All Care Staff Should Get Training To Prevent Abuse Of Vulnerable Adults - Kramer

7.30.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Tue 27th Jul 2004

Richmond Council's update and re-launch of its policy and procedures to protect vulnerable adults, presented at York House last Tuesday, 20 July, has been welcomed by Susan Kramer, Liberal Democrats prospective Parliamentary candidate, (Richmond Park).

Susan Kramer said: "This is an crucial inter-agency approach intended to put everyone involved with vulnerable people on alert. We heard a horrifying case-study from Buckinghamshire illustrating how easy it is to inflict emotional and sexual abuse on vulnerable adults, not just the elderly but those with learning or communication difficulties.

"But something is missing. At the moment the vital training for staff across the care sector is not mandatory for private providers and this loophole should be closed.

"Some private providers may argue it is financially punitive to send staff for training. But the Foundation course is only half a day and its costs should be set against the benefits of preventing abuse or distress to vulnerable adults in some care settings.

"The training is all embracing covering a wide range of jobs including domiciliary care assistants, day centre staff, health carers and therapy assistants. Staff at every level should be trained as part of this crucial policy of prevention of abuse."