Campaign for the vulnerable

8:00am Sunday 11th May 2008

Comments (0)   Have your say »

A MAJOR campaign - entitled 'Safeguarding Vulnerable Adults' - has been launched throughout Trafford by a multi-agency partnership.

The council, together with Trafford Primary Care Trust (TPCT), Greater Manchester West Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust, Trafford Healthcare NHS Trust, Greater Manchester Police, Age Concern and the Safer Trafford Partnership have together established the scheme.

The campaign aims to raise awareness of the issues faced by vulnerable adults and how people should report any suspicions they have that abuse may be taking place.

All reports made will be handled sympathetically, confidentially and with respect. To launch the campaign, the message is literally being taken onto the streets, with a high visibility outdoor advertising campaign.

Thirty-two posters are in key positions across the borough and will publicise the help available and how to find out more. For two weeks, the posters in Stretford, Hale, Old Trafford, Timperley, Flixton, Partington, Altrincham and Sale, will provide a highly visible reference for people walking around.

Abuse can take place anywhere and while people expect to be safe at home, for vulnerable adults this may not be the case.

Last year many reported cases of abuse happened in the home and the perpetrators were family members or someone known to the victim.

But abusers could equally be paid health or social care workers, volunteers, neighbours, other service users or other people in positions of trust.

Corporate director of community services and social care, Mike Cooney, said everyone is committed not only to safeguarding vulnerable adults, but also making sure that easily accessible help and advice is available for anyone wanting to report their suspicions that someone is suffering from abuse.

Partnership and justice superintendent, John Graves, of Trafford Police said: "Unfortunately abuse of adults is extremely difficult to recognise, especially as it can take many forms, including sexual, mental, emotional, financial or physical. We need to make sure that we reach local people with our message as they go about their everyday lives."

Chief executive of TPCT, Sheena Cumiskey, added: "It is important that we all make it as easy and straightforward as possible for suspected abuse to be reported. People must be assured that any reports they make will be handled sympathetically, confidentially and will be treated with the utmost respect, it is only by doing this that we can help reduce the unnecessary suffering of some of the most vulnerable people in our community."