Sue Fiennes, Director of Social Care and Strategic Housing, Herefordshire Council AND Lead Director on Adult Protection for the Association of Directors of Social Services (ADSS)

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Sue Fiennes, Director of Social Care and
Strategic Housing,Herefordshire Council
ANDLead Director on Adult Protection for the
Association of Directors of Social Services (ADSS)
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ADULT PROTECTION
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Where have we come from?

• Professional/Practitioner concerns, interest and
  passion.
• Institutional abuse inquiries.
• The status of vulnerable adults in society and
  the tolerance of abuse.
• Efforts to obtain national standards and
  legislation to prevent abuse and sustain and
  improve quality.
• Voluntary sector special interest/lobby.

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Where have we come from

• Efforts to do research on best practice and need
  for support.
• Issues re credibility of witnesses in criminal
  proceedings and confidence in the criminal
  justice response.

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Where are we now?

• Some building blocks in place and more confidence
  in the evidence to support policy changes.
• No Secrets 2000 implementation section 7
  status but consistency of resource to support an
  issue.
• Victoria Climbié inquiry report.
• Green Paper/Every Child Matters.
• POVA List June 2004.
• PGO.

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Where are we now?

• Best evidence improvements.
• Mental Incapacity Bill.
• National ADSS led adult protection forum.
• Health Select Committee Inquiry Elder Abuse.
• National Journal Adult Protection.

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Opportunities and Challenges

• ADSS/LGA document All Our Tomorrows.Call for
  legislation to be modernised on community
  care.Poor Law ? Well Being.
• Workforce development/planning across sectors.
• New bodies to ensure standards and best
  practiceCSCI SCIE GSCC

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Opportunities and Challenges

• ?Partnership Community Safety.
• ? Possible intervention legislation.
• ? Performance Indicators to drive improvement and
  resources.
• ? Increasing the status of vulnerable adults in
  our society and their citizenship rights.
• ? Supporting People Strategic Review impact.
• ? Duty on all relevant agencies Adult
  Protection is everyones business.

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Where Next?

• Promoting discussions of all the opportunities
  and challenges in many settings and agencies.
• Making a difference for vulnerable adults and
  their protection through both-
• Making the case for legislation, policy and
  investment in this area which has appropriate
  equivalence to child protection
• Making the case for any social inclusion
  initiatives to embrace quality and protection for
  vulnerable adults.