Working together to help protect vulnerable people in our community

EMAS has a responsibility to report any incident where there are grounds to suggest that a vulnerable adult or child is at risk of suffering abuse or where there are concerns about individual’s circumstances.

This is in accordance with a number of government policies and guidance such as ‘No Secrets’ and Working Together to Safeguard Children 2010.

EMAS introduced Safeguarding procedures in July 2006.  These policies have been developed in collaboration with specialists in

the Safeguarding arena.  Safeguarding training has been and continues to take place for all staff, the level of training depends on

the contact and roles staff have with children and vulnerable adults

in line with national clinical guideline programme.

Our policies offer a process and practice guidance to allow staff

to raise such concerns, which are then reported to the appropriate agency, usually social care to consider the level of assessment

and support that may be needed.

EMAS has a role not to investigate concerns but to ensure that

these concerns are passed to the relevant agency to take the appropriate action.

Key areas of safeguarding information:

-  Safeguarding Children  Click

-  Safeguarding Vulnerable Adults  Click

-  Safeguarding Referrals  Click

EMAS Safeguarding Structure

EMAS has a Head of Safeguarding and a lead for Safeguarding Vulnerable Adults and a Lead for Safeguarding Children.

Each division has a Clinical Quality Manager who has the responsibility to represent us at the Local Safeguarding Boards

and Serious Case Reviews.

The Director of Nursing & Quality has the lead responsibility for Safeguarding.

Compliments & Complaints

EMAS aims to provide a high-quality service to all our patients,

there are time when thing go wrong. 

We value your feedback when you have complaints or compliments.

When incidents do occur it is part of our clinical governance procedure to help us to change and improve our service and approach.  It also allows us to collate emerging trends and

underlying themes.

Please refer to the Patient Experience – ‘Compliments, comments, concerns and compliments’ section of this website. Click

What should I do if I suspect abuse?

1. Assess the situation and try to ensure the safety and

   wellbeing of the individual.

2. If you think the emergency services are needed then

   call 999 immediately.

3. If the situation is not an emergency call your Local

    Authority Social Care Services.

What should I do if abuse is brought to my attention?

Do 

- Remain calm and try not to show any shock or disbelief.

- Listen very carefully to what you are being told.

- Be sympathetic and acknowledge regret and concern

  that this is happening to them.

- Assure them you are treating the information seriously.

- Explain that you need to report the situation.

Don't

- Don’t stop someone who is freely recalling significant events.

- Don’t ask detailed questions or press the person into

  giving more information.

- Don’t promise to keep the situation a secret or make

  promises you are unable to keep.

- Don’t be judgmental.

- Disturb any evidence - such as changing the persons clothes.

What if I’m wrong?

It is always best to act when you genuinely suspect abuse

- it could make all the difference to someone else's life.

If you happen to be wrong you can be assured that you did

the right thing for the right reasons.