SCIE Report 36: Enabling risk, ensuring safety: Self-directed support and personal budgets

Introduction

'Safeguarding' is a range of activity aimed at upholding an adult's fundamental right to be safe at the same time as respecting people's rights to make choices.' (Williams, 2010)

Policy overview

The key statutory guidance for this area of work in England is 'No secrets: guidance on developing multi-agency policies and procedures to protect vulnerable adults from abuse' (2000). This was the first national policy developed for safeguarding adults, for use by all health and social care organisations and the police service. The implementation of the guidance is led by local authorities, but there is a strong emphasis on multi-agency working though local Safeguarding Partnerships. 'No secrets' is currently under review.

'Safeguarding adults' (Association of Directors of Adult Social Services (ADASS), 2005) provided a safeguarding framework aimed at good practice and good outcomes. Many local authorities have based their local policies and procedures within this framework.

The multi-agency arrangements set out in these documents have also been influenced by the following:

• the Dignity in care campaign – emphasising a person-centred approach which respects the dignity of the individual
• a greater understanding of the significance of equalities and human rights legislation, and its implications for adults at risk in all care settings
• Fair Access to Care Services (FACS) guidance
• wider debates about the adequacy of child protection systems.

The No secrets review consultation response (2009) emphasised that:

• safeguarding must be built on empowerment
• safeguarding decisions should be taken by the individual concerned
• safeguarding adults is not like child protection
• the participation/representation of people who lack capacity is also important.

Further reading

• 'No secrets' (Department of Health)
• 'Safeguarding adults' - Association of Directors of Adult Social Services (ADASS) (376kb PDF file)
• FACS guidance (SCIE)
• Dignity in care (Department of Health)
• Department of Health (2009) Safeguarding adults: response to consultation on the review of the No Secrets guidance London: Department of Health
• IDeA Adults safeguarding scrutiny guide