Action on Elder Abuse, the only charity in the UK dealing exclusively with the abuse of older people is appalled by the findings of the Local Government Ombudsman (LGO), Anne Seex, that South Tyneside Metropolitan Borough Council failed to adequately protect two elderly residents of a sheltered housing scheme, who suffered intimidation and harassment at the hands of their Warden

The LGO’s report, issued today (7 August 2008) finds that major Council failures meant the complainants suffered “harassment and fear whilst living in what should have been a supportive environment,” and were forced to move away from their home town when the Council failed to properly implement its own adult protection system.

Ms Seex says: “Far more significant than its failure to follow its own procedures is the Council’s grave substantive failure to undertake any proper investigation of serious allegations about the behaviour of an employee in a position of responsibility for vulnerable people and its inaction in the face of very persuasive evidence of serious problems at the sheltered scheme. This was maladministration with potentially very serious consequences.”

Commenting on the report Gary FitzGerald, Chief Executive of Action on Elder Abuse said “the No Secrets adult protection system is intended to be the last line of defence for vulnerable adults facing abuse, but this report implies that the Council were merely paying lip service to it. This is both appalling and dangerous.

Those vulnerable older people endured a catalogue of abuse only to be ignored when they sought assistance from adult protection. This couple were placed in the impossible situation of being supported by a warden who they described as bullying, harassing, intimidating, publicly humiliating and abusing them. Rather than providing them with a safe environment within which to live, and treating them with respect they deserved, they were subjected to a culture of intimidation and fear.

The findings in the report make pitiful and shocking reading. It is appalling that the council failed to appropriately implement its own protection policy, a situation which obviously placed these people at serious risk. There should be a full and independent inquiry into exactly what the council was doing in this regard and why it appears to have failed so miserably in ensuring an adequate protective response to these older people.

AEA is calling for the new laws that will give older people the same level of protection as children, similar to those in Scotland. The Council could only behave in such a cavalier fashion because these policies have no legislative requirements, unlike the situation with child protection. We are campaigning for the current review of the No Secrets guidance to provide the statutory framework that will truly protect and stop abuse in its tracks, and we would encourage everyone to join us in this campaign.”

NOTES TO EDITORS:

For further information on this news release please call Gary Martin

Action on Elder Abuse is the only national charity which aims to protect, and prevent the abuse of, vulnerable older people. It does this by raising awareness of the issues, encouraging education and by giving information and support to those in need. It has the only national free phone helpline dedicated to this cause and callers may ring from Monday to Friday between the hours of 9.00am and 5.00pm on 080 8808 8141 from the UK or 1800 940 010 from the Republic of Ireland for confidential support and information. For further information on Action on Elder Abuse go to website: www.elderabuse.org.uk
The Review of No Secrets was commenced by Ivan Lewis, the Minister for Social Care, on 20 February 2008, and AEA have been working closely with the Dept of Health on a formal consultation document to be issued sometime in September 2008.
Vulnerability, Risk and Empowerment Conference, Edinburgh Conference Centre, 17th September 2008. For details see website. Speakers include:
Sir Roger Singleton, Chair of the Independent Safeguarding Authority, Gary FitzGerald, CEO Action on Elder Abuse, Robin Van Den Hende – Policy and Campaigns Officer Respond/ Voice UK/ Ann Craft Trust and District Judge Marilyn Mornington

Tags: Adult Protection, Anne Seex, child protection, Elder Abuse, Gary FitzGerald, Ivan Lewis