The main purpose of Adult Safeguarding Services in Suffolk is
to develop an inter-agency response in order to protect vulnerable
adults from abusive behaviour and practice, and to devise and
implement systems that improve both practice and service
delivery.
The government named its guidance on the protection of
vulnerable adults from abuse, “No Secrets”. This is a very apt
title. Abuse thrives upon secrecy and every effort has been made in
Suffolk to enable a culture of information sharing that encourages
effective communication across all settings.
Another major focus for Adult Safeguarding Services has been to
raise awareness about what constitutes abuse, how it can be
identified and investigated, and identifying strategies that can be
employed to prevent its occurrence.
In Suffolk we have over 27,000 staff who have a formal
responsibility for the care and protection of vulnerable adults.
Every one of this group requires information in order to understand
their roles and responsibilities in relation to adult protection.
As a consequence an extensive staff development programme exists.
This has been attended by over 17,000 staff in the past 3
years.
Strategic links have also been strengthened across all care
sectors, and partnerships have been formed with other community
safety initiatives including the Police, Domestic Violence and
Trading Standards.
Recently our emphasis has shifted in order to identify practice
models that enhance customer participation. An adult safety video
and information pack aimed explicitly at customers and their
families are in production.
The effectiveness of this work can be evidenced by a marked
increase in adult abuse referrals made to Suffolk Social Care
Services since the formation of Adult Safeguarding Services in
2002. The incidence and prevalence of abuse is inextricably linked
to both social and professional awareness. It is certain that a
greater understanding of abuse and its many diverse forms has
increased reporting. This has, in turn, placed increased demands
upon care providers. It is a price however that has to be paid.
There are policies and
guidance associated with this area of work:
 |
All our policies, guidance, training opportunities and
forms are available from our external web site:
Suffolk Adult
Safeguarding Board |