Lasting Power of Attorney – Lets Plan Ahead Campaign

The Let’s Plan Ahead (LPA) Campaign is a multi-agency initiative which aims to raise awareness and drive the uptake of Lasting Power of Attorney for Health and Welfare, hosted on the HSAB website on new, dedicated webpages found here: https://www.hampshiresab.org.uk/lasting-power-of-attorney/

 

These pages are intended to provide a range of resources to support both the public and professionals to understand the legal arrangements around making a Lasting Power of Attorney, and to share this information with their family members, within staff teams and within the wider community. There are specific resources related to making a Lasting Power of Attorney for Health and Welfare as the uptake of these is low nationally and every adult should consider having this in place regardless of their age. The resources include short films and information documents which can be downloaded and printed.

 

We encourage all residents of Hampshire to visit the site and consider making a Lasting Power of Attorney for Health and Welfare. Once you have these arrangements in place you can rest assured that somebody you know and trust, who knows your wishes, will be able to make decisions in your best interests.

White Ribbon Day 2020


White Ribbon Day 2020 is Wednesday 25 November.  Each year thousands of people stand up, speak out and say no to violence against women. This year is more important than ever with a significant increase in violence, harassment and abuse towards women during the coronavirus pandemic.  We urgently need to work together to prevent violence and make sure our communities and homes are safe for everyone.

Domestic abuse services are open  The current crisis will be different for every family in Hampshire and for some, this has contributed to rising tensions and an increase in incidents of domestic abuse.

If you are experiencing domestic abuse at home or are struggling to manage your emotions or behaviour, help and support is available. If you need a safe place to stay, refuges are open. Get in touch with the Hampshire Domestic Abuse Service by phone, email or on Facebook Messenger. In lockdown, you are allowed to leave your house to seek help for domestic abuse. In an emergency dial 999.

If you are unable to speak, listen to the questions from the operator and respond by coughing or tapping the handset if you can. Then follow the instructions depending on whether you are calling from a mobile or a landline.  If you call from a mobile, if prompted, press 55 to Make Yourself Heard  – this will transfer your call to the police.

If you are a family member or neighbour concerned about someone you know experiencing domestic abuse, it is also important to get in touch.

Help is available from: • Hampshire Domestic Abuse Service Advice Line (provided by Stop Domestic Abuse) 03300 165 112, Monday – Friday 9.30am-8pm (out of hours numbers available on answerphone) • Crimestoppers 0800 555111

Are you a survivor or victim of church related abuse?

Could you help the Diocese of Guildford to learn from the past and protect the future?

The Diocese of Guildford is currently reviewing all its records, across all 162 parishes, to ensure that all safeguarding concerns and allegations have been identified, reported, and appropriately actioned. Critical to this, is the voice of survivors and victims. The Diocese of Guildford wants to listen to and to learn from your experiences and ensure that your voices are heard throughout this review process.

Coming forward

Anybody who would like to give information or make disclosures about church-related abuse is asked to contact Diocesan Safeguarding Advisor, Jackie Broadfoot (jackie.broadfoot@cofeguildford.org.uk – 07918 559387).

Support is available

The Diocese recognises that coming forward may be extremely difficult and dedicated support has been set up for you. Two confidential listening services have been set up, for those people who have experienced church related abuse but who might want to talk through their experiences and feelings before taking any next step. To find out more about the support available click here.

Building the safest community we can

Bishop Andrew, Diocesan Bishop for the Diocese of Guildford explains why we are doing this: “It is important we do everything we can to make our churches the safest places they can be. Safe means different things to different people but this review will help us to ensure that the concerns reported to our churches have been dealt with properly, and the care taken and the support given is of the high quality that people rightly deserve.  We have learnt from a previous review that that survivors and victims’ voices are critical, and I would urge you to come forward.”

HSAB Newsletter Issue 3 November 2020

See  Issue 3 of the HSAB Newsletter by clicking on the image below. The newsletter includes articles on:-

  • Adult Safeguarding Week
  • COVID-19 Mental Health &Wellbeing
  • Domestic Abuse
  • Adolescent to Parent  Violence
  • Self-Neglect

National Safeguarding Adults Week 16-22 November 2020: tackling the issues day by day

Raising awareness of the many forms of abuse of adults with care and support needs is at the centre of a week-long campaign by the Hampshire Safeguarding Adults Board (HSAB) – marking this year’s National Safeguarding Adults Week (16 to 22 November 2020).

Working together and with local partners and communities, HSAB is focusing on a different issue each day during the week, to highlight the many forms abuse takes and the help that is available to combat it.

Graham Allen, Chair of the Hampshire Safeguarding Adults’ Board, said:

“Feeling safe and being able to live a life that is free from harm and abuse is a fundamental right of every person. However, some in our communities are less able to stand up for themselves and this is why we are asking local residents to support our work to prevent abuse and neglect and to raise safeguarding concerns wherever and whenever they occur.

“As a result of the pandemic, and with the impact of social distancing measures and the reduction in face-to-face contact, it is more important than ever that we all play our part in helping to spot the warning signs and acting on them when needed. Safeguarding is everyone’s business – if you spot the signs, make the call.”

Abuse and neglect could fall under several categories, including domestic, physical, psychological and/or emotional, financial, neglect or sexual.

Although not an exhaustive list, some signs of harm or abuse might include     unexplained or unusual injuries, changes in behaviour or appearance, such as clothes being dirty, or an unexplained lack of money. There is more information on the warning signs on the HSAB website. Also on the website is detailed advice and information for the public and professionals, with helpful links.

Each day during National Safeguarding Adults Week, the HSAB will be shining a spotlight on a specific theme using social media with the hashtag #SafeguardingAdultsWeek.

The daily links are:

If you are worried that an adult is, or may be at risk from harm, please call 0300 555 1386 or out of hours 0300 555 1373. In addition to the local number, safeguarding concerns can be reported to the Police on 101 or in an emergency 999.

Further information about National Safeguarding Week can be found at: National Safeguarding Adults Week: 16th to 22nd November 2020

Stop Domestic Abuse: COVID-19 Service Delivery Extension of Advice Line Hours

As an important element of their COVID-19 pandemic response, Stop Domestic Abuse will continue to extend the opening hours of the Hampshire Domestic Abuse Service Advice Line until 31 March 2020. Details of the services available are as follows:

 

Stop Domestic Abuse

COVID-19 Service Delivery until 31 March 2021

 

Hampshire Domestic Abuse Service

Email: advice@stopdomesticabuse.uk

Secure email: advice.hampshire@stopdomesticabuse.cjsm.net

Telephone: 033 0016 5112

 

Advice Line opening hours:

For victims, perpetrators and their family/friends and professionals

9.30am-8.00pm Monday –Friday.

 

Refuges can be accessed 24 hrs by calling 033 0016 5112 and following the answerphone instructions.

 

Portsmouth Integrated Domestic Abuse Refuge and Outreach Service

Email: portsmouthreferral@stopdomesticabuse.uk

Secure email: portsmouthreferral@sdas.cjsm.net

Telephone: 02392 065494

Opening hours: 9:00am – 9.00pm Monday-Friday

Weekends and bank holidays 10:00am-6.00pm

HSAB Annual Report 2019 – 2020

We are pleased to announce that the Hampshire Safeguarding Adult Board (HSAB) Annual Report 2019/20 has now been published and can be viewed via the HSAB website here:

HSAB Annual Report 2019/20

Please share the link to the report widely within your organisation, including any internal safeguarding committees and governance boards to ensure they are sighted on the strategic priorities agreed by the HSAB.

Thank you.

Self Neglect Learning Briefing

All organisations across the 4LSAB (Southampton, Hampshire, Isle of Wight and Portsmouth) have launched a campaign to raise awareness of Self Neglect.

A Self Neglect Learning Briefing for professionals and a One Minute Guide to Self Neglect for general use have been produced. Please click on the images below to see this literature.

 

          

4LSAB Multi-Agency Safeguarding Adults Policy and Guidance 2020

It is with great pleasure that we are able to inform you that the Multi-Agency Safeguarding Adults Policy and Guidance (2020) has now been ratified by the four Local Safeguarding Adults Boards covering Hampshire, Isle of Wight, Portsmouth and Southampton.  This has been a collaborative process involving key stakeholders and safeguarding partners across the four areas.

The new 4LSAB Multi-Agency Safeguarding Policy and Guidance has been updated to reflect recent changes in the Care and Support statutory guidance (March 2020), new and emerging national guidance as well as changes to other legislation linked to adult safeguarding work. It provides an overarching framework to inform safeguarding practice for the local safeguarding system as a whole. Individual agencies and organisations may wish to develop their own internal business process to aid the operationalisation of the multi-agency arrangements within their own organisation.

The 4LSAB Multi-Agency Safeguarding Adults Policy and Guidance is being published as a web-based resource, hosted by the HSAB.  This approach will improve accessibility and will simplify the future updating of Policy and Guidance in the future. Please use this link to access the new policy and guidance:

4LSAB Multi-Agency Policy and Guidance.

Using drugs or alcohol is never an excuse for violence or abuse

“Alcohol, drugs and stress make me violent”.  Ever heard yourself say that?

Substance use, stress, anger and trauma do not explain or excuse violence – they do not cause you to be abusive or to hurt someone you love.  Most people who drink never use violence or abuse. There is #noexcuseforabuse.

Domestic abuse includes a range of abuse (not just physical) which is an attempt to control and manipulate a partner or ex-partner.  It is unacceptable but help and support is available.  Our services are open and they want to hear from you.

Help is available from:

Advice Line (provided by Stop Domestic Abuse) 03300 165 112 weekdays 9.30am-8pm

COVID helpline for perpetrator support and interventions (provided by the Hampton Trust) 02380 009898, advice@hamptontrust.org.uk

  • One You offers free information and advice on easy ways to gradually drink less
  • Drink Coach offer a free, quick and confidential test to find out how risky your drinking is.
  • A local confidential alcohol helpline is available in Hampshire for people who want further support: 0300 303 3539
  • If you need help with an alcohol or drug problem you can contact Hampshire treatment services for adults or young people. Support is also available to those affected by someone else’s use of drugs or alcohol.  https://www.inclusionhants.org/.

Domestic Abuse help is out there for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender + (LGBT+) communities

Domestic abuse by family, partners, and ex-partners happens in all communities, including to people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender +.  Your abuser may also use your sexuality and gender identity against you as a tactic to keep the power and control in your relationship.  This is not ok.

You are entitled to help as much as any other person.  Help is available, services are open and inclusive, and they want to hear from you.  You will be believed.

Help is available from:

 

 

Advice Line (provided by Stop Domestic Abuse) 03300 165 112 weekdays 9.30am-8pm

 

  • Galop – for members of the LGBT+ community

 

Galop is the LGBT+ specialist anti-violence charity that works on issues of hate crime, sexual violence, and domestic abuse. Galop runs the National LGBT+ Domestic Abuse Helpline:

Telephone: 0800 999 5428

Email: help@galop.org.uk

  • Hampshire Police Lesbian and Gay Liaison Officers (LAGLOs)

Officers dedicated to supporting members of the LGBT+ community. Trained to respond to LGBT+ domestic abuse and undertake specific risk assessment.

 

  • YOU Trust refuge, Dorset

 

Offers a service to support people from LGBT+ and BAME communities, male victims and women will older boys who would not be able to access most refuge spaces.

Telephone: 0800 032 5204

Email: youfirst@theyoutrust.org.uk

 

For more information:

Help is available for economic abuse

Domestic abuse takes many forms. Economic abuse often happens alongside other types of abuse and is commonly part of a pattern of behaviour where abusers seek to control their victims by means of their finances. They may repeatedly control your everyday actions and take away your choices, becoming violent and abusive (or threatening) if you refuse to meet their demands. With economic abuse, an abuser may restrict how you acquire, spend and manage money and economic resources, such as accommodation, food, clothing and transport (Surviving Economic Abuse, 2020).  They might take your wages, stop you working, or put you in debt.

Social distancing and isolation measures which are in place to control the spread of coronavirus may reinforce the power that an abuser has over you.  If you are concerned about how coronavirus may affect your finances or are experiencing economic abuse, help is available from:

Advice Line (provided by Stop Domestic Abuse) 03300 165 112 weekdays 9.30am-8pm

Lasting Power of Attorney – Lets Plan Ahead Campaign

The Hampshire Safeguarding Adults Board is pleased to announce the launch of the Let’s Plan Ahead (LPA) Campaign, a multi-agency initiative which aims to raise awareness and drive the uptake of Lasting Power of Attorney for Health and Welfare.

The HSAB website is hosting the campaign on new, dedicated webpages found here: https://www.hampshiresab.org.uk/lasting-power-of-attorney/

These pages are intended to provide a range of resources to support both the public and professionals to understand the legal arrangements around making a Lasting Power of Attorney, and to share this information with their family members, within staff teams and within the wider community. There are specific resources related to making a Lasting Power of Attorney for Health and Welfare as the uptake of these is low nationally and every adult should consider having this in place regardless of their age. The resources include short films and information documents which can be downloaded and printed.

We encourage all residents of Hampshire to visit the site and consider making a Lasting Power of Attorney for Health and Welfare. Once you have these arrangements in place you can rest assured that somebody you know and trust, who knows your wishes, will be able to make decisions in your best interests.

Domestic abuse & mental health

Domestic abuse can have an enormous effect on your mental health. It is now well accepted that abuse (both in childhood and in adult life) is often the main factor in the development of depression, anxiety and other mental health disorders, and may lead to sleep disturbances, self-harm, suicide and attempted suicide, eating disorders and drug and alcohol misuse.

Don’t blame yourself – your mental health difficulties are not your fault, and you are not responsible for the abuse: the abuser is.

You are entitled to help as much as any other abused person, and if you have additional support needs, you should get help with them too.

If you are experiencing a crisis and need urgent mental health support, please call 111 or visit www.111.nhs.uk and speak to the NHS Mental Health Triage Service. In life-threatening emergencies, always call 999.

Help is also available from:

 

Advice Line (provided by Stop Domestic Abuse) 03300 165 112 weekdays 9.30am-8pm

 

  • Solent Mind: Coronavirus mental wellbeing helpline

A new helpline for anyone who is experiencing poor mental health or wellbeing challenges as a result of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) epidemic.

Telephone: 023 8017 9049 (Monday – Friday, 10am – 4pm)

 

  • Samaritans

Confidential emotional support and listening service

Telephone: 116123 www.samaritans.org

 

For more information: https://www.womensaid.org.uk/the-survivors-handbook/domestic-abuse-and-your-mental-health/

Domestic abuse & people living with disabilities

Disabled women are twice as likely to experience domestic violence than those without disabilities. They are also likely to experience abuse over a longer period of time and to suffer more severe injuries as a result of the violence.  If you are disabled, your abuser may also be your carer, or your personal assistant and you may be reliant on him/her for personal care or mobility.

There is help and support available for anyone experiencing domestic abuse. The Hampshire Domestic Abuse Service is able to support people with disabilities and have outreach services or independent advocacy services which can help you. If you need safe accommodation some refuges now have full wheelchair access, and workers who can assist you and your children who have special needs such as physical, sensory (hearing or visual) and learning impairments.

Help is available from:

 

  • Hampshire Domestic Abuse Service Telephone Advice Line 03300 165 112 Weekdays 9.30am-5.30pm (5pm Fridays)

 

Hampshire Domestic Abuse Service Website

 

  • Stay Safe East

 

Stay Safe East provides specialist and holistic advocacy and support services to disabled victims and survivors of abuse.

 

  • SignHealth

 

SignHealth provides domestic abuse service support for deaf people in British Sign Language (BSL).

WhatsApp or Facetime: 07970 350366

Telephone: 020 3947 2601

Email: da@signhealth.org.uk

 

  • 999 calls for people who are deaf

 

If you are deaf or can’t verbally communicate, you can register with the emergencySMS service. Text REGISTER to 999. You will get a text which tells you what to do next. Do this when it is safe so you can text when you are in danger.

For more information:

https://www.womensaid.org.uk/the-survivors-handbook/the-survivors-handbook-disabled-women/

Support Mental Health Issues During Lockdown

Mental health issues related to our lockdown and the pandemic are especially hard for people with depression.  As we go into a second lockdown please keep a lookout for your family, friends and neighbours who may be struggling.

SHOUT is the UK’s first 24/7 text service, free on all major mobile networks, for anyone in crisis anytime, anywhere. It’s a place to go if you’re struggling to cope and you need immediate help.
Text: 85258

SAMARITANS – Provides confidential, non-judgemental emotional support for people experiencing feelings of distress or despair, including those that could lead to suicide. You can phone, email, write a letter or in most cases talk to someone face to face.
Telephone: 116 123 (24 hours a day, free of charge)

Mystery Shopper Recruitment Scams

The City of London Police have published a fraud alert.

Fraudsters are targeting job-seekers with a recruitment scam that has already claimed 35 victims with losses totalling over £51,000. All of the victims have so far been from London.

See more information about the scams and what to do by clicking on the document below.

Hope Street – One Small Thing

The charity One Small Thing is developing the Hope Street Hub. This will combine residential facilities with therapy and training rooms, an onsite café which will be open to the public and a range of activities providing practical skills that support the charity’s aim to be environmentally sustainable. Community and social integration are key components behind Hope Street’s ethos with many of the classes expected to be open to the local community.

Click on the icon below for further information.

 

Is you behaviour affecting your children – the effect of domestic abuse on children and young people

Is your behaviour affecting your children?

Even if your children haven’t seen you be abusive, they’ve almost certainly overheard things. Children are highly intuitive and can pick up on tension around them. It’s terrifying to hear a parent being abused. To know that someone they love is being harmed, and not knowing how it will end. To be powerless to stop it. Studies have shown that children suffer long-term harm if they live with violence and abuse, even if the abuse isn’t directed at them.

Physical effects

Your children might be physically hurt in the ‘cross-fire’, suffer sleep deprivation and be unable to concentrate at school. They may wet the bed, develop eating disorders, or endure panic attacks, stress and tension.

Emotional effects

Your child will probably feel fear, anger and anxiety, be jumpy or unable to relax. They might struggle to trust you, or others, and develop low self-esteem and psychological problems.

Behavioural effects

Children learn from those around them. Your child could start to model themselves on your violent and abusive behaviour, and bully other children or expect and accept abuse. They might struggle with school work or skip school, steal or break the law, or turn to alcohol and drugs.

It’s easy to minimise your actions. Maybe you think what you’ve done ‘isn’t that bad’. Maybe you’re making excuses.

Or maybe you’re finding the strength, now, to face up to what you’ve done and the effect it’s having on people you care about. Maybe you’re feeling guilty or ashamed of how you’ve behaved.

It can hurt to admit that what you’ve done is not okay. But by doing so and choosing to change, you’re taking responsibility for your actions, and are on the road to change.

Help is available from:

Emollient Cream Fire Safety Message

Following a recent emollients safety campaign by the National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC), Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service (HFRS) and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service (IWFRS) has put together a webpage and bulletin to raise awareness of the fire risks that can be posed from using emollient creams.   

Please be aware that there has not been any fire related deaths in the Hampshire, Southampton, Portsmouth and IOW area involving emollient creams however this publication is being shared to increase knowledge of all agencies and professionals who work with people who use emollient creams, and highlight potential fire risks when using them.  

The advice and information can be accessed on the Hampshire and IOW Fire and Rescue Service Emollient Creams Webpage, which can be accessed here – https://www.hantsfire.gov.uk/keeping-safe/loveyourhome/firehazards/emollients-safety/.