October 21 , 2005

CHARITY URGES DIRECTORS TO BE CAUTIOUS IN CONSIDERING ‘SAFEGUARDING ADULTS’

Chief executive of national charity Action on Elder Abuse (AEA), Gary FitzGerald , has urged Directors of Social Services to exercise caution when considering whether or not to implement all or part of the guidance recently published by the Association of Directors of Social Services (ADSS) and entitled ‘Safeguarding Adults’,

Said AEA chief executive Gary FitzGerald : “Anything which supports adult protection is to be welcomed but we need to be absolutely clear on the status of this document.  It has no legislative standing and, as such, cannot supersede any requirements contained within either the Care Standards Act 2000 or No Secrets.  While there are recommendations which are clearly helpful, the document contains other suggestions which may not enhance the protection of vulnerable adults and should therefore be treated with the utmost caution.

In particular we have noted the heavy emphasis on adult protection services being restricted to people who are ‘or may be eligible for community care services’.  This would appear to contradict the Government’s response to last years Health Select Committee inquiry into elder abuse, in which they made it clear that any adult should be eligible for adult protection services if they are the recipient of abuse. The key point here is that someone should not have to demonstrate a ‘dependence’ in order to access adult protection - any more than should someone facing racial abuse, and in that respect we feel that this guidance may cause some confusion”.

Gary FitzGerald has penned his statement in a letter which has been sent to Social Services Directors and Adult Protection co-ordinators throughout the UK .  The charity has committed itself to closely monitoring the way in which this guidance is implemented and will strongly challenge any situation in which a vulnerable adult is denied access to adult protection services as a consequence.

Concluded FitzGerald, “We know that many adult protection procedures are developing well and the challenge for Directors will be to consider the implementation of this guidance in a manner that does not disrupt those relationships and working practices which have taken a considerable period of time to cultivate and establish.”   

ENDS