Safeguarding Adults Week: Strengthening a Culture of Prevention

Larissa Howells, Director of Services, Deputy CEO, Safeguarding Lead

At Age UK East London, we are committed to ensuring every older adult is protected from harm. Safeguarding sits at the heart of our work, and we continue to shape our practice so that it is consistent, confident and values-led. 

Across the organisation, we work hard to centre safeguarding from the very beginning — through recruitment based on our values, and through practical training that creates space for colleagues to share their experiences and learn from each other. Over time, we have refined our processes with the aim of building a culture in which people feel both competent and confident. 

When it comes to safeguarding concerns, we know colleagues sometimes come across clear-cut situations. But more often, the signs they pick up are subtle. Our approach is designed to ensure that even the slightest concern can be raised, triggering an immediate conversation with managers about the appropriate action to take. These conversations continue in 1:1s, team meetings, all-staff sessions and at board level, keeping safeguarding active across every part of the organisation. 

This year’s theme for Safeguarding Adults Week is Prevention. Much of the work carried out by AUKEL already sits firmly in the prevention space, and safeguarding is no exception. Over the past 12 months, only 20% of concerns raised by colleagues resulted in a statutory referral. The remaining 80% led to preventative actions aimed at stopping situations from escalating to harm. Hoarding is one example: we often work with clients and system partners to reduce the risks this can pose to older adults, their visitors and their neighbours. 

As we progress through Safeguarding Adults Week 2025, we encourage colleagues and partners to keep safeguarding central to their conversations — to explore the resources available, and to share their successes and learning around preventative approaches to harm.