Safeguarding Adults: Ideas and Resources

Here are some useful organisations for more information on safeguarding vulnerable adults:

The Mental Capacity Act 2005 provides a statutory framework to empower and protect vulnerable people who are not able to make their own decisions.  It makes it clear who can take decisions, in which situations, and how they should go about this.  It enables people to plan ahead for a time when they may lose capacity.  http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/+/www.dh.gov.uk

An invaluable document is No Secrets: guidance on developing and implementing multi-agency policies and procedures to protect vulnerable adults from abuse, available from http://www.dh.gov.uk publications

The Independent Safeguarding Authority’s (ISA) role is to help prevent unsuitable people from working with children and vulnerable adults.  Go to http://www.isa-gov.org.uk/

The Criminal Records Bureau’s aim is to help protect children and vulnerable adults by providing a first-class service to support organisations recruiting people into positions of trust; more information from:

• www.direct.gov.uk – information and access to services for CRB applicants and the general public
• www.businesslink.gov.uk – information for registered bodies and other associated businesses and organisations using the CRB service

The Care Quality Commission (England) regulates care provided by the NHS, local authorities, private companies and voluntary organisations. http://www.cqc.org.uk/

Action on Elder Abuse (AEA) is a charity that works to protect, and prevent the abuse of, vulnerable older adults.  It shows video clips of the main types of abuse as well as a helpline for those who are concerned about a vulnerable adult: http://www.elderabuse.org.uk/