A culture of openness is a first principle of safeguarding vulnerable people

Mo Baines, a UNISON activist in the North West, writes on the Public Service Europe website, about the implications of the emerging Savile scandal and other abuse cases for the effective governance of public service providers where the safeguarding of vulnerable adults and children is concerned: 'within the public sector, there has to be a recognition that while we have statutory responsibilities for the care of vulnerable people - we also have responsibilities to support a culture of openness where staff, service users and relatives of those being cared for feel able to raise concerns; to be believed and supported, and to have effective lines to report their concerns. A culture of openness costs little but could bring great riches when it comes to safeguarding our most vulnerable members of society'
http://www.publicserviceeurope.com/article/2640/public-sector-must-adopt-openness-to-avoid-another-jimmy-savile