How social workers are helping keep vulnerable adults in Lancashire safe
"It's not about blame – it's supporting people and helping them decide what changes will keep them safe."
That's according to Wendy Chimuka, one of Lancashire County Council's social workers who is aiming to dispel some of the myths around safeguarding.
Safeguarding is a term that you will hear a lot in everyday life, but what does it actually mean?
Essentially it is about protecting an adult’s right to live safely and free from abuse or neglect.
It is not about apportioning blame; it involves supporting people and helping them decide what changes will keep them safe.
Wendy says the person they are concerned about is always at the centre of every decision:
"It's about them and what they want to happen. Being able to support a person to achieve their outcome is really satisfying.
"Initially, we explain why we’re involved and our role. We also consider which agencies or parties need to be involved too.
"We're not looking to blame someone, we’re there because we've received certain concerns and we have duties to make those enquiries.
"Safeguarding is a supportive role, we sit down with people, have discussions, see how we can help out and how we can support and manage a risk.
"It's a very important role to ensure that vulnerable adults are protected and that they are heard.
"The focus is on what the person wants to happen. We might want to put certain things in place, but if it's not what that person really wants then we need to work with them to make sure they're happy and are listened to."
Wendy would encourage people to have a discussion with the team about anybody they are worried about.
She said:
"We don't need to disclose their details, they can be anonymous, because we know that can affect relationships.
"If they're not sure and they're concerned about someone it's good to report this and raise those concerns. If it isn't something that the county council can help with we would then pass it on to the right people and we can signpost to the relevant services.
"I am lucky to have a good team and a good manager. It's not always an easy role, but if you’re getting that support from colleagues and your team manger it makes a big difference."
Wendy has shared her story to mark Safeguarding Adults Week, which runs from 18 - 22 November.
Some real-life safeguarding cases that the county council has been involved with include helping an elderly woman suffering emotional and financial abuse from family members, a woman with autism who had witnessed an act of violence in her home and an elderly man who was targeted by an online fraudster.
We are now asking residents to help the county council's work to stop abuse in Lancashire by learning how to spot the signs of it: Types of abuse - Lancashire County Council
County Councillor Graham Gooch, cabinet member for adult services said:
"Safeguarding covers a variety of areas.
"By staying informed and vigilant about the type of things that can affect people's safety and reporting any concerns, we can protect the most vulnerable members of our community and ensure that their wellbeing is always a top priority.
"Our social care teams will work with our partners to take any action to keep people safe. We will also work together to learn from incidents that have been reported and take steps to prevent similar issues in the future."
If you are concerned about a vulnerable adult then you can report a concern using our online Safeguarding Portal
You can also call Lancashire County Council on 0300 123 6720.
In an emergency, please call 999.