Prevention is better than a cure

Adult safeguarding aims to protect adults over 18 who have care and support needs, from abuse (physical, emotional or sexual)  and neglect, thus promoting their right to live safely and free from harm. At Forbes Solicitors we sadly come across many examples where safeguarding has failed. As well as the personal cost to the victim this may result in a costly compensation claim against the local authority or care provider responsible for the failure to protect.

Successful safeguarding involves people and organisations working together to prevent or stop abuse, promote the individual's well-being, and consider their views, wishes, feelings, and beliefs in all actions.

This approach is guided by 6 principles: empowerment, (supporting people to make their own decisions);  prevention, (acting to stop harm before it occurs);  proportionality,  (using the least intrusive response possible); protection, (providing support to those in greatest need); partnership, working with local communities and services); and accountability (being transparent and responsible in all safeguarding work). These principles are key to the Care Act 2014 and provide a framework for health and social care settings to ensure adults live safely and free from abuse and neglect.

We will now consider in a little more detail, each of these core principles:

Empowerment:

This principle focuses on respecting an adult's right to make their own decisions and choices. People should be supported and encouraged to make informed decisions, with their consent being central to any safeguarding action.

Prevention:

It is better to take preventative measures to stop harm from happening rather than deal with its consequences. This involves recognising potential risks and taking action to reduce or eliminate them.

Detailed risk assessments should be prepared, regularly updated and acted upon.

Proportionality:

When an intervention is required, it should be the least intrusive one appropriate to the level of risk presented. The response should be tailored to the individual's needs and the severity of the situation.

Protection:

This principle involves providing support and representation for adults who are considered vulnerable and are more at risk of harm or abuse. It ensures that vulnerable individuals receive the help they require to stay safe. Individual care plans will often be an asset in ensuring those in greatest need are protected.

Partnership:

Local solutions should be developed through collaboration between services, communities, and individuals. Working together helps to prevent, detect, and respond to abuse more effectively. This aspiration is often the most difficult one to put into practice and involves reaching out to and persuading other entities to support the aim of Safeguarding.

Accountability:

All involved in safeguarding must be accountable for their actions. This involves transparency in processes and a commitment to delivering safeguarding practice responsibly and effectively.

If these principles are fully adopted and woven into the culture of the organisation, prevention of any harm to vulnerable adults should follow, which is not only good news for the adults themselves, but also for those tasked with the important and often challenging job of caring for them. Care providers and Insurers will also be faced with fewer claims. It would be fanciful however to expect a system where nothing will ever go wrong. The best system in theory is still operated  by humans who sometimes fail.  As and when help is required, Forbes Solicitors has the expertise and will be happy to assist.