Submission on Adult Safeguarding Policy Proposals

Issued on March 28 2024

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DFI Submission on adult safeguarding policy proposals

DFI made a submission to the Department of Health’s public consultation on policy proposals for adult safeguarding in the health and social care sector on 28 March 2024. The consultation closed on 2nd April. The final policy will cover the full spectrum of health and social care services (public, voluntary and private). It will also set out policy on co-operation, information-sharing and referral arrangements between the health and social care sector and other key sectors. The Department of Health have published draft policy proposals, which can be accessed on their website.

DFI responded to the Department of Health’s online survey seeking feedback on the draft policy proposals.  Our submission highlighted, among other issues:

• The importance of grounding the policy in the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
• The importance of accessible information on safeguarding, and access to independent advocacy services for people with disabilities.
• The need for sufficient resources and training to be put in place to ensure successful implementation. Smaller voluntary organisations in particular will need support.
• The importance of cross-Departmental coordination, and in particular the involvement of the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth.
• The need for clear guidance and support in relation to the safeguarding issues of self-neglect and peer abuse.
• The need for greater clarity on data sharing between agencies for safeguarding purposes.
• The importance of the Department of Health’s safeguarding policy aligning with wider work on safeguarding, such as the Law Reform Commission’s work on a regulatory framework for safeguarding, and safeguarding responses outside of the healthcare sector. 

Our full submission is available to download.