Adult safeguarding
In recent years several serious incidents have demonstrated the need for immediate action to ensure that vulnerable adults who are at risk of abuse receive protection and support. Unlike child protection where there is a statutory duty upon local authorities to investigate under Section 47 of the Children Act 1989, there is no such statutory duty to intervene where the abuse of vulnerable adults is alleged or suspected.
However in March 2000, the Department of Health published the document 'No Secrets' guidance on developing and implementing multi-agency policies and procedures to protect vulnerable adults from abuse'. This was issued under Section 7 of the Local Authority Social Services Act 1970 which requires local authorities to act under the guidance of the Secretary of State. As such this document does not have the full force of statute but should be complied with unless local circumstances indicate otherwise.
The aim of the guidance is to create a framework within which all responsible agencies work in partnership to ensure coherent inter-agency policies and procedures for the protection of vulnerable adults, and to ensure that these are implemented locally. This should be in collaboration with all agencies involved in the public, voluntary and private sector.
No single agency can deal with the abuse of vulnerable adults alone. Thus the aim of these procedures is to provide a framework within which agencies and professionals collectively share a responsibility for the welfare and protection of vulnerable adults and work together to provide an effective service.
Aim of the policy and procedures
This policy provides a framework in which the adult safeguarding work in Salford is conducted.
The policy is overseen by the Salford Safeguarding Executive Committee who will regularly review the policy to ensure it is delivering better services in Salford.
The policy
- Sets out the principles underpinning the multi-agency approach to adult safeguarding work in Salford
- Defines who can access adult safeguarding work in Salford
- Identifies the current understanding of the types of abuse that may be perpetrated
This policy is founded on inter-agency co-operation and the sharing of information, skills and regulatory powers to promote the safety and well being of those people who are covered by the policy.
Downloadable documents
- Annual report 2010 - 2011 (Microsoft Word format, 1.15mb)
- Strategic objectives (Microsoft Word format, 870kb)
- Structure and operation of the safeguarding board (Microsoft Word format, 895kb)
- Adult safeguarding statistics (Microsoft Word format, 894kb)
- Salford safeguarding adult and children (Microsoft Word format, 546kb)
- Minute taker protocol 2011 (Microsoft Word format, 892kb)
If you are unable to view documents of these types, our downloads page provides links to viewing software.
This page was last updated on 3 January 2012
