Safeguarding Policy

Service: Mind Map Focus

Focus date: 12/05/2026

Review date: 12/05/2027

Approved by: Toni Lancaster

Relevant legislation

• Protection of Freedoms Act 2012 (Disclosure and Barring Service Transfer of Functions) Order 2012

• Public Interest Disclosure Act 1998

• Criminal Justice and Courts Act 2015 (sections 20–25)

• Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014

• Modern Slavery Act 2015

• Counter-Terrorism and Security Act 2015

• Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Act 2004

• Serious Crime Act 2015 (section 76)

• FGM Act 2003

• Sexual Offences Act 2003

• Care Act 2014

• Care Quality Commission (Registration) Regulations 2009

• Equality Act 2010

• Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014

• Human Rights Act 1998

• Mental Capacity Act 2005

• Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006

• Data Protection Act 2018

• UK GDPR

Purpose

1.1 This policy aligns with Lancashire County Council policy and procedures and clearly sets out who is responsible and accountable for managing safeguarding concerns within this service.

1.2 Overall accountability for managing safeguarding concerns: Toni Lancaster. Toni Lancaster is responsible for the governance and authorisation of this policy.

Safeguarding lead at this service: Registered Manager

Local authority: Lancashire County Council

Local authority main contact details: Adults Social Services on 0300 123 6701

1.3 This policy sets out the key arrangements and systems that Mind Map Focus has in place for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of adults at risk and children, and ensures compliance with local policies and procedures. Adults are those aged 18 years and over.

1.4 This policy supports compliance with legal requirements relevant to the regulated activities that Mind Map Focus is registered to provide (see Relevant legislation above).

Objectives

1. Ensure Lancashire County Council safeguarding policy and procedure is understood by all staff at Mind Map Focus and that Lancashire County Council safeguarding procedures align with Mind Map Focus policy and procedure.

2. Ensure all staff working for, or on behalf of, Mind Map Focus understand their responsibilities in relation to safeguarding adults at risk, including who to escalate concerns to internally and externally when needed and appropriate.

3. Protect service users’ right to live in safety, free from abuse and neglect.

4. Maintain a clear, well-publicised zero-tolerance policy of abuse within Mind Map Focus.

5. Identify lessons to be learned from cases where service users have experienced abuse or neglect.

Policy

3.1 What is safeguarding? Mind Map Focus defines safeguarding as the actions taken to keep service users safe from harm and neglect.

3.2 Adult safeguarding duties (Care Act 2014)

Adult safeguarding duties apply to any adult who:

• has care and support needs; and

• is experiencing, or is at risk of, abuse and neglect; and

• as a result of those care and support needs, is unable to protect themselves from the risk of, or the experience of, abuse or neglect.

3.3 Child safeguarding duties (Children’s Act)

Child safeguarding duties apply to any child who:

• Is under the age of 18; and

• is experiencing, or is at risk of, abuse or neglect; and

• may not be able to protect themselves from harm due to their age, developmental stage, or other vulnerabilities.

3.4 What safeguarding adults includes

• Protecting adults’ right to live in safety, free from abuse and neglect.

• Working together to prevent abuse or neglect, and to stop it when it occurs.

• Promoting wellbeing and taking account of people’s views, wishes, feelings and beliefs.

• Recognising that adults may have complex interpersonal relationships and may be ambivalent, unclear or unrealistic about their circumstances.

3.5 What safeguarding children includes

• Protecting children’s right to grow up in a safe, supportive environment, free from abuse and neglect.

• Working together to identify risks, prevent harm, and respond effectively to concerns.

• Promoting welfare by listening to children’s views, wishes, and feelings—taking account of age, understanding, and experiences.

• Recognising that children may struggle to communicate concerns or understand their circumstances, and may be influenced by complex family or social relationships.

3.6 Promoting wellbeing

Mind Map Focus will always promote service users’ wellbeing through its safeguarding arrangements. Staff will work with service users to establish what “being safe” means to them and how this can best be achieved, and will avoid advocating “safety” measures that do not take account of individual wellbeing.

3.7 What constitutes abuse?

Mind Map Focus recognises that some service users may be extremely vulnerable to abuse and neglect, particularly where they have care and support needs. Abuse is a violation of an individual’s human or civil rights by another person. It may involve acts or omissions that place someone at risk of harm and negatively affect their health and wellbeing. The signs of abuse are not always obvious, and a person may not disclose abuse (or may not recognise it). Mind Map Focus governance processes support staff to recognise and respond to the main forms of abuse set out in the Care Act 2014 statutory guidance (Chapter 14).

3.8 Role of the local authority

The local authority is the lead agency for adult and child safeguarding and must be notified whenever abuse or neglect is suspected. It will decide whether a safeguarding enquiry is needed and, if so, who will conduct it. The decision depends on the criteria in the Care Act 2014 and not on whether a service user is eligible for, or receiving, services funded by the local authority.

3.9 Everyone’s responsibility

Everyone has the right to live free from harm and abuse. Mind Map Focus recognises that safeguarding is everybody’s business and aims to ensure that individuals at risk of abuse or neglect are enabled to live, work, and be supported in an environment free from abuse, harassment, violence or aggression.

3.10 Alignment with Lancashire County Council procedures

Mind Map Focus safeguarding policies and procedures will align with Lancashire County Council multi-agency policy and procedures, which take precedence where applicable. Lancashire County Council policies and procedures will be reflected in Mind Map Focus policy and procedure, shared with all staff, and made accessible for staff to follow.

3.11 Equality, dignity and choice

This service aims to provide services appropriate to the person and does not discriminate on the basis of disability, age, gender, sexual orientation, race, religion, culture or lifestyle. Mind Map Focus will support service users to express their wishes and make decisions to the best of their ability, recognising that self-determination may involve risk. Staff will work with service users and others involved in their care to ensure they receive support and protection, are listened to, and are treated with respect (including their property, possessions and personal information), compassion and dignity.

3.12 Chaperones and missed healthcare appointments

A chaperone will be present when a service user needs treatment. Missed healthcare appointments must be monitored as potential indicators of abuse or neglect, followed up with the healthcare provider, and information shared where needed in the best interests and safety of the service user.

3.13 The six safeguarding principles (Care Act 2014)

• Empowerment – supporting and encouraging people to make their own decisions and give informed consent.

• Prevention – acting before harm occurs.

• Proportionality – the least intrusive response appropriate to the risk.

• Protection – support and representation for those in greatest need.

• Partnership – working with communities and agencies to prevent, detect and report neglect and abuse.

• Accountability – transparency and accountability in delivering safeguarding.

3.14 Making Safeguarding Personal

Mind Map Focus is committed to “Making Safeguarding Personal” and will ensure safeguarding is person-led and focused on the outcomes service users want to achieve. Service users will be engaged in timely conversations about the best response to their situation to enhance involvement, choice and control, and improve quality of life, wellbeing and safety.

3.15 Working collaboratively

Mind Map Focus will work collaboratively to ensure that:

• the needs and interests of adults at risk are respected and upheld;

• human rights are respected and upheld;

• a proportionate, timely, professional and ethical response is made to adults at risk who may be experiencing abuse;

• decisions and actions are taken in line with the Mental Capacity Act 2005; and

• each adult at risk maintains choice and control, safety, health, quality of life, and dignity and respect.