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Good practice guide helps homecare providers protect adults from harm

UKHCA and AEA are pleased to launch comprehensive information on adult protection in the homecare sector. 

The toolkit is primarily designed to give an understanding of the issues surrounding adult protection and signpost homecare providers across the UK to everything they need to know when writing or reviewing procedures and policies to protect vulnerable adults from abuse.

This resource is designed to assist agencies and senior staff in equipping their staff with policies, procedures and knowledge when dealing with situations of suspected abuse.  In light of the UK Prevalence Study into abuse of older people, Next Steps Registration and a number of high profile cases, this really is an essential tool for all working in the sector.  Click here to download

The 48 page publication is a comprehensive guide for all providers of care in people’s own homes across the UK, along with more practical advice on how to set up policies and procedures in homecare and what to do when responding to an allegation of abuse.

Colin Angel , UKHCA’s Head of Policy and Communication said:

“Because of their role, homecare workers have privileged access to service users’ homes. There is a need to ensure that individuals who seek to take advantage of this do not enter the workforce, and those that work in care understand their responsibilities to protect the vulnerable. In many cases homecare workers and their managers are the only people who recognise and raise the alert to situations of domestic abuse and neglect, so their role is crucial.”

Gary FitzGerald, Action on Elder Abuse’s Chief Executive continued:

“While the majority of homecare providers are aware of their responsibilities, we know from our helpline and our research that abuse at home centres on financial abuse and neglect. We also know that the relationships between providers, adult protection agencies, regulators and the police can seem complex and confusing to some. The toolkit is designed as a straightforward guide to adult protection and equips providers with everything they need in writing or reviewing policies and procedures that protect vulnerable adults from harm.”

Gary concluded:

“We’ve been delighted to work with UKHCA to develop this good practice guide for the homecare sector. Not only does it intend to help homecare providers, most importantly it intends to improve the quality of life of those older people and other vulnerable adults whose lives are blighted by abuse”.