Safeguarding at Holy Cross

At Holy Cross, the safety and well-being of our patients, staff, volunteers, and visitors is our top priority. 

We have a range of measures and practices in place to protect visiting children, and adults at risk, whether they be patients or visitors, from abuse, neglect, and significant harm or distress. 

We have a zero-tolerance approach to any form of abuse and are committed to maintaining a safe and caring environment where everyone is respected and protected. Any allegations or cases of suspected abuse will be fully investigated.

The information on this page aims to tell you what you can do if you are being abused or you are worried that someone you know is at risk of abuse. 

What is safeguarding

Safeguarding means protecting children and adults at risk from abuse and maltreatment. 

An adult at risk is somebody over the age of 16 who:

• Is unable to safeguard their own well-being, property, rights or other interests.
• Is at risk of harm.
• Is more vulnerable because they are affected by disability, mental disorder, illness or physical or mental infirmity.

Safeguarding is:

• Preventing harm to their health and development. 
• Ensuring they have safe and effective care.
• Taking action to enable all children and adults at risk to have the best possible outcomes.  

Recognising abuse and neglect

Abuse and neglect can occur in any relationship and can take many forms, including:

Physical abuse – inflicting harm such as hitting, shaking, pulling hair, rough handling, punching, physical punishments, forcible feeding or withholding food, misuse of medication, making someone deliberately uncomfortable eg opening or keeping shut a window or removing blankets, inappropriate restraint, or failing to prevent hurt. 

Psychological abuse – enforced social isolation, preventing choice and opinion, removing mobility or communication aids, intentionally leaving someone unattended when they require assistance, failing to respect privacy, constant criticism or threats, intimidation, coercion, harassment, use of threats, bullying, swearing or verbal abuse, humiliation, preventing someone from meeting their religious and cultural needs, threats of harm or abandonment and cyber bullying.  

Sexual abuse – any form of sexual activity which is carried out without consent including inappropriate touching anywhere, inappropriate looking, sexual teasing or innuendo, sexual harassment, sexual photography or forced use of photography. Sexual abuse also includes showing a child pornographic material or engaging them in a discussion about inappropriate sexual matters. 

Neglect – failing to provide or allow access to food, shelter, clothing, heating, stimulation, activities, personal or medical care. Providing care in a way that the person dislikes, failing to administer medications as prescribed, refusing access to visitors, preventing access to glasses, hearing aids, dentures. Neglect also includes not taking account of an individual’s cultural, religious or ethnic needs, ignoring or isolating the person or preventing them from making their own decisions. Failing to ensure privacy and dignity.  

Financial abuse – theft of money or possessions, fraud, scamming, preventing a person from accessing their own money, benefits or assets. Employees taking a loan from a person using the service. Putting undue pressure or influence, duress or threat on a person in connection with loans, wills, property, inheritance or financial transactions. Arranging less care than is needed to save money to maximise inheritance. Denying assistance to manage/monitor financial affairs. Misuse of personal allowance in a care home or misuse of benefits or direct payments in a family home. Someone moving into a person’s home and living rent free without agreement or under duress. False representation, using another person’s bank account, cards or documents. Exploitation of a person’s money or assets, eg the unauthorised use of a car. Misuse of a power of attorney, deputyship, appointeeship or other legal authority. Rogue trading eg unnecessary or overpriced property repairs and failure to carry out agreed repairs or poor workmanship.  

Discriminatory abuse – unequal treatment based on age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion and belief, sex or sexual orientation (known as ‘protected characteristics’ under the Equality Act 2010). Verbal abuse, derogatory remarks or inappropriate use of language related to a protected characteristic. Denying access to communication aids, not allowing access to an interpreter, signer or lip-reader. Harassment or deliberate exclusion on the grounds of a protected characteristic. Denying basic rights to healthcare, education, employment and criminal justice relating to a protected characteristic. Sub-standard service provision relating to a protected characteristic.

Self-neglect – when somebody is not looking after themselves and does not care about where or how they live. Lack of self-care to the extent that it threatens personal health and safety. Neglecting to care for personal hygiene, health or surroundings. Inability to avoid self-harm. Failing to seek help or access services to meet health and social care needs. Inability or unwillingness to manage their personal affairs. 

Modern slavery – when someone is forced to work for little or no money and is threatened or hurt if they do not do it. This could include signs of physical or emotional abuse. Appearing to be malnourished, unkempt or withdrawn. Isolation from the community, seeming under the control or influence of others. Living in dirty, cramped or overcrowded accommodation and or living and working at the same address. Lack of personal effects or identification documents. Always wearing the same clothes. Avoidance of eye contact, appearing frightened or hesitant to talk to strangers. Fear of law enforcers. 

Organisational or institutional abuse - occurs when someone lives in a hospital or care home and they are made sad, frightened or angry by the way things are done. This could include discouraging visits or the involvement of relatives or friends. A run-down or overcrowded establishment, authoritarian management or rigid regimes or a lack of leadership and supervision. Insufficient staff or high turnover resulting in poor quality care. Abusive and disrespectful attitudes towards people using the service. Inappropriate use of restraints. Lack of respect for dignity and privacy. Failure to manage residents with abusive behaviour. Not providing adequate food and drink, or assistance with eating. Not offering choice or promoting independence. Misuse of medication. Failure to provide care for dentures, spectacles or hearing aids. Not taking account of an individual’s cultural, religious or ethnic needs. Failure to respond to abuse appropriately. Interference with personal correspondence or communication. Failure to respond to complaints. 

Radicalisation – adults at risk being exploited by people who seek to involve them in terrorism or activities that support terrorism. Signs include someone becoming increasingly argumentative, refusing to listen to different points of view, embracing conspiracy theories, feeling persecuted. Changing friends and appearance, distancing themselves from old friends or no longer doing things they used to enjoy, being secretive and reluctant to discuss their whereabouts. Converting to a new religion, being sympathetic to extremist ideologies and groups. Unwilling to engage with children who are different, or becoming abusive to children who are different.

Reporting concerns

If you have any concerns about the safety or well-being of someone at Holy Cross, you should listen, observe, record and report what you see to the senior nurse on duty. They will then report it to one of our Safeguarding Officers. 

If you are the one who has experienced abuse, please tell someone you trust as soon as possible. If you choose to tell someone at Holy Cross, we will work with you and other people to keep you safe.

What happens next

If we receive a report about the safety or well-being of someone at Holy Cross, we will make sure the adult at risk or child is safe from the possibility of further harm and receives appropriate care. Steps will be taken to preserve evidence. 

The Lead Safeguarding Officer will make a decision about whether to notify the Multi Agency Safeguarding Hub. The Police will be contacted if there is evidence of a crime. 

Contact details

Safeguarding Lead at Holy Cross Hospital – Contact the Director of Patient Services

Email: [email protected]

Tel: 01428 643311

In an emergency call 999

Multi-agency safeguarding hub (Adults and Children) 0300 470 9100 out of office hours 01483 517898