Changes to safeguarding vulnerable adults

Plenty of media coverage around the safeguarding and protection of children but not much focus on adults…

Understandable but there are plenty of people over 18 who are potentially vulnerable and at risk.

So, who is safeguarding for and why? It could be older people targeted by conmen or others in care or hospital who are treated badly by those who are meant to be looking after them or simply individuals living in the community who go downhill through illness or old age or perhaps an accident because they’re not as capable as they once were.

And it’s not just older age that makes someone vulnerable. Adults with learning disabilities or mental health problems, people with sensory impairment or anyone who could be at risk of harm or exploitation because of their circumstances.

Steve Wellings has been appointed as Independent Safeguarding Chair

I’ve recently agreed some changes in Staffordshire. Actually it’s not just Staffordshire but Stoke City too because some years ago it was agreed to work jointly on safeguarding and whilst I could change that, it makes good sense to me for things to be joined up as they are.

The changes will raise awareness of adult safeguarding whilst providing me with extra assurance that public sector agencies are doing as much as possible to reduce the risk to vulnerable people.

The words ‘reduce the risk’ are important because it means just that. I could be as bold as Secretary of State Ed Balls a year or so back when he pretty well guaranteed a ’Baby P’ tragedy wouldn’t happen again. But I hope I’m not so foolhardy.

We live in a nation of 60million people and, like it or not, some of those people are evil or cruel. Whatever the resources employed and whatever the rules in place it is wrong to make guarantees because that leads to a false sense of security and certainly raises expectations unrealastically. What I can do is to ensure everything possible is in place and that’s why the changes are so important.

They include establishing a new Independent Chair position which will oversee all work around safeguarding and also a significant change to the governance arrangements meaning that Independent Chair will report directly to me in my Cabinet role.

Steve Wellings, who I appointed after interviews last week, will be the new Independent Chair. He is impressive with a calm steeliness which will hold agencies firmly to account. He will oversee and coordinate a group of senior officials from the County, Stoke City, Health, Police, the voluntary sector and Fire and Rescue Service and make sure they are doing everything possible to ensure vulnerable people are safer.

It’s then down to him to convince me on a regular basis that all that can be done is being. So, I’m optimistic that this will be an improvement on previous arrangements and wish Steve the best of luck in his new and vital role.

Doubts or concerns about anyone over 18 who may be at risk can be reported using the information here.

Click here to comment on this post