Page 2 - Prevention Leaflet v2

Whole Community Approach to the Prevention of Abuse

This leaflet is designed to help professionals understand how they can play an active role in the

prevention of adult abuse, in the context of highlighting the need to improve engagement with
ethnic minority groups in Tees. The following points summarise the whole community approach:

Improve Public Awareness

This can be achieved by helping to support awareness building campaigns and by
signposting adults to appropriate sources of information.

Identify Adults who May be at Increased Risk

There are many factors which might increase the risks of adult abuse and neglect
including: older age; physical, mental, sensory, learning or cognitive illness or
disability; and having to rely on others for health and social care support.

Identifying & Responding Effectively to Abuse

Organisations and individuals working to improve their understanding and early

identification of the different types of adult abuse, so that an effective response can
be achieved in conjunction with the adults views and wishes.

Consistent & Widespread Application of Policies & Procedures

It is important for organisations delivering services to adults to have appropriate

policies and procedures which are developed in line with guidance from the Teeswide
Safeguarding Adults Board, and embedded into the practice of all professionals.

Focus on Equality & Narrowing Inequality

Adults from financially deprived backgrounds are more likely to become an ‘identified’
victim of adult abuse and neglect, but it is less likely that an adult from an ethnic

minority background will be engaged with statutory services across Tees. All
professionals can help to improve reporting and equal access to protective services.

Help Adults to Protect Themselves

Every organisation delivering services within the health and social care sector can
identify ways in which they can help to inform, and support adults in protecting
themselves from abuse and neglect.

Provide Information, Advice & Advocacy

Individual organisations will know the communication needs of their client groups,

and as such are best placed to provide adult safeguarding information in the most
appropriate formats, methods and languages.

Provide Access to Training & Education

Organisations have a responsibility to provide access to up to date and relevant

adult safeguarding training for their staff and volunteers, and additional support for
the person (s) responsible for leading on this subject within that agency.

Support Broader Wellbeing Strategies

There is a clearly established link between the prevention of adult abuse and
broader health and wellbeing strategies, including the reduction of social isolation

and loneliness. Organisations can help to engage adults in these type of strategies,
which will also indirectly help to prevent adult abuse.