"INASPECTRUM"
Changing the world one face at a time


Meeting Ground Rules “Inaspectrum”

This is a community association for adults affected by an aspect of Asperger’s syndrome /Autism. It is a chance to meet and to talk about interesting issues, to support and help each other.

Being a community association all adults are welcome to be active members, if they have a positive interest in Aspergers / Autism. Topics are planned in advance and any member can suggest a future topic.

This is a set of ground rules in the form of an agreement which all those attending Inaspectrum meetings are expected to adhere to. These are in place to ensure the smooth running of each meeting and for the enjoyment and participation of each member of the association.

The ground rules are:-

Be on time, those arriving early please wait.

Switch off mobile phones or put them on silent.

During discussions, allow everyone a chance to speak without interruption.

Raise your hand to indicate you wish to speak and you will be acknowledged.

Please respect each other and our confidentiality. You may hear some personal, private even painful information during the meeting. Do not mention anything that you are worried about sharing in a group setting, protect yourself.

Bullying and negative comments will be challenged and not tolerated in any form be it, written, verbal or insinuated particularly if it is a police matter.

Listen, evaluate and contribute.

There are opportunities for any member to organise future evenings and they are encouraged to do so.

SELF CARE means that if I find a topic or something someones says upsetting, I walk out, to a safe place and speak afterwards to the facilitators or raise it in the group in a considerate manner.

 

Inaspectrum has equal opportunity, Health& safety and safe guarding policies in place and can be seen on the website please adhere to them. The chair person is the alerting person for Inaspectrum, anyone may alert concerns to relevent authorities as they deem appropriate.

 

 

 

 

 

 

INASPECTRUM SAFEGUARDING ADULTS AT RISK 2015 and DBS policy.

Alerting Manager: Paul McDonald

 

Our own policy on DBS and safeguarding is held in context to the policy that follows after.

 

INASPECTRUM SAFEGUARDING POLICY 2015

               Due to the circumstance of people affected by Autism / Aspergers the term vulnerable will often apply (thought this is fazed out of common use)    when describing a member of Inaspectrum. Vulnerable by ways of communicating their needs, their rights and standing up for themselves.

            A person needs to understand abuse in order to protect themselves from abuse, we up hold the "Human rights act 1998" and any recent amendments, and endeavour to educate all Inaspectrum members to be  aware of their human rights as found at http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1998/42/contents

             The "Disability Discrimination Act 2005" will also be a part of our safe guarding policy as found at http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2005/13/contents

We support the need for use of the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) and also recognise that the condition of Autism / Aspergers when left undiagnosed or untreated can result in what we will call "a chequered Past", which in itself may not mean a person would be considered unsuitable for membership of the association. Trustees may be required to provide a DBS certificate depending on their role in the association.

            Inaspectrum is a self help community, not a service, all  members would be encouraged in ways of self help and peer to peer assistance, they may attend once a year or three times a month. As a community of adults, we don't intend to offer personal care services, including finance or medication administration, nor any activities or situations that puts any person in a risk of abuse.

            Persons under the age of 18,  would not be allowed to attend any event without a designated responsible adult being present, the designated person would also need the written approval of their legal parent or guardian.

            We will endeavour to raise awareness of the different types of abuse. Abuse can happen in many places and in many ways to any person and could include the following types of abuse; neglect, omission,  financial, theft of property, sexual assault, gender denial,  physical assault, psychological (including expression, thought,  and religious liberty), we especially value the right of a person  to be an individual.

            The chairperson who holds an acceptable DBS certificate would be considered as the  responsible or named adult who would inform the legal authorities in the case of suspected abuse.

            Inaspectrum will provide web addresses for copies of "Human Rights Act 1998" and "Disability Discrimination Act 2005" as requested.

 

 

 

1. Context

 

Inaspectrum is committed to providing a safe and supported environment to service users. 

 

This organisation fully adopts the Protecting adults at risk: London multi-agency policy and procedures to safeguard adults from abuse. The organisation acknowledges that this will provide greater consistency  in practice across the London region.

 

As at December 2011 the policy above is being piloted in the London region and the organisation will adopt new documentation and practice, as and when, they are disseminated by the Social Care Institute for Excellence.

 

This Policy sets out how to monitor record and escalate any concerns that staff may have or receive about the welfare and safety of service users, carers, volunteers and staff..

 

We believe at Inaspectrum that safeguarding adults is everyone’s responsibility.

 

1. AIM

 

It is the aim of Inaspectrum to remain a ‘first choice’ provider of third sector services Inaspectrum to carers.  The aim of this policy is to outline how as a member of staff or volunteer, you should alert both internal and external agencies and report what you have heard, seen, suspect or been told.

 

This Policy is an essential resource that all staff and volunteers need to be aware of and fully understand during their day to day involvement with service users and carers.

 

3.Protecting adults at risk: London multi-agency policy and procedures to safeguard adults from abuse

 

In London, as elsewhere, the main statutory agencies – local councils, the police and NHS organisations – need to work together both to promote safer communities to prevent harm and abuse and also to deal well with suspected or actual cases of abuse. That is why they have come together to produce the document on Protecting adults at risk: London multi-agency policy and procedures. It is our firm belief that adults at risk are best protected when procedures between statutory and voluntary agencies are consistent across London.

Protecting adults at risk

Protecting adults at risk represents the commitment of organisations in Greater London to work together to safeguard adults at risk. The procedures aim to make sure that:

• the needs and interests of adults at risk are always respected and upheld

• the human rights of adults at risk are respected and upheld

• a proportionate, timely, professional and ethical response is made to any adult at risk who may be experiencing abuse

• all decisions and actions are taken in line with the Mental Capacity Act 2005.

 

 

4. SUMMARY OF ADULT ABUSE

Abuse is a violation on an individual’s human and civil rights by a person or persons.

The following types of abuse that are listed are recognised within the Protecting adults at risk: London multi-agency policy and procedures –

• Physical Abuse: includes hitting, slapping, pushing, kicking, misuse of medication or inappropriate sanctions or restraint.

• Sexual Abuse: includes rape and sexual assault or sexual acts to which the vulnerable adult has not consented, or could not consent or was pressured into consenting.

• Psychological Abuse: includes emotional abuse, threats of harm or abandonment, deprivation of contact, humiliation, blaming, controlling, intimidation, coercion, harassment, verbal abuse, isolation or withdrawal from services or supportive networks.

• Financial or material abuse: includes theft, fraud, exploitation, pressure in connection with wills, property or inheritance or financial transactions, or the misuse or misappropriation of property, possessions or benefits.

• Neglect and acts of omission: includes ignoring medical or physical care needs, failure to provide access to appropriate health, social care or educational services, the withholding of the necessities of life, such as medication, adequate nutrition and heating.

• Discriminatory abuse: includes racism, sexism, or those based on a person’s disability, and other forms of harassment, slurs or similar treatment

• Institutional abuse: includes systemic abuse that goes beyond an individuals abusive practice and transcends a whole organisation.

 

1. Adults at risk – Safeguarding Procedure

You are not expected to be an expert in identifying abuse or investigating allegations, instead it is your duty to report any concerns to the organisations alerting manager  and support them in taking action where required. In line with the pan London adult safeguarding policy the organisations alerting manager is the person tasked with making referrals to the local authority.

 

If you receive a disclosure of alleged abuse or develop a strong suspicion that abuse is taking place, you should:

• record the allegation clearly and accurately,

• notify the organisations alerting manager who as at 25/01/2014 is/are Mr Paul McDonald

In situations in which the alerting manager cannot be contacted all staff and volunteers should ring the Croydon adult abuse reporting line of 0208760 5697.

 

6.Responding to reports of abuse Receiving a report – Alerting Managers Response

The alerting manager may become aware of suspected abuse in the following ways:

• by receiving an allegation directly from the adult at risk,

• by receiving an allegation from someone who is not the adult at risk,

• by receiving a report from outside agencies or other activities the adult at risk may be involved with,

• developing a strong suspicion based on your own observations or experience.

You should record any report or suspicion on the ‘Abuse Recording Form’, making clear notes of the case (dates, times, details of incident).  If you are receiving the report from a third party, you should make them aware that you have a duty to share this information with the relevant statutory agency.

As soon as you have recorded the details of the case, you should:

• notify the relevant statutory agency which within Croydon is the Department of Adult Services, Housing and Health – DASHH.

 

1. Principles underpinning the safeguarding work of the organisation

Partnership Working – Inaspectrum is committed to working with other organisations and agencies to safeguard adults at risk from abuse.

Prevention – At Inaspectrum all of our work is aimed at preventing abuse occurring in the first place rather than reacting to abuse after it has happened.

Protection – Our carers and the people they work with within Croydon deserve protection from the risk of abuse and actual abuse.

Proportionality – At Inaspectrum the response we make to suspected abuse is in line with the risks presented. Safeguarding protocols will be used for those cases in most need of action whilst other protocols will be followed wherever necessary.

Accountability – Through the records we keep and the role of the alerting managers within the organisation we hold ourselves accountable to our service users and outside agencies.

Empowerment – At Inaspectrum we want to ensure that our carers and service users are involved with the key decisions they make about their lives. Wherever possible we inform the carer and service user of the concerns at the earliest opportunity. For service users who lack the capacity to understand whether they would benefit from a safeguarding referral, a best interest decision is made.

 

1. Training

At Inaspectrum we are committed to accessing adult safeguarding training for all volunteers, staff and were appropriate service users. E learning courses are available on both safeguarding and the Mental Capacity Act.

Details of the codes to access these courses are available from Croydon Council

As at the 1.12.2011 staff can visit www.kwango.com/lbcrsalogin and then enter under user name volsector – which is case sensitive and then enter under password – again case sensitive LBCROYDON003

 

1. Dignity in Care

Dignity in care and safeguarding are integral to safe dignified care.

Within Inaspectrum we are committed to The Dignity Challenge and we believe that our services keep people safe and respect peoples dignity because we –

• Have a zero tolerance of all forms of abuse

• Support people with the same respect we would want for ourselves or a member of our own family

• Enable people to maintain the maximum possible level of independence, choice and control

• Listen and support people to express their needs and wants

• Respect people’s right to privacy

• Ensure people feel able to complain without fear of retribution

• Engage with family members and carers as care partners

• Assist people to maintain confidence and a positive self esteem

• Act to alleviate people’s loneliness and isolation

 

 

 

 

               

 

          INASPECTRUM

Health and Safety policy 2015
The  managing body of INASPECTRUM consider the prevention of injury in any form, including disease and damage to be an essential part of everything we do: therefore it becomes the responsibility of every person, irrespective of their role in INASPECTRUM
    Our Health and safety objectives of INASPECTRUM are:    
    To do everything in our control to ensure that people, equipment and activities are conducted in a safe manner for the benefit of all taking part.
    To keep up to date and abide by current statutory requirements, at least to the minimum level in respect of Health and Safety.
    To achieve a good health and safety environment at all of our activities.
    To share regulations on Health and safety for the benefit of all and to act on any concerns that our members may have with  Health and safety at our activities, to make activities safe.
    To advise all members of the need for protective clothing or materials relevant to INASPECTRUM activities.
    "The wise person is their own health and safety observer in life, not just when in the activities of INASPECTRUM"


 Paul McDonald
 Chair Inaspectrum
 November 2015

 

 

 

Inaspectrum  Constitution

 

 

1. Name

 

 

 

"INASPECTRUM"

 

 

 

 

The Charity’s Name is INASPECTRUM

 

 

1. The Purpose/Aims of the Charity are:       

 

 

 

1.To improve the lives of adults who consider themselves to have an aspect of Aspergers,

 

2.To improve the lives of adults living with people who have an aspect of Aspergers.

 

3.To promote awareness of Autism / Aspergers

 

 

 

 

1. Carrying out the Purposes/Aims:

 

In order to carry out the charitable purpose/aims the trustees have power to:

 

• Raise funds, receive grants and donations

• Apply for funds to carry out the work of the charity

• Co-operate with and support other charities with similar purposes/aims

•    Do anything which is lawful and necessary to achieve the purposes/aims

 

 

1. Membership:

 

The charity shall have a membership; the membership of the charity is open to adults who are affected by an aspect of Aspergers. People who support the work of the charity can apply to the trustees to become a member.

 

Every member shall have one vote at General Meetings

 

The membership can be renewed annually. Members should also agree to pay any subscription fees agreed by the committee.

 

The trustees may remove a person’s membership if they believe it is in the best interest of the charity. The member had the right to be heard by the trustees before the decision is made.

 

 

1. Trustees:

 

The charity shall be managed by a committee of trustees (Chair, Secretary, and Treasurer) who are appointed at the Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the charity.

 

Duties of the trustees

 

Honory Chair            Paul McDonald

• To preside at meetings of the committee and the organisation.

• As may be required by the committee, to act as spokesperson on public occasions or when presentations are being made on behalf of the organisation to public bodies.

 

Honory Secretary    Sadie Denise Campbell

• To prepare in consultation with the chairperson the agenda for the meetings of the committee.

• To take and keep minutes of all meetings.

• To collect and disseminate information on all matters affecting the organisation.

 

Temp honory Treasurer    Paul McDonald

• To supervise the financial affairs of the organisation.

• To ensure the proper accounts are kept with regard to all monies received by and paid out by the organisation.

• To make regular reports to the committee on the financial status of the organisation

 

 

1. Trustee Meetings

 

• Trustees must hold at least 3 meetings each year.

• At least 3 trustees must be present at the meeting to be able to take decisions.

• Minutes shall be kept for every meeting.

• Voting at committee meetings shall be by a show of hands.  If there is a tied vote, then the chairperson shall have a second vote.

• Trustees may act by majority decision.

 

 

1. Finance, Money, Property and Equipment:

 

• Money, equipment and property must only be used for the charity’s purposes.

• Trustees must keep accounts.  The most recent annual accounts can be seen by anybody on request.

• Trustees cannot receive any money from the charity, except to refund volunteer expenses.

• Money must be held in the charity’s bank account, all cheques issued shall be signed by the Treasurer and 1 other nominated official, a minimum of 2 signatories are required and must not be from the same household or must not be related.

 

 

1. AGM

 

• The Group shall hold an Annual General Meeting (AGM) in the month of December

• All members shall be given at least 14 days notice of the AGM and shall be entitled to attend and vote.

• The business of the AGM shall be as follows

• A report from the Chairperson on the Group’s activities over the year.

• A report from the Treasurer on the finances of the Group

• Election of any

• Any other business

 

The quorum for the Annual General Meeting and any General meetings shall be one fifth of the active membership. (Which at this time is about 20 regular members.)

 

 

1. Special Meetings:

 

If the Trustees consider it necessary to change the constitution, or wind up the charity, they must call a special meeting so that the membership can make a decision.

 

Trustees must also call a special meeting if they receive a written request from the majority of members.  All members must be given 14 days notice and told the reason for the meeting.  All decisions require a two-thirds majority. Minutes must be kept.

 

• Winding up – any money, equipment or property remaining after payment of debts must be given to a charity with similar purposes/aims to this one.

 

• Changes to the constitution – can be made at the AGMs or Special meetings. No change can be made that would make the organisation no longer a charity.

 

• Special Meetings – called on request from a majority of members.

 

• Trustees – may also call a special meeting to consult on membership

 

 

 

 

 

INASPECTRUM Equality diversity and inclusion statement 2015

INASPECTRUM is an inclusive community for all adults. We have adopted equality, diversity and inclusion as core values in all our activities and policies our objectives are:

to ensure that all persons who come into contact with the INASPECTRUM, receive and give  dignity and respect,

to ensure that the activities  INASPECTRUM provides for learning, personal development and social needs are made available on a non-discriminatory basis,

providing a safe, supportive and welcoming environment for all people.

INASPECTRUM seeks through all its policies and activities to be a genuinely inclusive community, and draws for this on good practice shared by any member and statuary requirements. The objective is to integrate the principles of equal treatment and promotion of diversity into all aspects of INASPECTRUM activities.

INASPECTRUM will give protection against unfair discrimination on the grounds of:

• age

• disability

• ethnicity (including  race, colour and nationality)

• gender

• gender reassignment

• marriage or civil partnership

• pregnancy or maternity

• religion, belief

• sexual orientation and other occurrences as we come to meet them.

 

 

 

Paul McDonald

Chair