Prevention of Abuse and Neglect

The provisions of the Care Act 2014 are intended to promote and secure wellbeing. Under the definition it is made clear that protection from abuse and neglect is a fundamental part of promoting wellbeing. Identification and management of risk is an essential part of the assessment process and must be taken into consideration.

All agencies should promote the requirement to prevent abuse and neglect wherever possible.  Observant professionals making early, positive interventions with individuals and families can make a huge difference to their lives, preventing the deterioration of a situation or breakdown of a support network.  It is often when people become increasingly isolated and cut off from families and friends that they become extremely vulnerable to abuse and neglect.  Agencies must implement robust risk management processes in order to prevent concerns escalating to a crisis point and requiring intervention under safeguarding adult procedures.

Partners should ensure that they have the mechanisms in place that enable early identification and assessment of risk through timely information sharing and targeted multi-agency intervention. Policies and strategies for safeguarding adults should include measures to minimise the circumstances which make adults vulnerable to abuse.

Adults receiving community care services can be at risk whilst receiving them, both in care settings and in their own homes. Successful prevention of adult abuse and neglect demands that service providers tackle the factors which contribute to its occurrence at all levels. It also requires commissioners (Children and Adult Services and Integrated Care Boards) and regulators (Care Quality Commission) to ensure that standards that prevent abuse and neglect are met.