Keeping Our Link Friends Safe

This week, we’re supporting #SafeguardingAdultsWeek hosted by the Ann Craft Trust.

At the Link Visiting Scheme we are serious about helping our Link friends and volunteers keep safe and well. This includes protecting them from abuse or neglect.

All our staff and volunteers have a duty of care to understand what safeguarding adults at risk means, to be aware of any red flags that could indicate a vulnerable person is being abused, and to tell someone immediately if they have any concerns for their Link friend. We provide an inhouse training session that all volunteers are expected to access when they begin their volunteering journey with us, and then repeat every 3 years to refresh their knowledge.

Unfortunately, the Covid pandemic response has meant more Link Friends are becoming lonely and isolated at home. They have less contact with family, friends and professionals, and can be more at risk of being targeted by those who wish to cause them harm.

We ask all our Link volunteers to remember the 6 R’s when supporting our Link Friends:

Recognise

Be alert to the possible red flags that may indicate that your Link Friend might need help. Has there been a change in their behaviour, outlook, attitude, circumstances, or appearance lately?

Reassure

It can be extremely hard for someone experiencing abuse or neglect to talk about it with others. Your Link Friend will need reassurance that you believe them, are here to support them and will alert the right people to help. We can’t reassure that the abuse won’t happen again, or that we will keep the information a secret. It’s our duty of care to report the concern and try to keep them safe.

Respond

It’s important if there is an immediate problem that it is responded to straight away. If a crime has been committed the police need to be informed. If the Link friend has physical injuries they may need medical assistance.

Report

You need to report any safeguarding concerns immediately to the Link office. If we are not available, we have given out of office phone numbers in our volunteer guidance. You can always speak to someone about the concern 24/ 7 and should seek advice without delay.

Record

Recording everything that has been said and done and passing that record on to the Link office is an important step in making sure we have the correct information to help the Link Friend.

Respect

We believe that the Link Friend should be at the centre of the safeguarding process. Their views, feelings, wishes and beliefs should be considered and respected by all involved including us.

We offer online training to all Link volunteers to help them understand safeguarding and how we can help Link friends be safe from abuse or neglect. For more information about this please contact Jo Mason jo@linkvisiting.org

For advice on how to keep Link Friends safe from risks during the Covid-19 pandemic please visit the Neighbourhood Watch website here.