Safeguarding adults in everyday practice, a community nursing perspective
“I rarely see records that make me think they’re after money,” said Lynne Phair, Independent Consultant Nurse in Older People Safeguarding Adults, speaking at an event on raising awareness of safeguarding issues. Lynne explained that in her role, she gives evidence to lawyers who patient’s families turn to when they have concerns about the care of their relatives.
The event looked at how staff working within the community can help to identify and prevent the abuse, harm and neglect of vulnerable adults within their community. Lynne stressed that neglect doesn’t need to be intentional; it’s about a failure in duty of care, she said.
Delegates at the event, organised by the RCN District Nurses Forum, were also given information about the development of guidance, including the Department of Health’s Safeguarding Adults: The Role of Health Service Practitioners. This identifies the key role that health care professionals can play in the identification of abuse, harm and neglect.
