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Chapter 56: The Safeguarding of Vulnerable Adults and Children

  1. The Luton Safeguarding of Vulnerable Adults (SOVA) Board is an executive body established to oversee and ensure the consistent development and implementation of procedures and practice to safeguard vulnerable adults from harm, abuse and neglect.  This was established in line with the guidance provided under 'No Secrets' (Local Authority and NHS circular, 2000). Similarly, the Luton Safeguarding Children Board (LSCB) was established under The Children Act 2004 and is the key statutory mechanism for agreeing how the relevant organisations in Luton will co-operate to safeguard and promote the welfare of children, and for ensuring the effectiveness of what they do;
  2. The need to safeguard vulnerable adults and children alike is of increasing concern as demographic and other changes in society lead to an increase in the number of older or vulnerable people who may have parenting or carer responsibilities for children and young people or who may all be living together in a wider extended family;
  3. Both Boards are therefore committed to implement principles and processes to ensure accessible services, joint working and appropriate information sharing to ensure the safeguarding of vulnerable adults and children alike, as follows:
    • Each Boards Multi Agency Protocol for safeguarding, will include a statement on the need to safeguard vulnerable adults or children and will provide contact details for referrals to be made;
    • Strategic Board and Operational practice meeting Agendas and Minutes will be shared between the LSCB Business Manager (Children) and the Safeguarding Coordinator (Adults);
    • Nominated representatives from either Board are encouraged to attend Board or Practice (for Children - Operations & Procedures/ for adults - Policy, Practice & Performance) meetings where an agenda item is of interest or relevance;
    • Multi agency Training workshops delivered by each Board will be actively promoted to Practitioners;
    • Promotional or training literature will be disseminated to front line practitioners.

Working together in responding to abuse

  1. In all instances where both children and vulnerable adults are affected by abuse, practitioners must work together to ensure the safety and well-being of both the vulnerable adult and child.  Any strategy must work toward reducing the risk of harm. All safeguarding strategy meetings held, must include representatives from both adult social care and the Children's Trust. Strategies planned must never be to the detriment or cause increased risk of harm or abuse to the child or vulnerable adult. 

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