Safeguarding Adults Statement

Diverse Supported Accommodation CIC is committed to safeguarding the adults who live in our homes. As a housing provider working with adults who may be at risk of abuse or neglect — by virtue of mental health needs and the situations that have brought them into supported accommodation — we take safeguarding as seriously as any other duty in our service.

Our commitment

We work to the principles set out in the Care Act 2014, the supporting statutory guidance, and the recommendations of the local Safeguarding Adults Boards covering the London boroughs we operate in.

The six safeguarding principles

Our safeguarding approach is built around the six principles set out in the Care Act statutory guidance:

1. Empowerment — Person-led decisions and informed consent. People supported and encouraged to make their own decisions.
2. Prevention — It is better to take action before harm occurs. Awareness of warning signs and risks built into our routine work.
3. Proportionality — The least intrusive response appropriate to the risk presented.
4. Protection — Support and representation for those in greatest need.
5. Partnership — Local solutions through services working with their communities. Strong working relationships with local authority safeguarding teams.
6. Accountability — Clear roles, clear responsibilities, transparent recording, willingness to be held to account.

The split between housing and support

Because Diverse Supported Accommodation CIC is a housing provider — not a personal-care provider — safeguarding responsibilities are shared with the support providers operating in our properties. In broad terms:

• We hold responsibility for safeguarding concerns relating to the property itself (e.g. hazards in the home, fire safety, security, neighbour-related risks).
• The support provider holds responsibility for safeguarding concerns relating to a resident's care, support and personal welfare.
• Both parties are required to share concerns with each other promptly and to cooperate with local authority enquiries.

The split is set out clearly in our working agreements with approved support providers.

Recognising abuse

Abuse can take many forms. Staff, residents, families and partners should be aware of the categories of abuse described in the Care Act 2014 statutory guidance, including:

• Physical abuse
• Sexual abuse
• Psychological or emotional abuse
• Financial or material abuse
• Neglect or acts of omission
• Self-neglect
• Discriminatory abuse
• Organisational or institutional abuse
• Domestic abuse
• Modern slavery

How to raise a concern

If you are worried about an adult who lives in one of our properties — or about any practice you've seen — please raise it. You don't need to be sure something is wrong; raising a concern is always the right thing to do.

If someone is in immediate danger

Call 999 immediately.

If the concern is urgent but not an emergency

Contact the relevant local authority adult safeguarding team. Every London borough has a team that takes safeguarding referrals. Search "[borough name] adult safeguarding" — or contact us and we will help route the concern.

To raise a concern with Diverse Supported Accommodation CIC

Email info@dsacic.co.uk — clearly mark the email "Safeguarding". We will respond promptly. If the concern is about a member of our staff or a person in our organisation, you can request it be escalated to the sole director.

What happens after a concern is raised

• We log the concern, with date, time and details, in our safeguarding record.
• We assess immediate risk and take action to keep the person safe.
• Where appropriate, we make a formal safeguarding referral to the local authority.
• We cooperate fully with any enquiry made by the local authority or other agency.
• We feed back to the person who raised the concern (where appropriate and safe to do so).
• We review our own processes if the concern reveals a wider issue.

Whistleblowing

If you are a member of our staff, a contractor, or a support provider working in our homes and you have concerns about practice or wrongdoing, you are protected by the Public Interest Disclosure Act 1998. You can raise concerns internally at info@dsacic.co.uk, or externally to a prescribed body — the most relevant for our work being the local authority safeguarding team or the Health and Safety Executive. No one will be victimised for raising a concern in good faith.

Designated safeguarding lead

The designated safeguarding lead within Diverse Supported Accommodation CIC is the sole director, Sukhbir Singh Ahluwalia. They can be contacted via info@dsacic.co.uk.

Review

This statement is reviewed annually, and after any significant safeguarding incident or change in statutory guidance.