Adult safeguarding: Prevention
There was widespread agreement that the current safeguarding system was designed around responding to problems rather than preventing themNo Secrets (2009)
Prevention - introduction
Safeguarding can reduce the potential for abuse and prevent abuse from reoccurring. Consequently, the report on the consultation on ‘No Secrets’ found that prevention should be the foundation of safeguarding services. However, it also agreed that this isn’t happening. Instead, current safeguarding systems are reactive, rather than proactive; that is, systems respond to instances of abuse, rather than acting to prevent them.
Effective prevention in safeguarding is not about paternalism or risk-aversive practice. Preventing abuse should occur in the context of person-centred support and personalisation, empowering individuals to make choices and supporting them to manage risks. This should lead to the services that people want to use, with the potential to prevent crises from developing.