coronavirus outbreak
- Somerset Safeguarding Adults Board: Information for people who are self-isolating
- Somerset County Council: Advice and updates on changes to Somerset County Council services
- Avon & Somerset Constabulary: Coronavirus (COVID-19): the policing response and what you need to know
- Carers UK: Briefing on Coronavirus Act and Emergency Measures
- Healthwatch England: Coronavirus is affecting my mental health – what can I do?
- Mental Health Foundation: Looking after your mental health during the coronavirus outbreak
- 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
- Home Office: Safeguarding Leaflet
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 avoiding scams
- Devon, Somerset and Torbay Trading Standards: Information on COVID-19 Scams
- National Trading Standards: Beware of COVID-19 scams
- Friends Against Scams whose online awareness training has been updated to include Coronavirus relates scams
- Friends Against Scams Coronavirus Social Media Pack
- Test and Trace scams:
- Devon County Council have alerted us to attempted scam where a care home manager received a text to say that he had tested positive following a recent swab, and that he needed another test. He phoned the number in the text and was told that he’d have to pay for the test. He was asked for his bank details but did not give them.
- We have also been alerted to a second scam by colleagues nationally where the perpetrator clams to be a contact tracer from NHS Test and Trace. We have included an example that has been circulated to us below.Please help the people that you are supporting recognise if they are contacted by a scammer and that real contract tracers will not ask for payment, bank details or passwords.The Metropolitan Police have produced information on how to stay safe in relation to Test and TraceWe have included an example of the scam call that was provided to us below:
Information about Domestic Abuse
- Domestic abuse during COVID-19: a reminder of advice for NHS staff: Letter from Kate Davies CBE and Kenny Gibson
- Somerset Survivors: Covid-19 support
- What to do if you need urgent police help through the 999 service, but can’t speak
- SafeLives: Staying safe during COVID-19 – A guide for victims and survivors of domestic abuse
- SafeLIves: Domestic abuse and COVID-19
- Surviving Economic Abuse resources
- Guidance for housing providers during COVID-19
- Coronavirus and child contact arrangements
- Coronavirus (COVID-19): support for victims of domestic abuse
- Domestic violence and abuse: Safeguarding during the COVID-19 crisis
- White Ribbon Corona Crisis: Survival Kit for Men Under Pressure
- Alcohol and Domestic Abuse in the Context of COVID-19 Restrictions. A briefing paper from Alcohol Change UK
- Women’s Aid: COVID-19/Coronavirus: Domestic Abuse, Sexual Violence and other forms of gender based violence | Advice for friends, family, neighbours and community members
- Somerset Domestic Abuse Newsletter
Other National Guidance
- COVID-19: guidance on shielding and protecting people defined on medical grounds as extremely vulnerable
- Staying safe outside your home
- Staying alert and safe (social distancing)
- Coronavirus outbreak FAQs: what you can and can’t do
- Safeguarding adults during the COVID-19 crisis
- Public Heath England guidance for households with possible coronavirus infection (includes Easy Read and translated versions)
- NHS guidelines translated into 32 languages by Doctors of the World
- Information for people who are caring, unpaid, for friends or family during the coronavirus outbreak
- Providing unpaid care to adults with learning disabilities and autistic adults
- Let’s Talk About It: Information about staying safe online
- Coronavirus (COVID-19): guidance for people receiving direct payments
- Health and Safety Executive: Latest information and advice
- Public Health England Coronavirus (COVID-19): guidance for the public, non-clinical settings (including residential care, supported living and home care) and health professionals
- Coronavirus (COVID-19): guidance on vulnerable children and young people
- Coronavirus Act 2020 Care Act easements: guidance for local authorities
- Coronavirus (COVID-19): support for victims of modern slavery
- Chartered Institute of Housing: Working with migrants and refugees during the COVID-19 crisis
- COVID-19: guidance for hostel or day centre providers of services for people experiencing rough sleeping
- Guidance on supply and use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
- Joint statement from the BMA, Care Provider Alliance (CPA), CQC and the Royal College of General Practice (RCGP) on advance care planning
- NHS Property Services: Alcohol-Based Hand Sanitiser – Vehicle Fires
- Highways England Safety Alert: Alcohol Based Hand Sanitiser
Guidance and resources to support charities, voluntary organisations and volunteers
- Somerset Safeguarding Adults Board: Safeguarding Adults for COVID-19 Voluntary Groups and Volunteers
- Waltham Forest Council: Safeguarding Video for Volunteers (3min)
- 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
- COVID-19: guidance for the charity sector
- NCVO: guidance and resources to support charities, voluntary organisations and volunteers during the covid-19 pandemic
The Mental Capacity Act and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards
- Coronavirus (COVID-19): looking after people who lack mental capacity
- Office of the Public Guardian: How NHS and social care staff can check if a COVID-19 patient has an attorney or deputy
- Department of Health and Social care Mental Capacity Act COVID-19 guidance – summary and commentary by Alex Ruck Keene
- “Capacity in the time of Coronavirus” by Alex Ruck Keene (free access until 12/06/2020)
- 39 Essex Chambers: Testing for COVID-19 and Mental Capacity
Bereavement Support
During the COVID-19 outbreak we are, together, facing a loss of life, often under very difficult circumstances. Two important new resources are now available to help people through these distressing times.
- A new Bereavement and Coronavirus Guide has been produced to help with practical information such as how to register a death, through to planning a funeral and information on bereavement and grief. There is also a section on further advice and support. If a person who has bereaved would like a paper copy of the guide, please telephone 0300 790 6275 and ask for the bereavement booklet to be sent to them and give their name and address
- Together with the booklet, Somerset has developed additional bereavement support services that have a quick and easy referral process. If anyone would like to talk to someone about their loss then please contact the Marie Curie Helpline 0800 3047 412 Monday – Saturday 09.00-17.00. They are there to help and would welcome your call. The service also has qualified bereavement support workers available for more in-depth support if needed. Professional referrals can be taken with the person’s permission.
Two posters have also been produced that can be downloaded below:
- Bereavement support – how to refer
- Bereavement support – information for members of the public about the service
Information that is available for adults who may find the information provided through other channels inaccessible:
keepsafe have developed a range of posters for people with learning disabilities. These include:
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- Keep safe from 4th July
- New rules about wearing face masks on public transport
- Are you exempt from wearing a face covering? (including card to use when using public transport)
- Support bubbles
- New rules from 1st June 2020
- Getting tested
- Rules for May to June
- Coronavirus…how to stay safe
- Coronavirus…and health issues
- Coronavirus…what if you get ill?
- Coronavirus…staying at home
- Coronavirus…you must stay at home
- Coronavirus…please don’t spread it
- Coronavirus…shielding
- Coronavirus…being on your own
Other resources:
- The Purple All Stars video on handwashing
- Information on handwashing in the recently published “avoiding getting sepsis” resource (pages 3-4).
- Easy read information published by Inclusion North
- Easy to read (not easy read) information published by EasyRead.info
- Easy Read Online: New Government rules about staying at home 24 March 2020
- Easy Read Online: Advice on self-isolating
- A list of resources and links identified by Learning Disability England
- Videos produced by SignHealth for people who use British Sign Language (BSL)
- Downloadable resources produced by Beyond Words
- Public Health England resources in accessible formats
- Coronavirus – You’re Not Alone
- Easy read information on COVID-19 from Mencap
- Somerset Health Passport
- Covid-19 Hospital Passport and Guidance
The Adult Safeguarding Risk Decision Making Tool (formerly Adult Safeguarding Risk Assessment Tool) is designed to assist practitioners in considering:
- 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.
This service monitoring checklist sets out examples of potential indicators for concern within provider settings. The areas of care listed may highlight that care is neglectful and could be harmful to residents.
Guidance for professionals on responding to people with complex needs or circumstances who do not require an adult safeguarding enquiry under Section 42 the Care Act (2014), or where it has been determined that a non-statutory enquiry is not required.
A framework and process for responding to allegations and concerns against people working with adults with care and support needs
This guidance outlines what county lines (and associated criminal exploitation) is, signs to look for in potential victims, and what to do about it.
This document explains the need to share information to support the functions of the Safeguarding Adults Board in Somerset and includes a useful flow chart of when and how to share information
The checklist below lists the type of information to think about at the initial stage of responding to a safeguarding concern: