Adult safeguarding

• Herefordshire's new safeguarding vulnerable adults initiative  
• Contact details if you have concerns about a friend, relative or neighbour

'Everybody's Business' is the start of the Herefordshire Safeguarding Adults Board campaign to raise awareness about abuse to adults, and the action that can be taken to prevent and to respond to incidents.

As the name suggests all Herefordshire people have a part to play in safeguarding themselves, and others. The aim of the campaign is for everyone to be confident about their rights and responsibilities in taking steps to safeguard vulnerable adults.

People are vulnerable when they cannot take steps to protect themselves. Some people need support throughout their life, and anyone can become vulnerable - maybe through stresses at home or at work, or an illness.

The part managers and colleagues can play is to alert themselves to vulnerable adults and signs of abuse in patients, their local communities and in their workplace.

Clinicians and other workers who are in front line contact with vulnerable adults will be particularly alert to their responsibilities, including the empowerment of users and carers, and to the steps to safeguard that can be taken.

Vigilant communities can reduce incidents of harm and it is everybody's responsibility to take action if they suspect abuse has or is taking place.

Copies of the Everybody's Business leaflet  will be widely distributed. It will go to health and social care service users, carers and their advocates and representatives: to agencies and individuals who provide employment, justice, health and social care services: to Elected Members, the PCT Board and to local Partnership Boards: to volunteer, faith and community organisations and to the general public.

The campaign aims to develop further approaches that raise awareness, and improve accessibility to information. This information will be produced in easy read formats, and other formats that are helpful.