Strengthening protection of vulnerable adults

Tougher processes for investigations planned…

By vulnerable it means those less able to look after themselves. Elderly people or adults with physical disabilities or mental health issues.

Safeguarding is a big priority for me and I’m taking a hands on approach to moving this forwards in Staffordshire.

There are many different ways that their welfare could be threatened. It could be conmen fleecing older people of their savings to isolation and accidents in the home or neglect and poor care in places which should be providing the opposite. Stafford Hospital being a tragic and high profile example of the latter in years gone by.

And there is plenty going on to tackle this problem, particularly with a growing proportion of the population who are older and more frail or with mental or physical disabilities but still want to stay independent in their own homes amongst their own friends and family.

Of course, there are many whose needs are so complex that some form of 24/7 support is essential. But many people could, with a little extra support stay healthy and live a fuller more normal life. And it is those individuals that our increasing efforts need to ’safeguard’.

Pevention wise, more and more public agencies in Staffordshire are being trained what to look for when they visit people’s homes in their different roles. Police, health visitors, the fire service (who are doing amazing stuff on this) and some others can now identify risks such as fire, trip hazzards and security issues.

And if, sadly, vulnerable adults do suffer some harm there are changes coming to investigating the circumstances. The national statutory process means that the public body responsible for the aspect of ’care’ in question is also responsible for investigating the circumstances around the harm. 

To me that is wrong and not the transparency and accountability I believe should be in place. Perhaps I’m a cinic but I can’t help thinking that, even if not intentionally, there is a risk of self investigation leading to a benefit of the doubt or worse. At the very least from a public point of view that arrangement surely is questionable.

We made significant progress earlier this year when I appointed a new Independent Chairman to oversee the work of all the senior officials from key public sector bodies who make up the Safeguarding Board for Staffordshire. Now I want to take that another major step forwards so that everything which is investigated by any public body also goes to that Independent Chair to assess.

A really important check and balance which to me is common sense. And other investigations which are carried out by that group of senior officials will also be assessed and signed off by the Independent Chair as a matter of course.

A clear impartial arbitor which will strengthen accountability and raise public confidence. It’s worth remembering that the years during the questionable and tragic patient deaths at Stafford Hospital saw a negligable number of of even low level investigations carried out. That’s just not right.

So, we are making good progress on both trying to mitigate against the risk of harm to vulnerable people and also putting tougher, more transparent processes in place if cases need investigating.

We are also working on a new and easier to use public front end for reporting concerns around vulnerable adults. In the meantime if you are worried about someone you know you can find out who to tell adn how here.

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