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Legislation to protect Older People and other Adults at risk of abuse...

The Consultation on No Secrets has now ended.  But the Safeguarding Adults Alliance has just begun, and the objective is to achieve Adult Protection legislation.

Introduction:

Protection for adults at risk of abuse in England or Wales is covered by documents called  No Secrets  (England) and In Safe Hands (Wales).  These were  issued as guidance in 2000, under section 7 of the  Local Authority Social Services Act 1970.  

Section  7 guidance does not carry the same status as  legislation; instead local authorities have their compliance assessed as part of a statutory inspection process.  With ‘good reason’ a local authority can ignore such guidance.  No other Agency is influenced by Section 7 guidance.  As a consequence we are failing to adequately protect older people and other vulnerable adults.  

The Government has challenged us all to justify why we need legislation, and we are throwing the challenge back.  The Government should justify why it is not prepared to lead on proposing legislation.  Right now we have laws to protect our animals,  but not our old people like Margaret Panting. Not people like Stephen Hoskins.  Can this be right?

Background information is available by clicking here.

       AEA submitted a comprehensive response to the Consultation Process, 
       analysing the arguments within the consultation document, and 
       drawing conclusions on the best way forward.  A copy of the 
       response is available by clicking here.

       
       Responses from other organisations
       (Click on the name to download the document)

                                                                            

      Background information:

      AEA press release on the consultation launch
      The AEA policy position on the consultation process
      Questions and answers on the consultation and legislation
      Guidance on the consultation process
      
      Email Update Oct 2008
      Email Update Dec 2008
      No Secrets consultation update Dec 2008
     Download copies of the presentation for the Legislation Conference

      A copy of the 2007 consultation document on adult protection legislation
      A copy of the Scottish Adult Protection Act 
      (which will take you to another website)

      A copy of No Secrets
      A copy of the Consultation Document
      A copy of the DH funded AEA report into Adult protection systems
      A copy of the elder abuse community Prevalence Report
      A copy of the AEA analysis of the Prevalence Report
      A copy of the Serious Case Review into the death of Steven Hoskin 

Options

The Consultation document on No Secrets is available by clicking here

‘Adult Protection work is seen as optional and under funded…’

‘Lack of resources particularly for prevention (work) and in addressing the after effects of abuse, and not just in social services.’

‘Our partner agencies e.g. police and NHS are able to avoid giving it the priority it requires.’

‘No mandatory obligation to have a designated Adult Protection role with responsibility for the implementation of the policies and procedures upholding Adult Protection.’

‘Policies and guidance are fine but can be interpreted in a number of different ways - legislation is law and cannot be deviated against.’