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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Councils 'fail' vulnerable adults | Councils 'fail' vulnerable adults |
| (about 9 hours later) | |
| One in six councils is failing to protect vulnerable adults in their care, the BBC has discovered. | One in six councils is failing to protect vulnerable adults in their care, the BBC has discovered. |
| Even some councils which received the highest government rating for their social services have fallen short in their protection of vulnerable adults. | Even some councils which received the highest government rating for their social services have fallen short in their protection of vulnerable adults. |
| The government's director of inspection Mike Rourke told BBC File On 4 these adults need similar legal safeguards to child protection law. | The government's director of inspection Mike Rourke told BBC File On 4 these adults need similar legal safeguards to child protection law. |
| Minister Ivan Lewis said he is looking to strengthen adult protection. | Minister Ivan Lewis said he is looking to strengthen adult protection. |
| File On 4 requested a detailed assessment of adult protection from the Commission for Social Care Inspection and found that a sixth of all 150 councils in England were failing. | File On 4 requested a detailed assessment of adult protection from the Commission for Social Care Inspection and found that a sixth of all 150 councils in England were failing. |
| We have campaigned for adult protection legislation to raise it to the same status as child protection Kathryn Stone, chief executive, Voice UK Family's concern over 'abuse' | We have campaigned for adult protection legislation to raise it to the same status as child protection Kathryn Stone, chief executive, Voice UK Family's concern over 'abuse' |
| Confirming the BBC's analysis as a "serious" problem, Mr Rourke, the CSCI's Director of Inspection, said: "Our message is that councils have not got systems as tight as they should be and therefore cannot be sure they are responding adequately to referrals - that's our challenge to them." | Confirming the BBC's analysis as a "serious" problem, Mr Rourke, the CSCI's Director of Inspection, said: "Our message is that councils have not got systems as tight as they should be and therefore cannot be sure they are responding adequately to referrals - that's our challenge to them." |
| He said there were various reasons for the failure. "For some it's financial priorities, others it is competing priorities and for some it's a lack of management grip," he said. | He said there were various reasons for the failure. "For some it's financial priorities, others it is competing priorities and for some it's a lack of management grip," he said. |
| Disability campaign group Voice UK said the figures prove that "No Secrets", a government policy set out in 2000 to stop the abuse and neglect of elderly or disabled people, has been poorly implemented. | Disability campaign group Voice UK said the figures prove that "No Secrets", a government policy set out in 2000 to stop the abuse and neglect of elderly or disabled people, has been poorly implemented. |
| Kathryn Stone, Voice UK chief executive, "It might be argued it is not effective because there is no law to support it - we have campaigned for adult protection legislation to raise it to the same status as child protection." | Kathryn Stone, Voice UK chief executive, "It might be argued it is not effective because there is no law to support it - we have campaigned for adult protection legislation to raise it to the same status as child protection." |
| One case cited by the group is that of "James", whose family allege he was raped and sexually abused by another resident while in sheltered accommodation. | One case cited by the group is that of "James", whose family allege he was raped and sexually abused by another resident while in sheltered accommodation. |
| The family also say £2,000 worth of property was stolen from him. | The family also say £2,000 worth of property was stolen from him. |
| An independent review "largely upheld" the family's complaints against Halton Council, in Cheshire, but the James's relatives said they have not received an apology and a satisfactory explanation from the council. | An independent review "largely upheld" the family's complaints against Halton Council, in Cheshire, but the James's relatives said they have not received an apology and a satisfactory explanation from the council. |
| Halton Council refused to comment. | Halton Council refused to comment. |
| Voice UK said the case illustrates a national pattern where families who allege relatives have been abused are seen as troublesome by local authorities. | Voice UK said the case illustrates a national pattern where families who allege relatives have been abused are seen as troublesome by local authorities. |
| Campaigners for the elderly are also concerned at the lack of protection for elderly people. | Campaigners for the elderly are also concerned at the lack of protection for elderly people. |
| Ivan Lewis said he is looking to strengthen adult protection | Ivan Lewis said he is looking to strengthen adult protection |
| Gary Fitzgerald, Chief Executive of Action on Elder Abuse, called on Care Services Minister Ivan Lewis to honour a pledge made by a previous minister to make all official agencies safeguard people at risk from abuse by setting tough targets in their appraisals. | Gary Fitzgerald, Chief Executive of Action on Elder Abuse, called on Care Services Minister Ivan Lewis to honour a pledge made by a previous minister to make all official agencies safeguard people at risk from abuse by setting tough targets in their appraisals. |
| "We are still waiting for progress," he said. | "We are still waiting for progress," he said. |
| Mr Lewis told the BBC it was unacceptable that one in six councils were failing to protect vulnerable adults. | Mr Lewis told the BBC it was unacceptable that one in six councils were failing to protect vulnerable adults. |
| He said the government and the charity Comic Relief are spending £650,000 to research the level of abuse on older people which is due to be published in the summer. | |
| "We will decide then what action to take as a government and a society," Mr Lewis added. | "We will decide then what action to take as a government and a society," Mr Lewis added. |
| Hear the full story on Radio 4: File on 4 Tuesday, 20 March, 2007 at 2000 GMT. | Hear the full story on Radio 4: File on 4 Tuesday, 20 March, 2007 at 2000 GMT. |