Sage Advocacy welcomes Policy Framework for Adult Safeguarding

An independent National Authority remains the target for Adult Safeguarding

Sage Advocacy has welcomed last week’s publication of a new Policy Framework for Adult Safeguarding in the health and social care sector.

The Policy was launched last week by the Department of Health and includes a significant range of important developments with potential to reduce adult abuse and improve safeguarding across services and organisations.

Sage Advocacy is the national advocacy service for older people and survivors of institutional abuse and CEO Bibiana Savin said the organisation will review the policy in detail in the coming weeks.

As an initial response she commended that the new health and social care policy:

• Will apply to health and social care providers across all sectors – public, private and voluntary
• Will extend HIQA’s remit to include oversight and monitoring of the HSE’s safeguarding services
• Includes improvements in cooperation and sharing of important information between organisations providing services to at risk adults.

She highlighted the need for a clear focus on its implementation without delay.

“This safeguarding Policy as a positive step in the right direction, but by no means a final step. What’s important now is to get this policy and its commitments into implementation and delivery – supported by the necessary resourcing.

“It remains the view of Sage Advocacy that an independent cross-sectoral National Safeguarding Authority is the optimum structure for adult safeguarding. Whether covered in the scope of the policy or requiring additional work, we maintain our call on the Government to progress implementation of the Adult Safeguarding Bill 2024 and the Criminal Law (Adult Safeguarding) Bill 2024 both of which are included in the Law Reform Commission Report 2024 Report, A Regulatory Framework for Adult Safeguarding.

A concern remains that where there are risks or abuse outside of health and social care settings such as financial abuse, regarding social protection structures, additional criminal offences of abuse, or the need for improved reporting of all types of abuse concerns – how will these be addressed by the new policy which is health and social care sector centred?

“We have this year seen HIQA experience challenges in regulating the private nursing home sector. This policy places additional work with HIQA which will need to be resourced. The implementation plan should address an underlying issue of regional versus national accountability and strategic direction within the HSE’s safeguarding services.

“We also need a clear pathway in safeguarding policy for the growth, expansion and funding of independent advocacy into the future.

“Sage Advocacy acknowledges significant and substantial potential in this Policy Framework and will continue to work with the Department to support its progress, implementation and future evolution.”

The new Policy Framework can be viewed here: https://www.gov.ie/en/department-of-health/publications/national-policy-framework-for-adult-safeguarding-in-the-health-and-social-care-sector/

Sage Advocacy can be contacted at 01 536 7330, or email info@sageadvocacy.ie. The motto of Sage Advocacy is ‘Nothing about you / without you’.

Further information

Ronan Cavanagh, Cavanagh Communications: 086 317 9731 ronan@cavanaghcommunications.ie

Sage Advocacy is the National Advocacy Service for Older People. It works to ensure that people have easy access to information, support, independent advocacy and safeguarding services in all settings: homes, day centres, respite facilities, congregated care settings / nursing homes, hospitals, hostels, hospices and in the process of transition between them.

It also provides supports to vulnerable adults and healthcare patients in situations where no other service is available to them. Since late 2023 it has expanded its services with the support of the Dept of Education to meet the support and advocacy needs of survivors of institutional abuse.