Safeguarding Adults Procedures

6 These Procedures have been produced collaboratively between Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council (BCP) and Dorset Council (DC), together with partner agencies. They are governed by a set of key principles and themes, to ensure that adults who are at risk of abuse, harm, neglect and exploitation have help and support in a way that is sensitive to their individual circumstances, is person centred and outcome focused. The key principles which will inform the ways in which professionals and other staff work with adults are as follows: • Empowerment: people being supported and encouraged to make their own decisions, presumption of person led decisions and informed consent. • Prevention: wherever possible the aim will be to act before harm occurs and ensure early engagement with all relevant people. • Proportionate: response appropriate to the risk presented; least intrusive response where possible • Protection: support and representation for those in greatest need. • Partnership: local solutions through services working with the adult’s communities. Ensure engagement with local communities to prevent, detect and report abuse. • Accountability: transparency in delivering safeguarding and of a quality that is worthy of scrutiny, i.e. the Courts or Peer Reviews Note: consistent with Ch. 14 of the Care Act Statutory Guidance the term “adult” is generally used here to refer to the adult who is experiencing or is at risk of abuse or neglect. Where a more generic term is needed and/ or the reference is not specific to the adult the Procedures refer to a person or people. The Care Act (2014) introduces a duty to promote wellbeing when carrying out any care and support functions in respect of a person. This is sometimes referred to as “the wellbeing principle” because it is a guiding principle that puts wellbeing at the heart of care and support. The wellbeing principle applies whether carrying out care and support functions, deciding, or safeguarding. It applies to adults with care and support needs and their family carers. “Wellbeing” is a broad concept, and particularly relates to the following areas:  personal dignity/ being respectful;  physical and mental health and emotional well-being;  protection from abuse and neglect;  the adult’s control over day-to-day life (including care and support and the way it is provided);  participation in work, education, training or recreation;  social and economic well-being;  domestic, family and personal relationships;  suitability of living accommodation;  the adult’s contribution to society. Promoting “wellbeing” means actively seeking improvements, for the adult with care and support needs (regardless of whether they have eligible needs or not) and informal carers. This approach informs planning of care, delivery of universal services and strategic planning. Service commissioners and providers should assume that adults are best placed to judge their own wellbeing and be respectful of their individual views, beliefs, feelings and wishes. If this is not possible it may be necessary to consider making a best interest decision. The wellbeing Introduction ‘Wellbeing’ principle