Burglar conned pensioner twice
15th September 2009
A conman burglar stole from the home of an 81 year old man with dementia twice after knocking on his door claiming to be selling dusters. To read this article in full click on the link above.
Worcestershire Council Serious Case Review
14th September 2009
Worcestershire Council has been accused of a number of failures over the death of a 22-year-old man with severe learning disabilities whose body was found stuffed into a suitcase at his family home. To read the executive summary click on the link above.
Mencap slams hospital for its treatment of Kyle
23rd July 2009
A disability charity has slammed Basildon hospital for its 'appalling' treatment of a severely disabled young man who died in a hospital bed. To read the article in full click the link above.
Royal College of Nursing launches whistleblower hotline
10th May 2009
A whistleblowers' hotline is being set up today by the Royal College of Nursing after evidence emerged that its members are being victimised for voicing worries about unsafe practices on NHS wards.
To read more click on the link above.
Care firm worker jailed for fraud
21 April 2009
A care company employee in Somerset who stole from an elderly woman she befriended has been sent to prison for six months. To read more click on the link above.
Death by Indifference
March 2009
The Ombudsmen Inquiry (see article below) was sparked by a 2007 report by Mencap "Death by Indifference", which argued that all six were victims of institutional discrimination against people with learning disabilities in the care they received, and their deaths were unavoidable. To read this report click on the link above.
Ombudsmen Inquiry
24th March 2009
NHS and Council failings in six cases involving people with learning disabilities led to prolonged suffering and at least one avoidable death. That was the verdict of an investigation by the health service and local government ombudsmen into the care given to the six people who died between 2003 and 2005. Click on the link above to read more.
Prison for torture killing pair
27th March 2009
Two men who admitted torturing and killing a man with learning difficulties in his Fife home have both been jailed for 12 and a half years. To read this article in full, please click the link above.
Mentally ill victim was failed by CPS
28th January 2009
A decision by prosecutors to drop a serious criminal assault case because the victim, who had half his ear bitten off, suffered mental health problems, has been severley criticised by High Court judges. To read the article in full follow the link above.
Vulnerable Deaths Inquiry Set Up
19th January 2009
A confidential inquiry to investigate premature deaths of people with learning disabilities in England is to be set up by the Department of Health. To read this article in full click the link above.
Robbers kill pensioners budgie
18th January 2009
Burglars have snapped the neck of an elderly woman's budgie in front of her after she refused to hand over money. To read the article in full click the link above.
BBC Undercover in Notts Care Home
2nd May 2008
An undercover reporter from the BBC gained employment at a Nottinghamshire care home recently, uncovering poor infection control and lapses in care. The show was broadcast on 2nd May 2008. For a full report on the BBC's findings, follow the link above.
Carer stole £21,000 from patient
2nd September 2008
A FORMER care worker who fleeced a pensioner out of more than £21,000 collapsed as a judge told her she would be jailed. She admitted stealing £21,393 from 88-year-old wheelchair-bound Anne Giggins, who she looked after while working at Ernhale Lodge Care Home, Arnold. To read this report in full follow the link above.
Teddy Camera catches Carer thief
20th August 2008
A forensic science student and her father catch a carer stealing from an elderly relative by hiding a camera in a teddy bear's eye.
Robert Sampson, 46, and Emma, 21, fixed the tiny camera in the Liverpool home of his mother Thelma Sampson, 75.
To read the article in full follow the link above.
Care Home Workers go Unchecked, warn Police
2nd June 2008
Tens of thousands of migrant workers may be working with vulnerable elderly people in care homes, without undergoing full criminal record checks, The Times has revealed. To read the article in full, including why it is thought that the introduction of the ISA scheme next year will do little to help, follow the link above.
Latest ISA Newsletter
June 2008
The latest Independent Safeguarding Authority Newsletter is available to download. In this issue you can read about the announcement of board members, the transfer of staff to the Authority and how to get information on consultation responses. To view the newsletter and other information about ISA follow the link above.
£97,000 payout for vulnerable couple
30th May 2008
A couple who were imprisoned and tortured by a gang of youths have been awarded £97,000 in damages after a judge ruled that their local council failed to protect them, reports the Daily Mail. In a landmark ruling at London's High Court, Mr Justice Maddison said the council owed a duty of care to the 52-year-old man and his 46-year-old wife, who both have learning difficulties. To read the full Daily Mail article, follow the link above.
£2million abuse prevelance study
27th MArch 2008
Ivan Lewis, Minister for Care Services, has announced three new measures to strengthen the protection of vulnerable older people in the care system.
The plans will help to ensure that older people are treated with dignity and respect in all care settings. To read about the new measures, follow the link above.
Policy
Foreword
Nottingham and Nottinghamshire produced its first set of multi agency adult protection polices, procedures and practice guidance in October 2001. In response to new legislation, research, growing expertise and the publication of the Association of Directors of Social Services document, “Safeguarding Adults” (2005), the time has arrived to completely overhaul our policy and procedure. Progressing from Adult Protection to Safeguarding Adults is a positive step forward supported by the changing national context as well as by individuals and organisations in Nottingham and Nottinghamshire. “Safeguarding Adults” builds upon “No secrets” and provides us with a national framework of standards for good practice. Our mission has been to produce an overarching document ensuring a framework of consistency to protect those individuals in our society who are the most vulnerable. At the heart of our work is the individual experiencing abuse or neglect. The multi agency team responsible for creating the policies and procedures have consulted extensively with a range of partner agencies, fellow professionals and individual users of services to create a document that is meaningful to all who may need to use it. “There can be no secrets and no hiding place when it comes to exposing the abuse of vulnerable adults” No Secrets, DoH (2000). Much has been achieved since this publication and many adults have been enabled to live safer lives. However, much remains to be done. This document will guide and inform your practice but each and every reader needs to ensure they remain vigilant and play their part in routeing out every hiding place when it comes to exposing the abuse of vulnerable adults.
Jon Wilson,Chair, Nottinghamshire Committee for the Protection of Vulnerable Adults.
Policy
‘All persons have the right to live their lives free from violence and abuse. This right is underpinned by the duty on public agencies under the Human Rights Act (1998) to intervene proportionately to protect the rights of citizens. These rights include Article 2: ‘the Right to Life’; Article 3: ‘Freedom from Torture’ (including humiliating and degrading treatment); and Article 8: ‘Right to Family Life’ (one that sustains the individual).
Any adult at risk of abuse or neglect should be able to access public organisations for appropriate interventions which enable them to live a life free from violence and abuse. It follows that all citizens should have access to relevant services for addressing issues of abuse and neglect, including the civil and criminal justice system and victim support services. Remedies available should also include measures that achieve behaviour change by those who have perpetrated abuse or neglect’. Safeguarding Adults: A National Framework of Standards for Good Practice and Outcomes in Adult Protection Work (ADSS, 2005).
"Abuse is a violation of an individual’s human and civil rights by any other person or persons." ‘No Secrets’ (DH 2000)
This document provides a framework within which all agencies will work together in preventing and minimising the risk of abuse to vulnerable adults in Nottingham(shire) and provides a consistent and effective approach to dealing with concerns and allegations of abuse and neglect.
Vulnerable Adult A ‘Vulnerable Adult’ is defined by No Secrets as: ‘A person aged 18 years or over who is or maybe in need of community care services by reason of mental or other disability, age or illness; AND Who is or maybe unable to take care of him or herself, or unable to protect him or herself against significant harm or exploitation.’
Values
All individuals have a right to live free from abuse in accordance with the principles of respect, dignity, autonomy, privacy and equity. Vulnerable adults are entitled to exercise the same rights as others in the prosecution of criminal offences and the pursuit of civil remedies. Vulnerable adults should enjoy the same rights as others in respect of access to care and treatment provided by public agencies.
Statement of Commitment
In order to support these values, organisations will:
- Actively work together within the agreed inter-agency framework based on the guidance contained in No Secrets (2000 Department of Health, Home Office) and Safeguarding Adults (2005 Association of Directors of Social Services).
- Endeavour to provide safe and effective delivery of services that facilitate the prevention and early detection of abuse.
- Maintain effective dialogue to ensure co-operation between agencies, including sharing information as appropriate in line with the Nottingham(shire) Information Sharing Protocol to safeguard vulnerable adults.
- Fully contribute to safeguarding assessments and concerns of abuse in accordance with this policy and procedure.
- Take a proactive approach to preventing and minimising abuse of vulnerable adults within their organisation.
- Provide and maintain the multi-agency Safeguarding Adults Policy and Procedure and ensure organisational procedures are compliant with the multi-agency framework.
- Have robust systems so that staff are familiar with the Safeguarding Adults Policy and Procedure and the need for a proactive approach to prevent abuse.
- Audit and evaluate practice, and provide reports as required, to ascertain how well services work together and how each agency fulfils its responsibilities to safeguard adults.
- Collect data to enable monitoring and analysis of information, in accordance with good practice and government requirements.
- Actively promote the empowerment and well-being of vulnerable adults through the services they provide.
- Integrate strategies, policies and services relevant to abuse and the safeguarding of vulnerable adults.
- Recognise the ongoing duty of care to service users who perpetrate abuse and facilitate any necessary action to address abusive behaviour.
- Adhere to rigorous recruitment practices to deter those who actively seek vulnerable people to exploit or abuse.
- Actively support the rights of the individual to lead an independent life based on self determination and personal choice.
- Provide appropriate advocacy, advice and support when a vulnerable adult’s right to an independent lifestyle and choice is at risk.
- Carry out assessments and investigations in accordance with equal opportunity principles, in a manner and setting appropriate to the understanding, degree of disability, cultural background, and gender of the person(s) involved.
- Contribute fully to serious case reviews as necessary or required by the Safeguarding Adults Board.
- Provide appropriate resources to contribute to the development of the multi-agency framework.
- Have a workforce development plan in place that includes appropriate competencies for staff and volunteers in relation to safeguarding adults work.
- Link with other systems designed to protect other groups (e.g. Domestic Violence and Child Protection).