Healthwatch Norfolk worked with Opening Doors, an organisation which supports people with learning disabilities in Norfolk.
Members of the organisation, which is run by those with learning disabilities, felt safeguarding was an area they wanted to look at, and they set up a series of workshops to hear people’s views.
More than half said they did not now what safeguarding meant, others felt fear and worry put them off reporting a concern, and there were also worries about the complicated phone system to report any worries.
Based on what they found, Opening Doors made a number of recommendations including:
- Provide education so everyone has a better understanding of safeguarding, abuse, and reporting methods. Community groups and other organisations could deliver training in Norfolk.
- Address barriers to reporting so it is simpler for people to highlight concerns by phone.
- Make clear, simple, and accessible information available in the places and spaces used by adults with learning disabilities.
- Community development is important, so work should be done with people with learning disabilities to address what the problems are, rather than what people may think they are.
