12 November 2024
HSE Media Release
Following on from the success of last year’s Safeguarding Awareness Event, Donegal Disability Services held its second Safeguarding Awareness Event in the Raddison Blu Hotel in Letterkenny on Friday last, 8 November 2024.
The date of the event was chosen to coincide and mark the country’s national Adult Safeguarding Day. An initiative of Safeguarding Ireland, supported by the HSE, the aims of the national Adult Safeguarding Day are to raise a greater understanding of adult abuse and safeguarding and to empower people to protect themselves. These aims were reflected at the Donegal Disability Services event and provided adults with an intellectual disability and their families the opportunity to get advice and to speak with or be signposted to other relevant services and stakeholders.
The event was an interagency initiative organised by Donegal Disability Services and attended by staff from HSE Disability Services, the Adult Safeguarding & Protection Team, An Garda Síochana, Cara House, Donegal Domestic Violence Service, SAGE, PTSB, Special Olympics, Citizens Advice and the Credit Union.
Head of Service for Disability Services in Community Services Cavan, Donegal, Leitrim, Monaghan, Sligo Edel Quinn noted her commitment and support of the Safeguarding Awareness Event and thank staff for its organisation. Ms Quinn stated “Safeguarding means putting measures in place to uphold the rights of citizens, to support their health and wellbeing, to reduce their risk of harm and to empower people to protect ourselves. This can be challenging for any adult but when an adult has vulnerabilities, safeguarding often involves the adults with their families, services and professionals all working together to prevent and respond to abuse, neglect or coercive control.”
The HSE Donegal Disability Services Safeguarding Awareness event was a great success with over 200 people in attendance including adults with disabilities, their families, staff from other services and members of the public attending on the day. The feedback from attendees and services was positive and it was noted that the event was an example of the importance of promoting an individual’s rights.
Donegal Disability Services would like to thank anyone who attended the event for their support and to thank them for their commitment to the promotion of the appropriate safeguarding and protection of vulnerable adults.
Anyone with concerns regarding adult abuse and who wants further information on safeguarding can visit the Safeguarding Ireland website on safeguardingireland.org.
Last updated on: 12 / 11 / 2024
