Safety Matters: developing practice in safeguarding adults

Directors’ Policy Forum

19 June 2008

So what is a change project?

Identify an area of practice

adult protection/safeguarding adults

Takes account of the available evidence

research evidence and practitioner wisdom

Pilots new ways of working and evaluates the impact

…you can still get involved

The story so far…

Co-facilitated by Bridget Penhale, University of Sheffield

April 07: Idea generation June 07: Expert Knowledge Exchange Sept 07 – Feb 08: Development Group

8 Partner agencies involved

Bracknell Forest Cornwall Essex Oxfordshire Plymouth Warrington Wigan Wolverhampton

Pilot handbook

Safeguarding staff 7 sections Practice resources

Research evidence and practitioner wisdom

Incorporated throughout by: Key messages Reflective journal extracts Discussion points Good practice suggestions Group exercises Practice resources

and Case Studies

Adult abuse – what do we mean?

Who is vulnerable? What is abuse? Types of abuse Where does abuse take place? Abuse as a criminal offence Whose responsibility? Societal responsibility What is adult safeguarding?

Overview and perspectives

Historical perspectives Adults with learning disabilities Adults with mental health difficulties Adults with physical disabilities Older adults and elder abuse Contextual matters Models of adult protection

Process and procedures

Local practice Assessment stage

alert; referral; decision Multi-agency processes

strategy meeting; assessment; safeguarding plan; review; recording

Closure Confidentiality

Partnership working and multi-agency teams

Communication and information sharing Barriers and enablers in partnership

working Organisational culture Roles and responsibilities Adult protection leads Adult Protection Committee membership Practical suggestions

Risk

What do we mean by risk? Risk assessment

what does a risk assessment involve?things to consider when conducting a

risk assessmentwho to include in the processhow to use the results of a risk

assessment

Risk cont.

Risk management Multi-agency risk assessment

conferences (MARAC) What strategies can be put in place to

manage risk Risk management in the context of self-

directed support

Service user involvement

Suggestions from current practice Capacity and adult protection Protecting people who lack capacity

through the Mental Capacity Act The use of Independent Mental

Capacity Advocates (IMCAs) for people who lack capacity

Involvement cont.

Information sharing with family members and carers

Involvement of service users in strategy meetings

Information, advice and guidance documents

Methodology and background

Change project process Why adult protection/safeguarding? Where we are now and how to get

involved

References

Practice resources

Oxfordshire’s service assessment tool Essex risk assessment Plymouth vulnerable adults risk

management meeting Wolverhampton care pathway service

user involvement Warrington ‘best interest’ decision

checklist Cornwall ‘Say no to abuse’ poster

Pilot practitioner guide

All staff Enough information to:

recognise abuse respond appropriatelyknow where to go for

more help and advice 17 sections References Sources of further info

Practitioner guide

Introduction and purpose of this guide What is abuse? Who is at risk of abuse and where does it

happen? Overview of adult protection processes Raising and dealing with an adult

protection alert Multi-agency adult protection processes Confidentiality, communication and

information sharing

Practitioner guide cont.

Partnership working and multi-agency teams Roles and responsibilities in adult protection Risk Indicators of abuse Risk assessment Essex risk assessment guidance Capacity and the Mental Capacity Act Warrington guidance on capacity Independent Mental Capacity Advocates

Where next…

Pilot Group

only 2 applications so far! Regional Pilot Workshops

Sheffield 30 SeptemberBirmingham 2 OctoberLondon 7 OctoberBristol 8 October

What are the benefits?

I feel more confident to raise matters regarding safeguarding and present research as evidence to support a proposal regarding the development of projects which require safeguarding matters to be addressed as part of the core business of the project, rather than as an after thought.