SAFEGUARDING IN PEST CONTROL

In our industry,  thoughts are always on the job at hand and investigating the environment we find ourselves in. With entering homes and businesses, we meet so many different people and deal with a variety of different circumstances. But what if upon arrival, you can’t shake that feeling that something isn’t right?

How do we recognise risk and abuse and what do we do if we suspect it? And, why have I decided to write this piece?!

In my early days as a pest controller, about 4 years ago, I had a call from an elderly gentleman who said he had rats around his greenhouse and under his shed and he was worried about them getting into his house. I arrived and knocked on the door and it took him a while to answer

Enough time that I was beginning to worry that there was a problem! He was barely standing, leaning on his walking stick and apologised but he had had a fall and was unsteady on his feet. He was living alone in an old house with hard floors and had tripped. This is when the safeguarding training from my previous job in a trauma clinic kicked in. I managed to get him safely sat down and we talked about his rat problem. I also asked him, if he had many visitors? Was there family nearby? Did he need anything? Luckily, in this case, he did have people around to help him when he needed it, but, I walked away from that job thinking that as pest controllers, entering peoples houses, businesses, schools, care homes and hospitals, where is the guidance on safeguarding for our industry?

What do we do if we’re concerned about the person we have come to see?

I have a regular client I visit with dementia who managed to lock herself in her house and had a fall. Luckily, I managed to help the carer get in! But that was a pretty worrying morning as well! (Side note: If you find someone who has had a fall, carers are advised not to lift them and to call for an ambulance. It’s worth checking that the person who has had a fall has an alarm necklace as they can press it and receive help quickly!)

Simply put, Safeguarding means protecting those vulnerable members of our society that are at risk, often focusing around under 18’s and adults with care and support needs. It’s enabling them to live safely and free from neglect and abuse.

Abuse comes in many forms and it can be deliberate, accidental or due to lack of training.

Types of abuse include – Physical, Sexual, Psychological, Financial or material, Modern Slavery, Domestic, Discriminatory and organisational or institutional abuse. Abusers are often well known to the person being abused, this is where trust is formed and the victim can be taken advantage of.

We also need to consider neglect and self-neglect. This can happen to people that aren’t able to look after themselves or their environment and this puts them at risk. This is probably what we’re most likely to see when we’re out and about attending visits. Take the case of hoarding for example or an elderly person not able to take care of their home which is what is encouraging pests in the first place.

 

What do we do when we suspect something is wrong and there is risk?

In the case of neglect and self neglect, approaching the local authorities Adult Safe Guarding team or social services should be your first port of call. They can get the right people in place to check on the person you have a concern about. If you feel a crime has been committed, in an emergency call the police on 999 and if the person isn’t in immediate danger, contact the police on 101. They can often carry out a welfare check to the property.

In schools and healthcare settings they will have a Designated Safeguard Lead (DSL) that you can approach with any concerns. This can also be done via the Local Authority or the CQC if you have attended a healthcare setting.

It’s also important to note that abuse can happen to anyone at any time, not just our clients but our friends, family and colleagues as well. If someone discloses information to you, listen calmly, reassure them, record their exact words and go to the relevant authorities or a supervisor or manager.

There are lots of resources online that provide Safeguarding training or you can ask your training provider if they offer it, and it all adds to your CPD for the year. It’s well worth doing dementia awareness training as well.

It’s also important to seek support for yourself when you need it too. The wellbeing of Pest Controllers is an important topic. We see the parts of society that many don’t and that can weigh heavy sometimes.

Many of us find ourselves in the Pest Management industry for a myriad of different reasons, but I think one of the core reasons is to help people.

Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility, and everyone deserves to live a happy and safe life.