Honorary Doctorate for AEA CEO

16 July 2012

The University of Northumbria has acknowledged the work of the AEA Chief Executive, Gary FitzGerald, by awarding him an honorary Doctorate of Science at a graduation ceremony today. in making the award the University noted his contribution over 30 years in social care, and in particular his role in championing the needs of vulnerable older people, and the need for effective safeguarding legislation, while Chief Executive of AEA.. Read more.

Adult Safeguarding legislation

14 July 2012

On Wednesday 11 July 2012 the Government announced a range of measures relating to the reform of Adult Social Care and, included within the measures, there were a number of proposals on adult safeguarding. Perhaps not surprisingly, the media focused almost exclusively on the issue of social care funding which many people felt had been sidestepped, but this effectively meant that key issues did not received the public attention they deserve. This of course is the reality of the media! Read more.

Practitioner Support Network exceeds 570 members

13 July 2012

The Practitioner support Network, hosted by Action on Elder Abuse, has now logged over 570 members.. The Network is open to anyone who has a ‘safeguarding’ role, including police, solicitors, health, local authority, Third Sector, and care providers. The Network is coordinated by Dr John Beer, former Director of Adult Social Services at Southampton and current chair of the AEA Board of Trustees. It is free to join and, and  uses both face to face and website resources. Read more

New Law to protect adults at risk

7 July 2012

A law change makes it a crime to cause or allow serious physical harm to a vulnerable adult, with a 10 year prison from 2 July. The Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims (Amendment) Act 2012 closes a loophole that has allowed perpetrators to escape justice. The law applies to anyone in regular contact with a private household, and the Ministry of Justice has indicated to AEA that a Court could decide if it covers care homes. Serious neglect by domiciliary care would be covered, even where the victim has not dies as a result. Read more.

AEA Chief Executive wins prestigious award

25 June 2012

Gary FitzGerald, Chief Executive of Action on Elder Abuse, received a standing ovation at the finals of the Great British Care Awards at the Grosvenor Hotel on Saturday night, as his work in challenging elder abuse was acknowledged. The award of ‘outstanding contribution to social care’ was the highest honour of the evening, in a ceremony that is supported by the Department of Health, the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services (ADASS), Ceretas, the English Community Care Association (ECCA), the Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE), the National Skills Academy and Skills for Care. Read more.

Practitioner Support Network passes 200 members

18 May 2012

The Practitioner support Network, hosted by Action on Elder Abuse, has logged its 200th member in just four weeks. The Network is open to anyone who has a ‘safeguarding’ role, including police, solicitors, health, local authority, Third Sector, and care providers. The Network is coordinated by Dr John Beer, former Director of Adult Social Services at Southampton and current chair of the AEA Board of Trustees. It is free to join and, and  uses both face to face and website resources. Read more
http://tinyurl.com/86mkm26
 

DH disbands the National Safeguarding Board in England

11 May 2012

Action on Elder Abuse (AEA) has urged the Department of Health (DH) to reconsider its decision to disband the national Adult Safeguarding Advisory Board. The Board is the only multi-disciplinary forum of its type, involving statutory, private and Third Sector organisations in reviewing and advising the Government on its strategy to develop adult safeguarding systems and legislation.  Read more ...

The U turn that wasn't, on significant harm (but it doesn't matter)

11 May 2012

On 21 March 2012 a DH civil servant addressed a Community Care conference on safeguarding and informed the audience that the threshold of 'significant harm' would be included in the new legislation. At the end of March the Minister, Paul Burstow, was asked by a delegate at the AEA conference if he could confirm that legislation would talk of risk of harm and not significant harm and he gave a categorical 'yes'. Well, apparently not. Read more...