Introduction

Background

The Care Act 2014 UK guidance adopted here in Jersey emphasises a personalised approach to adult safeguarding that is led by the individual, not by a process. The needs and expectations of the person's unique situation will shape how agencies may respond. It is important that the person feels that they are the focus and they have control over any safeguarding intervention.

"The approaches of all agencies and services to adult safeguarding should be person-led and outcome-focused."

Making safeguarding personal (MSP) is not simply about gaining an individual's consent, although that is important, but is also about hearing people's views about what they want as an outcome. It is important that the person feels in control and not driven or controlled by the adult safeguarding procedure, that the intervention is agreed and shaped by them.

Think about Making Safeguarding Personal from this experience:

Living a life that is free from harm and abuse is a fundamental right of every person. When abuse or neglect does occur, it needs to be dealt with swiftly, effectively and in ways that are proportionate to the concerns raised. In addition, the person affected must be at the centre of any safeguarding response and must stay as much in control of decision making as possible.

Fundamentally, effective safeguarding is about people and organisations working together to prevent and reduce both the risk and experience of abuse or neglect. Safeguarding means protecting the health, wellbeing and human rights of people at risk, enabling them to live safely, free from abuse and neglect. Safeguarding also means making sure that the adult's wellbeing is supported and their views, wishes, feelings and beliefs are respected when agreeing on any action. In Jersey we endorse the ethos of making no decision about me, without me. Effective safeguarding is keeping people in control and aware of their rights.

We are committed to Making Safeguarding Personal (MSP) throughout these procedures. Therefore, these multi-agency procedures are based around holding conversations with adults at risk about their wishes, the risks, their involvement and how agencies can work together towards achieving their desired outcomes - wherever possible.

Each stage of these procedures sets out potential conversations to be held with the person at risk (and/or their representative). These may not cover all the issues to be discussed and they may not always be possible for a range of reasons, including:

• The urgency of actions required;
• The person's engagement or understanding of the concerns;
• The possibility of increasing the risk, or placing others at risk;
• The possibility of prejudicing a police enquiry.

Whilst the conversations outlined will sometimes be aspirational, they should be sought to be achieved where possible and be held by the most appropriate person in each situation. Where a person has a substantial difficulty or a lack of capacity to be involved in the safeguarding intervention, they have an entitlement to be represented by an appropriate friend, relative or independent advocate.

MSP is also about ascertaining the extent to which the outcomes the individual wanted were achieved at the end of an agreed safeguarding intervention. See Library and Glossary.

Click here to view the Possible Outcomes Flowchart.

We must avoid safeguarding arrangements that do not put people in control of their own lives. There should be no shortcuts or SATNAV approaches to adult safeguarding – taking people on unnecessary journeys where they do not feel in control. These procedures advocate properly engaging with people, working with them at their pace, and tailoring interventions to meet their individualised needs and outcomes.