Safeguarding Awareness for Volunteers
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Safeguarding Awareness for Volunteers
Information, advice and guidance surrounding safeguarding adults at risk during the coronavirus pandemic.
As the Government continues to deal with responding to the COVID-19 pandemic it is an essential priority to safeguard the needs of adults at risk of harm in our area.
It is imperative that people follow government guidelines on how to stay safe and what steps individuals can take.
Easy Read Information has been developed by Inclusion North. Download via the button below:
Inclusion North News for January 2022 (Easy Read - opens in new window)
We know that this is a difficult and worrying time for everyone – but particularly so for adults and children living with abuse, and the professionals working hard to support them. The SafeLives website has dedicated pages which share resources to support people through this time:
This guidance is to support health professionals to safely ask patients about domestic abuse (DA) in virtual settings for example: on the telephone, or online.
Five Rs of Asking About Domestic Abuse (opens in new window)
Action Fraud is warning the public to remain vigilant as criminals begin to take advantage of the roll-out of the coronavirus vaccine to commit fraud.
The messages below can be downloaded and are to help promote safe behaviours:
The Coronavirus Community Support hub was launched as a positive response to the current COVID-19 situation in the East Riding.
It offers a platform where cross-sector communities can connect, knowledge share, make offers of support and discover initiatives within their local areas. With an emphasis on enabling and removing barriers, the hub is designed to put the health and well-being of individuals as a priority during these changing times.
Supporting charities to do what they do best during the coronavirus pandemic.
HEY Smile Foundation CEO Statement - 19 March 2020 (opens in new window)
Please click the link below to access the BEECAN website:
BEECAN - The Coronavirus Community Support Hub (external website)
For updates regarding HEY Smile Foundation and joint work with East Riding of Yorkshire Council and Absolutely Cultured volunteer programme, please go to their dedicated news page:
HEY Smile Foundation news (external website)
Have you encountered someone who may be a potential victim of modern slavery?
Open the document below to find out what to look out for and how to get help:
Friends Against Scams aims to protect and prevent people from becoming victims of scams. Information about scams to be aware of, including how to protect yourself and others, and how to report them is contained in the link below.
COVID-19 Scams Postcard (pdf 169kb - opens in new window)
Scams Advice Letter (word 70kb)
Track & Trace Scams (word 25kb)
Please be aware that not everyone out there is trustworthy and some people will take advantage of this unusual situation our society is facing.
Here are just some of the scams we are aware of, but please note that criminals come in all shapes and sizes and can contact you at the door, by phone, post or online:
Many people are being exposed to organised criminals who will be exploiting loneliness during lockdown to take money from romance scam victims. Feeling the kind of loneliness common among many vulnerable people during the current crisis.
Criminals who commit romance fraud trawl through profiles and piece together information such as wealth and lifestyle, in order to manipulate their victims
Police can investigate and help to provide support, but often cannot get the money back
It is very simple for fraudsters to cover their tracks by masking IP addresses and using unregistered phone numbers
Never send money to someone online you have never met
Think twice about posting personal information that could be used to manipulate or blackmail you.
For more information on how to protect yourself and others please click the link for a useful BBC article:
BBC Coronavirus: Loneliness and lockdown exploited in romance scams (external website)
Please be aware that not everyone out there is trustworthy and some people will take advantage of this unusual situation our society is facing.
If you think you’ve been scammed, report it to Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040 and if you need advice, call the Citizens Advice Consumer Helpline on 0808 223 1133.
If you are in immediate danger, contact the Police on 999.
Contact your bank if you think you have been scammed.
To learn more about different types of scams and how to protect yourself and others, visit Friends Against Scams and complete the free online training:
Friends Against Scams (external website)
Information for charities and general public in regard to scams can also be found in the War on Scams website where you will find information about the different types of scams, videos that can be used to raise awareness, as well as tips on how to avoid being a victim of a scam.
If you are a volunteer working as a result of the COVID-19 response please take a few minutes to watch this video to help keep vulnerable adults and children safe.
There has been an amazing response from local communities wanting to ensure their neighbours are not forgotten and getting the help they need.
To support these groups with the resources they need and ensure volunteers are safe, HEY Smile Foundation and East Riding of Yorkshire Council have compiled a range of resources within this page and established 9 Community Hubs across East Riding to help broker additional support.
A library of resources designed to help volunteers support their neighbours safely during COVID-19:
Information about scams to be aware of, including how to protect yourself and others, and how to report them is contained in the Protection against scams section.
Please note: we are unable to deliver any face-to-face training during government restrictions and we have no way of knowing how long this might continue. In the meantime, we are keen that you have the opportunity to update and refresh your knowledge around safeguarding and have provided alternative options which are set out below.
Please access the current training pages which has details of online training which can be accessed during the current restrictions.
This modules enables learners to develop their knowledge and skills in implementing safeguarding adults procedures with an increased level of vigilance during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Please click the link below for training brought to you from ERYC Adult Social Care Team:
eLearning - Safeguarding Skills: Safeguarding Adults COVID-19 Update
The following organisations offer support to people with learning disability during and as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.
Learning Disability England has written this document for people and organisations that offer paid support to people with learning disabilities, provider organisations or personal assistants to help them prepare the people they support to make a decision about having the Coronavirus vaccine. We hope it will also be useful to people and families.
The coronavirus outbreak has impacted everyone’s life but for autistic people and their families, it has left them completely stranded.
This report highlights the often devastating impact this has had.
National Autistic Society report on impact of coronavirus (1.4mb)
This meeting is for people with a learning disability, family carers and service providers in East Riding to come together to discuss what is happening for people with a learning disability in the local area.
The partnership aims to give people with a learning disability who live and work in East Riding a voice.
The partnership are always looking for people with lived experience and want to share information and ideas that will help to improve the lives of people with a learning disability and family carers.
Partnership Board Invite (193kb)
We are looking for local people with a learning disability, autistic people including young people and family carers to join a group. Click the link below for more information:
Public Health England - A guide to your COVID-19 vaccination (1.6mb)](https://downloads.eastriding.org.uk/ersab/coronavirus/PHE_11843_Covid-19_Easy-read_leaflet.pdf)
As the Government continues to deal with responding to the COVID-19 pandemic it is an essential priority to safeguard the needs of the most vulnerable adults in our area.
It is imperative that people follow government guidelines on how to stay safe and what steps individuals can take. Easy Read Information has been developed by Inclusion North:
[Inclusion North - Resources, video links and audio files to help people during the Coronavirus outbreak (external website)] (https://inclusionnorth.org/our_work/coronavirus/)
Daily News - Omicron variant - 9 December 2021 Easy Read version (269kb)
The information includes: