Backing for Action on Elder Abuse campaign to secure adult safeguarding powers

BASW is endorsing a campaign to amend the Care Bill to provide court authorised power of access to safeguard vulnerable adults in their own homes.

Campaigners want to end the situation where professionals in the UK, except in Scotland, are powerless to help abused adults in their homes because of pressure to deny entry by another person living at the same property.

Led by Action on Elder Abuse, the campaign is focused on securing signatures to a letter to the Prime Minister. The letter sets out the case for introducing power of access for England. Such powers already exist in Scotland after the passing of the Adult Support and Protection (Scotland) Bill by the Scottish Parliament in 2007.

BASW also wants to see similar powers of access approved in Wales and Northern Ireland.

Outlining its concerns, Action on Elder Abuse says: “There are circumstances in which access to an abused older person is denied by the very person who is abusing them. While there are instances where adult safeguarding staff successfully use the law or another creative manner to gain access, all too often that access is dependent upon the cooperation of the abuser. Inevitably some abuse continues unimpeded.”

Find out more by visiting www.elderabuse.org.uk/Mainpages/Power%20of%20Access.html