Best practice to protect older or vulnerable adults from abuse, neglect or harm will be highlighted at Bristol's annual safeguarding conference on Tuesday February 19, which Bristol Community Health is proud to be supporting.
Bristol City Council's Care Direct service receives more than 2,400 alerts a year of potential harm or neglect. Resources to investigate allegations will be boosted with extra safeguarding adults nurses and a new triage service to help focus efforts on people most at risk. A new training strategy and re-launch of the adult protection policy is being co-ordinated by the Bristol Safeguarding Adults Board. Also being developed is a 'safe haven scheme' where venues such as local offices, shops and public transport hubs offer people with learning disabilities reassurance and help if they need assistance.
Mayor of Bristol George Ferguson said:
"Keeping safe those who are vulnerable either through their age, disabilities or learning difficulties is everyone's business. It looks like the message is reaching those who work with vulnerable people but we'd still expect to see more of these reports coming from friends or family.
"It's not always easy for someone to recognise that they are being harmed by a trusted person - please share concerns through the police or Care Direct."
Chair of the Bristol Safeguarding Adults Board Alison Comley said:
"We are seeing much greater awareness among care and health staff of what is abuse or neglect of the most vulnerable adults in society. This is reflected in the sharp rise in reports we and other local authorities have seen in the last year.
"The aim of this conference is to give care and health staff, the police, and voluntary sector an opportunity to visit the topics that concern them the most to share best practice.
"Everyone has the right to live their lives free from violence, fear and abuse. As a Board we take all allegations very seriously, we will respect confidentiality but ensure that they are investigated robustly."
Topics to be covered at the conference will focus on best practice from Bristol and around the region, they include: financial abuse and the Court of Protection; protecting people in hospitals and the community; involving people in their own protection; safeguarding people who self neglect; and safeguarding - the role and responsibility of nurses, a workshop that is being run by Bristol Community Health's Safeguarding Adults Lead.
To find out more about our Safeguarding Adults service please click here.
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