Welcome to Day 4 of National Safeguarding Adults Week. Today will focus on how we can build our courage and resilience as individuals to speak out. To do this, we will look at organisational and individual tools that help develop supportive cultures in which good safeguarding practices can thrive. 

Professionals to act on safeguarding concerns by providing practical tools, guidance, and training to support confident decision-making, professional curiosity, and timely intervention.

One of the six principles of safeguarding is Empowerment, ensuring that people are supported and encouraged to make their own decisions and informed consent. Individuals should be asked what they want as outcomes from the safeguarding process and this should inform what happens.

When supporting individuals during safeguarding processes we need to ensure that the response is the least intrusive and appropriate to the risk presented ensuring Proportionality. This includes ensuring that professionals work in the person's interest and are only involved as much as is required, ensuring a proportionate approach in relation to the risks presented.

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

The aim of safeguarding adults include preventing harm or reducing risks and supporting adults in a way that involves them.  Practitioners, the public and communities all play a role in preventing, identifying and responding to abuse or neglect.

You can access the CSAB website for more information relating to abuse and neglect and the signs to look out for.

If you have concerns about an adult and want more information about how to raise concerns or what happens during the process, you can read the CSAB Quick Guide to Raising a Safeguarding Concern here.

CSAB has a range of materials to help raise awareness about safeguarding adults in Cumbria. 

Are you a community groups, business or organisation who can support us by displaying posters or leaflets? 

Posters, leaflets and wallet cards can be requested by email csab@cumbria.gov.uk or download and print your own from or CSAB Website Home Page under 'Quick Links' here.

CSAB have a range of resources intended to support practice and learning tools including;

• Quick Guides - information relating to a range of types of abuse or neglect and safeguarding practice.
• Lunch & learn - recordings from previous lunch & learn sessions which can be used for self-directed study and continuous professional development.
• Policy and Guidance - for manager's and practitioners across the system
• Short webinars and animations - to support practice and for use when working with adults at risk.

Check out the learning zone area of our website for more details where you will also find a range of Professional Curiosity resources including a recording on: Unconscious Bias and Malignant Alienation. The recorded session explores how unconscious bias influences our thinking and the impact of malignant alienation which can contribute to deterioration of relationships with the adults you support. 

This week many of our council buildings across Cumbria are illuminated green. This represents the 'green light' to discuss safeguarding and the importance of protecting adults at risk.  

This photo was taken at Kendal Town Hall, Clock House Tower. 

If you are out and about during the week please take photos and share with us so we can help 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.

Ann Craft Trust are holding free online seminars throughout the week, today's event is:

Trust Your Instincts - Physical Abuse and Safeguarding Adults 1130am -1230pm