A NEW policy and procedure designed to protect vulnerable adults from abuse is set to be launched by the Isle of Wight Council.
Councillor Dawn Cousins the council’s cabinet member for health and well being presented the council’s strategy to a meeting of the Island’s cabinet.
The strategy has been drawn up following a Health Select Committee enquiry conducted by the government which aimed to improve protection of vulnerable adults.
The policy aims to ensure a more co-ordinated approach between agencies such as the council, the Island’s health service, the police, care home owners and voluntary sector partners to protect those most in need such as people with learning disabilities and older people with dementia.
The revised framework aims to give clearer guidelines about when agencies should intervene in suspected abuse cases, who should make decisions about a vulnerable person’s future needs and the appropriate agency to tackle any real or suspected abuse.
Implementation of the revised procedures will be closely monitored by the Isle of Wight Safeguarding Adults Management Board.
The board will also be urged to develop stronger partnership working practices to ensure that the abuse of vulnerable adults is understood, reported and thus prevented.
As well as seeking to protect vulnerable adults from physical, emotional, sexual abuse and neglect, the policy is designed to protect vulnerable adults from people who may try to take advantage of them by trying to misuse or misappropriate their money.
Councillor Cousins said: “Much good work has been done to safeguard adults but there still remain a significant number of people for whom abuse compromises their access to safety, to timely and effective interventions in the criminal justice system, and which looks after their housing, health and social care needs.
“This important new policy cements existing good practice as well as improving communication between the various agencies which are involved in the protection of vulnerable adults from abuse.”
