Staff, tenants and family members from Brookhill House in Coleraine at their
“Working Together to Keep Me Safe” event.‘Huge’ response to Apex safeguarding campaign
Throughout 2016 over 1000 people participated in 30 separate events as part of the ‘Working Together to Keep Me Safe’ project undertaken by Apex in partnership with the Western Health & Social Care Trust.
The campaign’s purpose was to increase public awareness of adult safeguarding in Apex’s nursing, residential and supported living services. The events highlighted the support available and provided information to individuals on how to make genuine choices in their care and recognise and protect themselves where possible from potential abusive situations. The events also offered residents, families and visitors an opportunity to voice their concerns about keeping themselves and their loved ones safe.
A family member described the project as very worthwhile:
“I feel my cousin is now more aware of whom to go to and discuss any problems with. These days she seems very content in her home.”
Denise Carson, Apex’s scheme manager in Brookhill, said it was important to keep events as straightforward and informal as possible:
“Safeguarding information sessions or training are difficult to deliver without sounding alarmist to some people. But this event was successful in that it started conversations around topics that are generally avoided. Inviting family members, friends and others to a social gathering allowed us to have those important discussions with people who may feel unable to voice their concerns in a more formal setting.”
Yvonne Cassidy, Apex’s Housing and Care Services Manager described the campaign response as “fantastic”:
