Safeguarding

[hannah40]

My husband a group for special needs adults . There is a volunteer at the group who to us expresses un appropriate behaviour to the service users.
He makes rude gestures from a distance. and sits on the service users laps . Tickles them and smacks there bum.
They seem to enjoy the attention and think it is all fun. I am not sure though and am thinking of getting advice. Does anyone know where I should go for advice.

[hannah40]

Well yes he does. Not that this person approaches my husband. Maybe because he is more with it. To me it's the more vulnerable he picks on.
Apparently charities only pay a small admin fee for DBS checks so council tighten up and do them on a few of volunteers only.

[wolf63]

I think that you really have to go with your heart on this one. It is one of these situations where you have to be there to see what's happening. It sounds like the volunteer isn't sure of social boundaries regarding physical contact .

I hope that you get things resolved so that you can both relax and enjoy the group.

[pixie374]

You only need a DBS check if there is a chance of being alone with them. He obviously works "supervised".

[EDDIE51]

Just the fact that this person comes out of the kitchen and hugs and touches the service users is proof he is acting in an inappropriate way. It may be harmless / unintentional / well meaning but it really does need to be reported. I am very surprised that he does not have a disclosure, it looks like the same type of role I had in the care home and I had to have an enhanced disclosure.

[cassa333]

Although one would like to think there is nothing untoward with what he does, if you are concerned you owe it to yourself (peace of mind) and other service users if there does ever turn out to be more to him than meets the eye. Vulnerable people are sometimes more susceptible to abuse because they may not realise what is happening is abuse. What starts out as harmless banter and a pat on the bum could progress to anything.

It would be interesting to see him with a different group of people to see if his manner is 'just his way' or he does in fact target vulnerable people more.

In the first instance go to the safeguarding officer for the department that deals with the group.

[cassa333]

To add also.

Under different circumstances would the volunteer be classed as vulnerable? Does he know the limits that he should not go beyond?

[hannah40]

The volunteer seems a little arrogant in my opinion.
I think with his peers or family he would behave the same.
I saw him running his hand along the leg of a carer feeling there velvety trousers so I guess it is his way

[cassa333]

Actually thinking about it, just because it seems to be his way it is the sort of thing that lets people 'get away with' stuff. Look how everyone turned a blind eye to JS. Those that knew what he was like ignored it. Those that didn't just thought it was his manner and ignored it.

Although to be fare I met JS once and made sure the young girls in my department kept away from him.

[hammerman]

I think you at least need to flag it up to the powers that be. ake sure you document it....name of who you reported it to, date, what was said etc.
If anything went too far, you'd kick yourself for not bringing it topeople's attention.

Good luck

[EDDIE51]

Yes, thinking it is 'just his way' is a common excuse for not doing anything. As said it was the one used about Savile and many others.
As I have said this may be harmless and due to ignorance but it may be more sinister! You owe it to your husband and the others in the group to make a formal report about this. At the very least the person will get help to see how his action is inappropriate and how he can express his feelings in a more appropriate manner.

[fiction-factory]

Has he done anything like this to your husband, hannah?

[hannah40]

No he hasn't. Maybe it is because he is mildy autistic. I noticed the users he fusses around have more of a learning disability than my husband.
I have been on to safeguarding this morning and they say the policy is No physical contact is allowed at all. All volunteers will have there role description and should have been issued with a safeguarding policy which will say clearly no physical contact.
I will ask to see this when I go to the group tomorrow.