1. SAFEGUARDING ADULTS BOARD
ANDREW STOW
CHIEF EXECUTIVE HICA GROUP AND BOARD MEMBER OF ER SAB

2. PUBLIC AWARENESS OF ABUSE AT ALL TIME HIGH

3. POLITICAL RESPONSE Awareness campaigns Encourage recognition of abuse
Encourage ‘Whistleblowing’
Focus on prevention

4. Professional approach to the challenges
Multi disciplinary involvement
Health
Social Care
Emergency Services
Housing
Regulator
Education?
And finally, the Independent Sector (provider)

5. ZERO TOLERANCE APPROACH IS CORRECT
PROPRIETORS / MANAGERS MUST TAKE THIS SERIOUSLY – respond to the challenge when things go wrong
Training
Systems
Culture

6. HOWEVER – THERE IS A NEED TO ADDRESS CERTAIN REALITIES

7. How do we recognise abuse and report it?
Managers need to be encouraged to report.
Commissioners need to recognise the potential conflict that exists if a business is damaged commercially as a result of the actions of a single rogue member of staff.
Operators should be positively recognised for putting in place a culture of zero tolerance.

8. WHICH IS BETTER?
A home with no referrals or
A home that regularly refers minor issues

9. Things go wrong all the time.
We need thresholds – what should be reported, what should not be reported
Guidance is required

10. WHERE DOES ABUSE OCCUR? Statistically abuse is focused in care homes
I would argue –
Care homes are, in the vast majority of cases the safest environment
Abuse in a persons own home will be the greatest danger
Abuse in unregulated services will be even greater
Hospitals !!!

11. As an Operator and member of the board my concern, on behalf of the Independent Sector is that we see:

12. Development of a positive culture in eliminating abuse
Consistency across all areas of provision – including Health
Proportionality

13. Recognition where operators develop systems and training
Recognition if these systems identify abuse
Focus on the abuser – not the operator, where appropriate
Develop joint working with all agencies to help reduce abuse and promote dignity, starting with education