The Care Act 2014 sets out requirements for housing providers in relation to safeguarding adults making it clear that they are well placed to identify adults with care and support needs, share information and work in partnership to coordinate the necessary response.  Some serious case reviews point to the need for better joint working, in particular between housing and adult social care.

Housing and homelessness services are subject to the Section 11 duties of the Children Act 2004 which requires a range of organisations, agencies and individuals to ensure their functions, and any services that they contract out to others, are discharged having regard to the need to safeguard and promote the welfare of children. 

Therefore housing staff have a key role to play, alongside colleagues in social care, health, police and the independent sector in keeping adults and children safe.  If housing staff and contractors are equipped to play an active role, people living in the community will be safer.

Our training programmes promote awareness of children and adults at risk, the systems to safeguard them and the role and responsibilities of housing staff and partner agencies.  They enable staff, irrespective of their prior knowledge/experience, to develop the knowledge, skills and confidence in relation to their particular safeguarding role with our 2 day programme being aimed at staff who have a lead role in safeguarding.

We use a broad range of teaching strategies to address different learning styles including: presentations; interactive group work, discussions and structured exercises; case scenarios; peer consultancy and reflection.  Delegates are provided with handouts, additional references and a learning log to promote continuing professional development.  

We work alongside our customers to fully understand your context and priorities and to ensure relevance, currency and credibility with your workforce. Our programme becomes customised based on key themes including:
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• Defining safeguarding and types of abuse and neglect experienced by children and adults at risk and signs/indicators
• The legal framework with regard to safeguarding children and adults at risk and the safeguarding role, responsibilities and duties of housing providers and those of other key stakeholder agencies e.g. Local Authority
• Key differences/similarities between the abuse and neglect experienced by children and adults
• Actions that should be taken by staff in line with organisational procedures
• Consequences of not reporting/recording incidents and concerns
• Safeguarding referrals and how to address professional disagreements

For more information, please get in touch with Sarah Clay on 0121 285 6161 or 07752 165342 or email us at [email protected]