Insurance, Health & Safety, Accidents and Risk Assessment

Outlook volunteers are covered by our public liability and “employer liability” insurance. A copy of the insurance policy can be provided on request. Our health and safety policy requires a risk assessment to be prepared for each activity. This policy is also available on request.

Resolving Problems

We hope that you will have a very enjoyable experience volunteering with us. However, if your role as a volunteer does not meet with your expectations or with the commitments we have made to you, we want you to feel comfortable about letting us know.
We reserve the right to terminate your volunteer position with us if disagreement or dissatisfaction cannot be resolved.

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

Lisburn Outlook is committed to embracing diversity and promoting equality and inclusion. When working with or representing Outlook as a volunteer we expect you to support this commitment.
This Volunteer Policy will be reviewed every 12 months
Date of next review: May 2018.
Current text approved by Lisburn outlook Committee 4th May 2017.

Recognising and Responding to Vulnerable Adult Protection Concerns
Lisburn Outlook Safeguarding Policy
1 Policy Statement

1.1 Lisburn Outlook believes that all adults should be able to live free from fear or harm and have their rights and choices respected.
1.2 Some adults are less able to protect themselves than others and may have some difficulty making their wishes and feelings known. This may make them more vulnerable to abuse.
1.3 The broad definition of a vulnerable adult is a:
“person aged 18 years or over who is or maybe in need of community care services by reason of mental or other disability, age or illness; and who is or maybe unable to take care of him or herself, or is unable to protect him or herself against significant harm or exploitation” (No Secrets, Department of Health 2000)

1.4 This policy applies to all Employees/volunteers of Lisburn Outlook.
1.5 Any behaviour which is deemed to put vulnerable adults at risk of either suffering, or likely to suffer significant harm as a result of abuse or neglect will not be tolerated and action will be taken immediately, with a referral if necessary to the appropriate statutory agencies – the Police and Social Services.
1.6 Volunteers and members are made aware of this Safeguarding Policy via our web site and are encouraged to ensure they read and understand it.
2. Recognising Adult Abuse
2.1 ‘No Secrets’ defines adult abuse as:
“a violation of an individual’s human and civil rights by any other person or person. Abuse may consist of a single act or repeated acts. It may be physical, verbal or psychological, it may be an act of neglect or an omission to act or it may occur when a vulnerable person is persuaded to enter into a financial or sexual transaction to which he or she has not consented or cannot consent. Abuse can occur in any relationship and may result in significant harm to, or exploitation of, the person subjected to it.”

2.2 It is not always easy to recognise when an adult is being abused and often there will be other explanations for the signs you may see and interpret as indicators of abuse. However, abuse can cause significant harm to vulnerable adults and therefore you must raise your concerns as soon as possible.
Six main types of abuse have been identified;
Physical abuse
2.3 Includes hitting, slapping, and pushing, kicking, misuse of medication, restraint or inappropriate sanctions.
2.4 Signs that may indicate physical abuse has taken place:
Bruises, broken bones, open wounds and black eyes
Any injury for which there is no adequate explanation
Burns of any shape or size
Incorrect administration of medication
Weight loss
Injuries which are untreated or inadequately treated.

Psychological abuse

2.5 Includes emotional abuse, threats of harm or abandonment, deprivation of contact, humiliation, blaming, controlling, intimidation, coercion, harassment, verbal abuse, isolation or withdrawal from services or supportive networks.
2.6 Signs that may indicate that emotional abuse has taken place:
Sudden changes in behaviour such as anger, aggressiveness, confusion, agitation, fear or helplessness.
High levels of anxiety, withdrawal or unhappiness.

Sexual abuse

2.7 Including rape and sexual assault or sexual acts to which the vulnerable adult has not consented or could not consent or was pressurised into consenting.
2.8 Signs that may indicate that sexual abuse has taken place:
Pain, itching, bruising or bleeding in the genital or anal areas.
Sexually transmitted diseases.
Urinary tract infections or genital discharge.
Stained, torn or bloody underclothing.

Neglect and acts of omission

2.9 Including ignoring medical or physical care needs, failure to provide access to appropriate health, social care or educational services, the withholding of the necessities of life, such as medication, adequate nutrition and heating.
2.10 Signs that may indicate neglect:
Weight loss.
Inadequate clothing which may be dirty or damaged and offers no protection from the weather.
Condition of home is squalid, unhygienic or dangerous.
Constantly tired or lacking in energy.
Incorrect administration of medication.

Financial or material abuse

2.11 Including theft, fraud, exploitation, pressure in connection with wills property or inheritance or financial transactions, or the misuse or misappropriation of property, possessions or benefits.
2.12 Signs that may indicate that financial or material abuse is taking place:
Large amounts of money withdrawn from accounts but unable to be accounted for.
Sudden change of will.
Transfer of monies to other people’s accounts.
Personal items such as jewellery and valuable possessions disappearing.

Discriminatory abuse

2.13 Including racist, sexist, that based on a person’s disability, and other forms of harassment, slurs or similar treatment.

2.14 Signs that may indicate that discriminatory abuse is taking place:
Unequal treatment.
Inappropriate use of language.
Deliberate exclusion.
Verbal abuse.

3 Taking action to safeguard and promote the well being of all vulnerable adults

3.1 You may during the course of your volunteering with Lisburn Outlook witness, suspect or be told about something which you feel amounts to abuse of a vulnerable adult or which makes you feel uncomfortable or uneasy.
3.2 Lisburn Outlook has a level of internal reporting which enables all members/volunteers to share their concerns and ensure that action is taken.
3.3 It is not your responsibility to decide if abuse has occurred or not, this is the role of the statutory services but it is important that you raise your concerns as soon as p3.4 It is very important to remember that any allegations concerning abuse of vulnerable adults can result in criminal proceedings and as such you should only ask questions to clarify essential basic information. Do not probe for more information or ask other questions or disclose details of the allegation to anyone else – even if the allegations involve them. Do not talk to the person you think is responsible for the harm as this might put you at risk and give them the opportunity to hide evidence.
3.5 Reassure the person that they are right to raise the issue and that they are in no way to blame. Explain what you are going to do with the information and reassure them that their concerns will be taken seriously and will be dealt with promptly. Do not promise ‘not to tell anyone’ or say ‘you’ll keep it a secret’
3.6 Complete a written record of what you have seen/heard ensuring that you make a clear distinction between what is fact and opinion. It is important to try and include as much detail as possible particularly about the vulnerable adult such as, full name, date of birth (if known), address, language of the person and remember to include parent/carers details if you know them, then sign and date the record.

3.7 Your written record must then be shared as soon as practically possible with a member of the committee. There are strict boundaries of confidentiality regarding the sharing of information therefore you should ensure that this record is locked away securely and you should not discuss the contents with anyone other than those designated above, unless it is to co-operate with an external official from Social Services or the Police in the course of their investigations.
3.8 If there is any possibility that a vulnerable adult may be in immediate danger you must act without delay. If a committee member is not contactable, you must call the Police or Social Services, who can respond on an emergency basis outside normal office hours.
3.10 If for any reason you are unable to raise your concerns following the procedures outlined above (for example if your concerns relate to a Committee Member within Lisburn Outlook) you should seek external support from the agencies listed below:
Local Social Services Department
Local Police

4. Minors

This policy refers to vulnerable adults. Minors do not generally take part in Lisburn Outlook activities. Where they do, it is with the close collaboration of a parent or someone nominated by the parent and known to the event organiser.

5. Review

This policy will be reviewed annually.
Last review – December 2017
Lisburn Outlook, registered with the Charity commission for Northern Ireland, Registration No. NIC 103202.