Imogen Parry Director of Policy ERoSH and independent housing consultant 1Housing LIN West Midlands April 2009

 Main framework for Safeguarding and current review  Current incentives for housing organisations’ involvement in Safeguarding  Strategy and policy  Legislation, regulation and guidance  Barriers to joint working  Deaths caused by abuse and other abuse cases involving housing – lessons to be learnt  How housing providers can contribute to Safeguarding  Summary 2

 “No secrets: guidance on developing and implementing multi-agency policies and procedures to protect vulnerable adults from abuse ” DH and Home Office, 2000  “ Safeguarding Adults – a consultation on the Review of the ‘No Secrets’ Guidance ” DH, Home Office, Criminal Justice System, 2008  Consultation ended Jan 2009 – nearly 500 responses - currently being analysed – outcome announced by July? 3

 Shifted agenda to mainstreaming Safeguarding – making it everyone’s business  Acknowledged definition problems, patchy joint working, the need for better leadership and prevention, the need for clarity about outcomes  Set Safeguarding in policy context of personalisation, community empowerment, access to criminal justice for all  Asked if stronger guidance is needed or legislation as well 4

 Strategy and policy set by:  Communities and Local Government department  Tenant Services Authority  Homes and Communities Agency  Audit Commission 5

 Legislation, regulation and guidance:  Mental Capacity Act 2005  Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006  Human Rights Act 1998  Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Act 2004  Protection from Harassment Act 1997  Police and Justice Act 2006  Anti-social Behaviour Act 2003  Homelessness Act 2002 and Code of Guidance 2006  No Secrets

 Legislation, regulation and guidance (contd)  Supporting People programme:  Quality standards including Safeguarding and protection (see next slide)  Regular needs and risk assessments and support plans  Outcome monitoring including measures relating to self-harm, avoiding causing harm to others, minimising harm or risk of harm from others  CSHS (Centre for Sheltered Housing Studies) and the ARHM (Association of Retirement Housing Managers) Codes of Practice include standards relating to Safeguarding and protection 7

 “ There is a commitment to Safeguarding the welfare of adults and children using or visiting the service and to working in partnership to protect vulnerable groups from abuse”  There is a difference between Safeguarding vulnerable adults/children and adult/child protection:  Safeguarding is everybody’s responsibility, and includes measures to prevent or minimise the potential for abuse occurring.  Protection is a statutory responsibility in response to individual cases where risk of harm has been identified. 8

 Lack of recognition by victim that they are being abused  Lack of awareness by some housing staff of indicators of abuse, or of how to report concerns  Reluctance of some housing organisations to report due to fear of damaging reputation, previous lack of response, or fear of over- reaction  Problems with consent of victim to referral 9

 Narrow interpretation of “vulnerable adult”  Lack of awareness by some adult services staff of contribution of housing staff  Lack of inclusion of housing in protocols  Lack of involvement of housing staff following referral  Uncompromising commitment to upholding individual’s right to self-determination even with evidence the person lacks the capacity to make the particular decision 10

 Margaret Panting, age 77, Sheffield, early 2000s – warden’s concerns not responded to. Died 5 weeks after moving out of sheltered housing to son-in- law’s house. 50+ injuries. No-one prosecuted. Case led to Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Act  Steven Hoskin, age 38, man with LD, Cornwall, 2007 – humiliated, tortured, forced to jump to death from viaduct. Led to serious case review. Housing agencies criticised for only dealing with ASB allegations, not referring into POVA procedures 11

 Two older people, neighbours in a sheltered housing scheme, South Tyneside,  The council had moved the pensioners into alternative accommodation instead of tackling the problem of abuse at the unit  LGO found council guilty of maladministration for failing to stop persistent abuse by warden in a scheme “run like Colditz”  Warden suspended 12

 Beware of focusing on single issues and missing need for Safeguarding perspective  Beware of narrow departmentalism and failure to share information and concerns  Don’t ignore the signs of abuse, no matter who the perpetrator or the victim 13

 Help to prevent abuse e.g. through awareness raising campaigns with tenants  Alert statutory authorities regarding concerns, allegations, suspicions of abuse – likely to increase with personalisation implementation  Contribute to strategy meetings and investigations of abuse – drawing on extensive knowledge of service users’ lives, circumstances and wishes  Monitor abusive situations and report back to the adult protection team if circumstances change  Support victims of abuse and advocate for them 14

 Use statutory powers relating to tenancy agreements, injunctions etc to protect tenants  Ensure that Safeguarding is part of the strategic and business plans of local authorities and housing associations  Ensure an appropriate training and policy framework is set by councillors and board members (including training for board members themselves) - particularly in recognising the signs and indicators of abuse, knowing how to handle a disclosure of abuse and how to report abuse  Include Safeguarding as part of housing strategy documents and develop policies in this area 15

 Review approach to re-housing to support applications from vulnerable individuals and families; support individual access to Choice Based Lettings, but also consider multi agency Panels, reviewing allocations and re-housing policies to facilitate the re-housing of victims  Provide a safe refuge from abuse, e.g. through sheltered and supported housing.  Review which staff will need to be registered with the Independent Safeguarding Authority from 2010  Synchronise internal adult protection procedures with the local area multi-agency policy and procedure on adult protection / Safeguarding  Take policy issues to local multi-agency adult protection meetings, such as clarifying thresholds within which a client’s refusal to allow a referral can be over-ruled, and resolving barriers to effective joint working 16

 Extremely complex issues underpin Safeguarding  Lots of disagreement about what changes are needed to improve Safeguarding  In particular, lots of controversy about:  necessity for and nature of new legislation  who should take the leadership role  likely impact of personalisation  In the meantime there are many small steps that can be taken to help prevent, detect and tackle abuse 17

  Website:  Telephone: or ERoSH: 18