Posted: Friday 15th June 2018
‘Making Safeguarding Personal’ was the theme of this year’s conference hosted by Hertfordshire Safeguarding Adults Board which saw professionals meet to share best practice and hear about the latest research.
The Hertfordshire Safeguarding Adults Board is a partnership including Hertfordshire County Council, Local and District Councils, Hertfordshire Constabulary, Herts Valleys CCG, East and North Herts CCG, West Essex CCG, Hertfordshire Partnership Foundation Trust, Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue Service, Probation services and private and voluntary health and social care providers, all of who work together to support adults at risk in Hertfordshire.
Delegates attending the conference, which was held at the Fielder Centre in Hatfield on Thursday, 14 June, explored a range of issues during the day, including abuse of older vulnerable people ahead of World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD). The overarching theme of the conference was around ensuring that all the partner agencies and voluntary services committed to safeguarding adults in the county keep a person’s individual needs in the forefront of their mind.
The keynote speaker was Dr Lindsey Pike who has been involved in extensive research on adult protection and safeguarding nationally and is also a part time Policy Co-ordinator at the University of Bristol.
Sue Darker, Operations Director in Adult Care Services and Safeguarding Lead for Hertfordshire County Council said;
“It was great to see so many professional at the Safeguarding conference, especially in light of it being WEAAD on 15 June. We know that some elderly people can be more vulnerable to abuse; poor health and social isolation increase this risk and sometimes an older person may be dependent on the person who is abusing them because they are a partner, family member or carer.
“Unfortunately scammers and rogue traders may also prey on older people and so it’s important that we work in partnership with the Police and other agencies to protect our elderly residents and provide them with the support they need to live without fear.
“It’s vital that we continue to provide development opportunities and share best practice with partners in health and social care and community protection around Safeguarding to ensure we can offer the right support to keep Hertfordshire residents safe and well.”
Delegates also took part in a number of interactive workshops and in a session coordinated by the Blue Apple Theatre Company which presented ‘Living without Fear’. The session presented the experiences of young adults with learning disability trying to lead independent lives in the face of daily harassment and prejudice. It aimed to offer insight and improve understanding within the professional and wider community of what it is to live with a learning disability.
To report a concern about an adult at risk, please call 0300 123 4042 or visit our website, you can also report any criminal concerns to the police. In an emergency, call 999.
