"service users are treated with respect and dignity, have their welfare promoted and receive support in an environment in which every effort is made to promote welfare and to prevent abuse”. Safeguarding Vulnerable Persons at Risk of Abuse – National Policy and Procedures."
In December 2014, the HSE launched its safeguarding policy for older persons or persons with a disability that, as a result of physical or intellectual impairment, may be at risk of abuse.
The Safeguarding Vulnerable Persons at Risk of Abuse - National Policy and Procedures, which applies to EVE services, outlines a number of principles to promote the welfare of vulnerable people and safeguard them from abuse. These include a requirement that all EVE services must have a publicly declared “No Tolerance” approach to any form of abuse and must promote a culture which supports this ethos.
Some of the principles underpinning the policy include:
There are a number of different types of abuse.
All vulnerable people have a right to be protected against abuse and to have any concerns regarding abusive experiences addressed. They have a right to be treated with respect and to feel safe. If anyone has a concern about abuse or neglect of a vulnerable person in an EVE Service, they should report it to the service manager, a health care professional (e.g. public health nurse, physiotherapist, GP etc.) or the Safeguarding and Protection Teams.
In addition, the HSE has appointed a confidential recipient who will receive and report concerns of abuse or neglect in confidence. The confidential recipient is Ms. Leigh Gath and she can be contacted by email on leigh.gath@crhealth.ie or LoCall 1890 1000 14.
A National Office was established in December 2005 in accordance with the HSE’s Social Care Division Safeguarding Vulnerable Persons at Risk of Abuse National Policy & Procedures. The core function of the office is to oversee the implementation, monitoring, review and ongoing evaluation of the Safeguarding Policy as well as coordinating development and roll out of safeguarding training.
The HSE are one of the agencies involved in the National Safeguarding Committee which launched a Strategic Plan 2017-2021 to guide its work to safeguard vulnerable adults over the next five years on Tuesday 20th Dec. The Committee is a multi-agency and inter-sectoral body independently chaired by Patricia Rickard-Clarke, a solicitor and former Commissioner of the Law Reform Commission. The ongoing work of the committee can be viewed on its newly launched website - Safeguarding Committee Website.
Links to resources & Forms:
