Safeguarding Adults at Risk: A Neglected Issue?

Off the back of International Safeguarding Week we now have National Safeguarding Adults Week coming up (Nov 18- Nov 22) established by the Ann Craft Trust so we wanted to get a jump on this topic and address this often overlooked area.

Safeguarding is often associated with child protection, and rightly so. However, the importance of safeguarding adults at risk is equally significant, yet, arguably, overlooked. This disparity in attention can be attributed to several factors, including societal attitudes, legal frameworks, and resource allocation.

Why Adults at Risk Often Get Overlooked

Several factors contribute to the relative neglect of adult safeguarding:

The Perception of Independence: Adults are often perceived as capable of making their own decisions and protecting themselves. This assumption can mask underlying vulnerabilities that we’re unaware of.
The Stigma of Vulnerability: There can be a stigma associated with seeking help or acknowledging vulnerability, particularly for older adults. We naturally don’t want to label someone nor do we want to appear condescending by assuming someone needs support.
Lack of Awareness: Many people are unaware of the signs of abuse and neglect in adults, or they may dismiss them as normal aging. Also abuse of adults can often go unseen, for example, financial abuse when someone has control of another’s finances is very hard to witness.
Systemic Failures: Overburdened social care systems and a lack of funding can lead to inadequate support for vulnerable adults. This is a common theme across many sectors but with the assumption families will look after their loved ones is there enough provision?

The Importance of Safeguarding Adults at Risk

Despite these challenges, it is crucial to recognise the importance of safeguarding adults at risk. Vulnerable adults, such as the elderly, people with disabilities, and those with mental health conditions, are susceptible to various forms of abuse, neglect or exploitation. This can include:

Physical Abuse: Physical harm or injury.
Emotional Abuse: Psychological harm, such as humiliation, intimidation, or threats.
Sexual Abuse: Any non-consensual sexual act.
Financial Abuse: Misuse or theft of an individual's money or assets.
Neglect: Failure to provide basic needs, such as food, water, or medical care.

The Role of Families and Carers

As with all safeguarding, everyone has a role to play and this is no different with adults. Here are some tips to help protect vulnerable loved ones:

Build a Strong Relationship: Maintain open and honest communication with the vulnerable adult, and ensure they feel safe and supported.
Be Vigilant: Regularly check on the individual's well-being, both physically and emotionally.
Educate Yourself: Learn about the signs of abuse and neglect, and know how to respond if you suspect something is wrong.
Encourage Independence: Support the individual's independence, but be mindful of their limitations and provide assistance as needed.
Seek Professional Help: If you have concerns about the individual's safety or well-being, contact the relevant authorities or seek advice from a professional.
Review what technology is available such as home security cameras to see who is coming and going, alert buttons if they’re susceptible to falling over or tracking phones. All of which might all seem invasive but might be appropriate.
Check what process and procedures organisations put in place for hiring their staff.

Key Questions to Ask Care Providers

When choosing a care provider for a vulnerable adult, it's essential to ask the following questions:

Staff Qualifications and Training: What qualifications do the staff have? Are they trained in safeguarding vulnerable adults?
Staff-to-Resident Ratios: What is the staff-to-resident ratio, and is it sufficient to meet the needs of residents?
Monitoring and Supervision: How is staff performance monitored and supervised?
Incident Reporting: What is the process for reporting and investigating incidents of abuse or neglect?
Safeguarding Policies and Procedures: Does the care provider have clear policies and procedures in place to protect vulnerable adults?
Communication with Families: How will the care provider communicate with families about the individual's well-being?
Emergency Procedures: What are the emergency procedures in case of accidents or incidents?

A Brighter Future for Adult Safeguarding

To ensure a brighter future for safeguarding adults at risk, we must continue to advocate for change and improvement. Key areas of focus include:

Increased Awareness and Training: Raising awareness about adult abuse and neglect is crucial. Healthcare professionals, social workers, and the general public should be educated to recognise the signs and take appropriate action.
Enhanced Multi-Agency Working: Strengthening collaboration between different agencies involved in adult safeguarding can improve information sharing, early intervention, and coordinated responses.
Improved Data Collection and Analysis: Better data collection and analysis can help identify trends, evaluate the effectiveness of interventions, and inform future policy decisions.
Empowering Vulnerable Adults: Empowering vulnerable adults to speak out and seek help is essential. This can be achieved through campaigns, education, and accessible support services.
Investing in Social Care: Adequate funding for social care services is crucial to ensure that vulnerable adults receive the support they need.
Regular Reviews and Updates: Regular reviews of safeguarding policies and procedures can help to identify gaps and improve practices.

The Ann Trust provide significant resources to help you with the above as well as putting on seminars and events so it’s worthwhile checking all of those out.

Take our quiz to test if you really know this safeguarding adults.