It's Day 3 of National Safeguarding Adults Week and today's theme explores how empathy, understanding, co-production, and positive risk taking can help create trauma informed approaches. This can support staff to feel confident in enabling and empowering individuals.

Building confidence in safeguarding practice and creating environments that empower individuals is essential. This includes understanding the needs of vulnerable adults and using advocacy to strengthen safeguarding practice.

The principles of safeguarding include Protection recognising the need for support and representation for those in greatest need. This ensures that individuals are supported to report abuse or neglect and they get help or support to take part in the safeguarding process to the extent they wish to do so. 

You can find more information about the Six Principles of Safeguarding on the Cumbria Safeguarding Adults Board Website.

Advocacy plays a crucial role in safeguarding in ensuring that individuals rights and voices are heard during safeguarding processes. Advocates can support individuals to navigate complex care and support systems ensuring their rights are respected and voices heard. 

You can read the CSAB Quick Guide to Advocacy in Safeguarding and find information about how to make a referral for advocacy in Cumbria here.

Making Safeguarding Personal (MSP) is an approach which emphasises a person centered, outcome focused and strengths-based approach to safeguarding activity.

Making safeguarding personal (MSP), is about professionals working with adults at risk or potential risk, to ensure that they are making a positive difference to their lives. The adult concerned where possible must lead on decisions about their own safety and wellbeing throughout the safeguarding process.

No decision about me, without me.

The adult's views and wishes should be used as guidance for all professionals
involved and must be respected.

The 'Hear My Voice' animation is designed to promote the principles of safeguarding adults by emphasising the importance of listening to individuals and involving them in decisions about their safety and well-being. (Acknowledgment to Southampton SAB).

It encourages everyone who works with adults to adopt a person-centered approach, ensuring that support is tailored to the unique needs and preferences of each individual. This animation serves as a reminder that safeguarding is not just about protecting people from harm but also about empowering them to have a voice in their care and safety.

You can access a range of MSP resources via the CSAB website by clicking here.

Being a Trauma Informed community requires everyone to understand that different life experiences shape the options available to us and our way of being and can use this understanding to influence our interactions and decisions in work and daily life.

You can access the CSAB Introduction to Trauma Informed Practice lunch & learn session for more information. You can find a range of resources on Trauma Informed practice on the CSAB website here.

Watch this short animation developed by 'Family Safe Victoria', which highlights the concept of trauma informed practice: how trauma may present and trauma informed responses in practice.  

You can also access resources from local not for profit Trauma Informed Partnerships in Cumbria and Lancashire.

Please remember if you see any council building lit green this week, it represents the green light to talk about safeguarding. 

Share any pictures with us and help us spread the word! Email your images to: CSAB@cumbria.gov.uk.

You can also follow us on social media X (formerly Twitter): @cumbriasab or LinkedIn.