.IN SAFE HANDS IMPLEMENTING ADULT PROTECTION PROCEDURES IN WALES

Making sure that vulnerable adults, who need care and support, are in safe hands is a key principle of the White Paper “Building for the Future”. The proposals to improve the regulation of social services and to raise standards in the workforce are being taken forward through the Care Standards Bill. This guidance addresses the need for the development of local multi-agency codes of practice based on a consistent framework for the protection of vulnerable adults across Wales. These should be co-ordinated locally by each local authority social services department but will also involve the police service, the health service and will be of interest to the independent sector. These policies should also take account of the measures to provide greater protection to vulnerable or intimidated witnesses in the criminal justice system, as recommended in Speaking up for Justice. That report recognised the need to improve the identification and reporting of crime against vulnerable adults in care settings and agrees that this can best be tackled through multi-agency working. This approach has been endorsed by the Home Office. To support the development and implementation of locally agreed codes of practice, thi