1. What does Preventing Abuse and Neglect Mean?
Prevention is really important in adult safeguarding. It is much better to take action so that harm does not happen.
All staff must understand how important preventing abuse and neglect is, wherever possible. They should complete adult safeguarding training courses as part of their induction as a new member of staff, and do refresher courses as required by the service.
By staff can acting quickly and making positive interventions with adults and their families, they can make a big difference to the lives of adults who are experiencing or at risk of abuse or neglect. This may prevent a situation from getting worse or a breakdown of important relationships for the adult.
2. What does Preventing Abuse and Neglect Involve?
Prevention is about taking action so an adult does not come to harm or neglect, wherever possible, or the impact is not as signficant as it could have been.
Some common ways to help to keep an adult with care and support needs safe include:
- supporting them to keep themselves safe;
- providing information and advice;
- training and education for staff and volunteers;
- making sure the adult has someone to speak on their behalf, if they cannot do it themselves, such as an independent advocate;
- having good policies and procedures;
- supporting the adult to have good links with their community, wherever possible and if they want.
Prevention does not mean being overly-protective or not wanting to take any risks at all. But situations should be assessed by a trained member of staff, to make sure that where there are risks that interventions are put in place to reduce the likelihood of the risk occuring.
Prevention also needs to be person-centred, so that the adult is supported to make their own choices and manage any risks.
Everyone has a role to play in preventing abuse and neglect including the adult themselves, their family, friends, staff, volunteers, and the local community.
