Adult Safeguarding & Adult Protection
The Trust has a lead role in protecting adults who are at risk of harm and also those who cannot
protect themselves. We do this in partnership with others and it remains everyone's responsibility
to make a referral should concerns arise. The Trust provided support for partner organisations to
comply with the relevant requirements set out in Adult Safeguarding: Prevention and Protection
in Partnership (July 2015).
During 2019/2020 we focused on:
• Raising awareness of financial abuse particularly in the over 60 age group:
Scam information was developed for inclusion in the NIHE Newsletter which
was issued to 85,000 homes and published on their website. In addition the
information was shared with partners for sharing within their organisations
• Dunmurry Manor Citizens Hub was established to co-design and co-deliver intergenerational
activities and events with residents and staff of Dunmurry Manor Care home and partners
in their community. This was in order to improve the lived experience of residents once
having moved into a care home environment. A full calendar of events was achieved
from Tea Parties with students from the catering department of Lisburn Further Education
College to 'Knit and Knatter' sessions with local crafting groups. Runwood Director of
Wellbeing & Dementia Services also delivered Dementia Friends training to a total of 161
SERC students and P6 & P7 primary school children involved with the hub
• Reviewing recommendations of an Independent whole systems review following the
Commissioner for Older People in NI report in respect of Dunmurry Manor for learning and
any actions required. The Trust continues to engage with Department of Health reference
group to inform the whole systems review. The Trust have reviewed and implemented a
range of internal policies and procedures in response to learning identified ahead of the DoH
Review publication eg. strengthening of independent sector governance arrangements,
escalation policy and adult protection practices.
Facts & Figures
There were 509 referrals made to Adult Protection Services in 2019/2020. This was a 12% drop
from last year. The highest number of referrals came from Mental Health Services, with 225
cases, followed by Older People Services with 146 cases. Of the referrals, 234 went through to
investigation.
Physical abuse appeared as the most reported form of abuse with 199, followed by sexual abuse
with 153 cases of which mental health service users made up 85% of the sexual abuse cases
reported. 81 cases of financial abuse were reported in 2019/2020 which equated to an 8% drop
from the previous year.
In 2019/2020 140 protection plans were implemented to keep service users safer with Older People
requiring 47% of plans in place.
While Mental Health had the highest number of referrals and investigations during 2019/2020, only
6% of service users needed a protection plan.
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Goal 5: Integrating the Care - Social Care