Safeguarding Ireland

Mission

Safeguarding Ireland promotes safeguarding of vulnerable adults to protect them from all forms of abuse by persons, organisations and institutions and to develop a national plan for promoting their welfare.

Background

Safeguarding Ireland was established to promote safeguarding of adults who may be vulnerable, protect them from all forms of abuse by persons, organisations and institutions and develop a national plan for promoting their welfare. This will be achieved by promoting inter-sectoral collaboration, developing public and professional awareness and education, and undertaking research to inform policy, practice and legislation in the Republic of Ireland.

Safeguarding Ireland is a registered charity: RCN 20204851.

Adult safeguarding issues in Ireland

Sadly, examples of adult safeguarding issues occur in Ireland on a daily basis. Some are the subject of close media scrutiny, others occur in the privacy of a person’s own home or within one of Ireland’s health and social care services. Abuse against those who are vulnerable can be perpetrated by a range of people, from strangers to a family member.

Further Aims

Objects, incidental and ancillary to the attainment of the Main Objective, are to do the following for the benefit of adults in the Republic of Ireland who may be vulnerable:

To raise public understanding of attitudes, behaviours, circumstances and systems that create vulnerability that may result in abuse and that may require a safeguarding response.
To promote the protection and rights of people who may be vulnerable by encouraging organisations and services to recognise, prevent and deal with exploitation and abuse effectively.
To inform and influence Government policy and legislation to safeguard the rights of people who may be vulnerable.

What is Safeguarding

Safeguarding means living safely, free from abuse or neglect. It means people’s choices are heard and respected. Safeguarding is everybody’s business. We all need to be aware of safeguarding adults and take action to make sure that nobody experiences abuse or neglect, particularly those who are vulnerable.

Information Leaflets

Planning Ahead: Adult Safeguarding Day 2023

Coercive Control

Planning Ahead: An Enduring Power of Attorney

Guide to Assisted Decision-making Act

About Safeguarding

Place of Care

Prevent and Respond to Adult Abuse

HealthcareAbout Safeguarding

Abuse

Abuse happens when a person’s rights and dignity are not respected by another person. Abuse can be deliberate, or the person causing it may not understand that what they are doing is wrong.

The following are types of abuse:

Physical: Hitting, kicking, pushing, shaking, rough handling, threat of physical force, giving too much or too
little medication.

Emotional: Intimidation, threats, humiliation, isolation, verbal abuse or being prevented from receiving needed services

Sexual: Sexual activity that is unwanted or not understood.

Financial: Unauthorised or improper use of a person’s funds, property, pension or benefits.

Organisational: Inadequate care, or systematic poor practice by an organisation.

Cyber: Online (internet, email or social media) bullying, intimidation, scamming or coercion.

Neglect: Neglect is when essentials such as food, heating, medication, or hygiene are withheld – and also when a person’s resources are not used for their benefit

A Safeguarding Ireland Survey Found…

1 in 2 Irish adults claim experience of vulnerable adult abuse.
Physical abuse of vulnerable adults has been witnessed, or suspected, by 1 in 3 adults.
Emotional abuse is the most common type with over 1 in 3 having experienced it.
More than 10,000 cases of alleged abuse are reported to the HSE Safeguarding and Protection Teams each year.

How to recognise abuse

Signs of abuse range from changes in a person’s appearance to unexpected changes to their financial arrangements.

Physical

Unexplained bruises, markes or injuries.
Unusual weght loss.
Physical problems like bedsores.
Being shabby, or unkept.
Dirty, or unsafe living conditions.

Financial

Inexplicable shortage of money.
Suspicious addition of names to financial accounts.
Unexpected changes to will, or power of attorney.

Behavioural

Becoming noticeably withdrawn, angry or scared.
Tearfulness, crying not saying why.
The person is prevented from seeing you on their own.
Control – you sense someone is trying to control a person’s affairs.

Who is most at risk?

Planning Ahead is recommended for all adults, especially those who are getting older and is particularly important for vulnerable people such as those living with:

Reduced decision-making capacity
Age related fraility
A serious or sudden illness
A mental or physical disability
An acquired brain injury
Under the control of another person.

Call it out!

Safeguarding Ireland’s advice is – if you suspect abuse – take action and Call it Out.

HSE safeguarding and Protection Teams provide services and support in each region of the country.

Call the HSE’s National Safeguarding Office at (061) 461 358, or find details on this website’s CONTACTS page.

Money

It is against the law to use another person’s money without their consent. If someone is unable to provide consent, approval to act on their behalf must be legally secured with the bank, State or Post Office. The appointed person must keep records of all spending.

Medication

The prescribing of medication or changes to medical prescriptions can only be carried out by a registered healthcare professional authorised to do so.

Liberty

It is against the law to lock a person into a room, or strap them to a bed. If a person with dementia needs intensive supervision, professional advice and support should be sought.

Plan Ahead – it’s better for everybody

Planning ahead is an important part of preventing adult abuse and safeguarding. It means that if in the future, you did not have the capacity to make our own decisions (due to illness, or age-related frailty) that there is clarity on your future wishes regarding healthcare, where you would like to be cared for, who can act on your behalf, and use of your money.

This means Planning Ahead now – thinking about, talking about and recording these important preferences. Advance planning also safeguards against risks of being treated badly, disrespected, or suffering from adult abuse when we are vulnerable.

Having our choices easily accessible if needed is also better for all of those around us – reducing potential for stresses and tensions among loved ones, and for providing information to healthcare professionals.

Adult Safeguarding Day 2023 BOOKLET on Planning Ahead

INFORMATION LEAFLET

on Planning Ahead

INFORMATION LEAFLET

on Enduring Power of Attorney

INFORMATION LEAFLET

on Place of Care

THINK AHEAD form

(initiative of the Irish Hospice Foundation)

Steps to 'Plan Ahead'

1. Healthcare

The recommended way to plan future healthcare is to put in place an Advance Healthcare Directive, a document that is recognised in law. You can talk with your Doctor about making one – and keeping it where it can be easily found.

In it you can record future healthcare preferences including treatment approches, surgery, medicines and resuscitation.

2. Place of Care

In the event that you became unable to live independently – you should have made clear your choices on Place of Care.

Would you prefer to live at home with supports, in a nursing home, or a hospice, remain in a hospital, or live with a family member or friend?

3. Enduring Power of Attorney

An Enduring Power of Attorney means giving legal and financial decision-making powers to a chosen person if you lack decision-making capacity. All adults are encouraged to put in place an Enduring Power of Attorney (EPA).

You can phone or email your Solicitor and they can advise you on how best to put an EPA in place. If you need financial assistance, you may qualify for legal aid.

4. Finances

We all need to prepare for the likelihood that one day, we may need help managing our finances. Unfortunately, financial abuse is a significant issue for older people. We should talk with someone we trust and plan our finances. Banks and An Post are keen to work with customers to safeguard their finances.

Turn your wishes into PLANS

It may not always be possible to deliver on all of our wishes.

However, by being discussed and recorded your preferences can be at the centre of important conversations or decisions about you if you were unable to act independently.

Unfortunately, adult abuse occurs, particularly at times when we are vulnerable. We know that Planning Ahead greatly reduces the risk of being treated badly or suffering adult abuse.

Planning Ahead is also better for those most important to us. Our clarity reduces the potential for tension or stress among loved ones and families. It also helps healthcare professionals to provide the best possible care for us.

Plan Ahead – it’s better for everybody.