• Explain the roles of different agencies in safeguarding and protecting individuals’ rights to live in safety and be free from abuse and neglect.

Local authorities

Local authorities are responsible for leading and coordinating safeguarding, but there are many other agencies involved with safeguarding and protecting individuals from abuse. The Local Authority Social Service Department will is one of the main agencies involved.

Safeguarding Adults Boards

The Safeguarding Adults Board is a multi-agency board established in each local authority to promote, inform and support safeguarding. They ensure that priority is given to the prevention of harm and that adult safeguarding is integrated into other community initiatives and services and has links with other relevant inter-agency and community partnerships.

Safeguarding Adults Boards bring together local agencies that work with vulnerable adults and monitor their use of safeguarding policies and procedures. Although the main responsibility rests with local authorities, there are many agencies involved with safeguarding and protecting individuals from abuse. These include:

• Public sector organisations, for example, healthcare providers, learning disability teams, representatives from residential, sheltered and supported housing, the police and the government
• Departments that are responsible for benefit payments, housing and other support
• Voluntary sector organisations, for example, MIND, Age UK, Alzheimer’s society, MENCAP and Citizens’ Advice
• Carer support groups, for example, Carers UK
• Multi-agency groups, for example, Community Safety Partnerships
• Department of Health and Social Care.

This is the UK government department that deals with the NHS and all aspects of health and social care. It works with other agencies and bodies, such as the CQC, to develop and enforce legislation and policies.

Health and Social Care Organisations

Health and social care organisations must have appropriate policies and procedures in place and are responsible for protecting their own service users. As well as safeguarding and whistleblowing policies, they will use risk assessments and care plans to safeguard individuals from harm and abuse.

Care Quality Commission (CQC)

The CQC regulates health and social care services in England, whether provided by the NHS, local authorities, private companies or voluntary organisations. This includes, for example, hospitals, care homes, home care services, dentists and other specialist health care services.

The CQC registers care providers who have to meet these standards, performs inspections, offers guidance and uses enforcement powers when necessary.

Police

The role of the police is to respond to and investigate allegations of abuse and will be represented on local Safeguarding Adults Boards. They play an important role in raising awareness.

Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS)

The DBS provides the platform on which employers can carry out checks to ensure employees or potential employees are not barred from working with vulnerable adults.

Office of the Public Guardian (OPG)

The OPG deals with vulnerable adults who are covered by the Court of Protection. This court deals with the affairs of people who cannot make their own decisions any longer. Some individuals set up a power of attorney so that they can nominate someone to look after their affairs if they become ill and no longer have the capacity to make decisions for themselves.