Seniors month, Safeguarding Coaching Program, October free webinar – October 2024 

Safeguarding seniors
Last month we celebrated Child Protection Week. This month is Seniors Month – the BBSafe Building Blocks Framework takes us through safeguarding for seniors too.

Building Block 3 – Environments – is where we get to dig into context specific safeguarding risks so we can have a look here at issues that come up when seniors are in the care of, or in receipt of services from, organisations. Some of the specific safeguarding considerations for seniors are:

Relationships of trust
In any community services we want to have great relationships with our clients, so we can deliver the best services. Those trusting relationships can also provide opportunities for abuse, neglect and exploitation of people receiving services. Where workers are entering an older person’s home to provide services, or an older person is in residential care, there is a high degree of trust. This means that organisations need have systems and cultures in place which ensure the suitability of staff, support staff to understand and work within professional boundaries and encourage people to be able to speak up if they have concerns.

Vulnerabilities 
For seniors, this could mean reliance on others for care, medical treatment, and social contact. Isolation might be exploited for financial, physical or sexual abuse to occur. It could mean that it is difficult to speak up if people have concerns or are experiencing poor treatment or abuse. Sometimes, older people have come from a background of not questioning authority or not making complaints. All of these factors can contribute to the occurrence of abuse and make it harder to speak up if there are concerns.

Physical environments
Older people might be receiving services away from others which means there are opportunities for abuse to occur or for things to be said away from others. 

Understanding specific risks for the services you are providing and considering how to mitigate them is a key to abuse prevention. An underpinning culture which prioritises this is critical. You can learn more about the process by attending one of our free webinars. 

Two places left!
There are two spots left in our next BBSafe Safeguarding Lead Coaching Program. It will kick off mid October and is aimed at anyone who has responsibility for safeguarding in their organisation. It is relevant across jurisdictions and sectors, for children and vulnerable adults. Drop us an email for more information sarah.lim@bbsafe.com.au  

Free October webinar 
Join us for our free monthly webinar 18 October, 12pm AEST/1pm AEDT on Going Beyond Compliance – Embedding Safeguarding Culture. Register here:  https://events.humanitix.com/bbsafe-webinar-or-beyond-compliance-embedding-safe-culture-for-organisations-working-with-children-or-vulnerable-adults

Join us for the webinar if you can, and feel free to share this newsletter and the invitation with colleagues.