A NEW set of guidelines has been drawn up to protect vulnerable adults from abuse.
Durham County Council worked in partnership with Durham Constabulary, County Durham and Darlington Health Authority and other agencies to produce the new guidelines, along with service users and carers. The document is based on the 'No Secrets' guidance published by the Government.
Social services departments across the country have until October 31 to ensure that multi-agency policies and procedures are developed and implemented.
Nigel Porter, Durham County Council's deputy director of social services, said: "In recent years several serious incidents have demonstrated the need for immediate action to ensure that vulnerable adults who are at risk of abuse receive the protection and support they require.
"A partnership approach involving all the local agencies is crucial. It is our duty to protect vulnerable adults from mistreatment and to ensure that where there are incidents of abuse there are robust inter-agency procedures in place for dealing with them.
"Abuse can come in a variety of guises. It can be physical, psychological, sexual, discriminatory or simply plain neglect."
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article