Safeguarding adults at risk in the NHS through inter‐agency working
| Date | 11 April 2011 |
| Published date | 11 April 2011 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/14668201111139754 |
| Pages | 100-113 |
| Author | Simon Williams |
| Subject Matter | Health & social care,Sociology |
Policy and practice paper
Safeguarding adults at risk in the NHS
through inter-agency working
Simon Williams
Abstract
Purpose – The paper aims to appraise professional practice in safeguarding vulnerable adults. It will
examine the mechanisms in place and discuss how future policy will affect multi-agency working in this
field.
Design/methodology/approach – The paper examines recent consultations, policy development,
inspectorate reports and legal guidance surrounding the issue of safeguarding adults in England and
Wales, and suggests ways in which inter-agency working can be strengthened.
Findings – Safeguarding systems need to be timely, rigorous and transparent to increase levels of
public confidence and to ensure that the people who are at most risk of being abused are safe when
accessing public services. The concept of safeguarding adults is increasingly being integrated into
government policy and there are many successful examples of safeguarding partnership working in
England and Wales. However, there are also substantial barriers that hinder organisations from working
together effectively, such as different cultures, practices and ideologies.
Originality/value – The paper explores the fact that there needs to be clarification of roles and
responsibilities and integration of processes, and acceptance of true multi-agency working. There is a
danger that instead of providing extra protection for adults at risk, multiple routes will result in a lack of
co-ordination.
Keywords Adults, National Health Service, Social welfare policy
Paper type Research paper
Introduction
In 2009-2010 we have seen an unprecedented number of consultations, policy development,
inspectorate reports and legal guidance surrounding the issue of safeguarding adults in
England and Wales (Department of Health (DoH), 2009, 2010; Care and Social Services
Inspectorate Wales (CSSIW), 2010; Health Inspectorate Wales (HIW), 2010; The Law
Commission, 2010; NHSL, 2010; Welsh Institute for Health and Social Care (WIHSC), 2010).
The profile of safeguarding adults may have been raised as incidents of abuse in health and
social care settings appear in the media all too frequently (Ramsay,2009). Over recent years,
there have also been a number of independent enquiries that have shocked the public,
including those concerning Cornwall National Health Service (NHS) Partnership (Commission
for Social Care Inspection and the Healthcare Commission, 2006), Sutton and Merton Primary
Care Trust(Healthcare Commission, 2007) and Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust(TSO,
2010). This article will appraise professional practice in safeguarding vulnerable adults. It will
examine the mechanisms in place and discuss how future policy will affect multi-agency
working in this field. The main focus will be on current reviews in England and Wales (DoH,
2009; WIHSC, 2010) as Scotland already has primary legislation, namely, The Adult Support
PAGE 100
j
THE JOURNAL OF ADULT PROTECTION
j
VOL. 13 NO. 2 2011, pp. 100-113, QEmerald Group Publishing Limited, ISSN 1466-8203 DOI 10.1108/14668201111139754
Simon Williams is based at
Cardiff and Vale University
Health Board, Whitchurch
Hospital, Cardiff, UK.
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