Learning Together to Safeguard the City fortnight which is a new way of talking about how we all work together to keep people safe and well. It is delivered in partnership between the Safeguarding Adults Board, the Local Safeguarding Children Board and the Safe in the City Partnership Board, as well as Brighton & Hove City Council, other statutory partners including Sussex Police and Health, and a range of charities and community groups.
Today’s events
There are a range of learning events taking place this fortnight and you can View the full programme of events or visit Eventbrite to register for a free place. This runs alongside the 16 Days of Action for the Elimination of Violence against Women campaign and you can find out more about the events for this here.
Through out this fortnight we will be posting a series of Everybody’s Repsonsibility Blogs where key figures in the city will talk about what Safeguarding means to them. Today we speak to Tim Wilson, from Brighton & Hove City Council’s Workforce Development team about his experience of providing training in safeguarding to the city:
“I know it’s fully booked, but we are going to have to make room for the delegation of police from Nigeria.” This was conveyed to me on the eve of annual Brighton & Hove safeguarding adults conference.
We had been putting on the conference for several years (up to a decade now) in which time we have seen significant changes in both the language and practice of safeguarding adults. Back then the work was about the protection of vulnerable adults, now we safeguard adults. This isn’t simply a change of terminology – the law has also evolved too. I’m particularly thinking of the Mental Capacity Act (2005) and the Care Act (2014). The introduction of the latter provides a statutory footing to preventing and responding to the abuse and neglect of adults.
The introduction of the former was the theme of the conference attended by the delegation of policemen from Nigeria. The delegation arrived in full parade regalia involving polished shoes, brass buttons and braiding took their seats amongst the cardigans and sandals of the statutory and voluntary sector and politely listened to the man in the duffle coat from the Department of Health. Doubtless back in Abuja the delegation followed with interest the subsequent Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards and debates over relative normality.
This year’s safeguarding fortnight is a collaboration between colleagues and organisations across the city, particularly the Safe in the City Partnership Board, Local Safeguarding Children Board and Safeguarding Adults Board. The mix of events illustrates the depth and complexity of this vital work and recognises the need for us to work closely together. Hopefully it will be interesting and stimulating and help to further bring together people from across the city.
If you would like to find out more about safeguarding adults and have a Surf2Learn account, why not log on and have a look at the new safeguarding adults elearning course? Or for more detail see the Sussex Safeguarding Adults Policy and Procedures.
Help us spread the message that Safeguarding is Everyone’s Responsibility on Social Media during the Learning Together fortnight from 26 November – 10 December by downloading our Safeguarding is… or Everyones Responsibility signs and post a selfie under #EveryonesResponsibility or support us by sharing this tweet:
Has needs met within universal provision. May need limited intervention within the setting to avoid needs arising.
Has additional needs identified within the setting that can be met within identified resources through a single agency response and partnership working.
Has multiple needs requiring a multi-agency coordinated response.
Has a high level of unmet & complex needs, or is in need of protection.