NHI welcomes the launch of the National Policy Framework for Adult Safeguarding
Tuesday December 9, 2025Nursing Homes Ireland welcomes the launch of the National Policy Framework for Adult Safeguarding in the Health and Social Care Sector. This marks an important milestone in strengthening safeguarding practice, promoting a rights-based approach and enhancing protections for adults at risk across all settings, including nursing home care.
The framework’s focus on dignity, autonomy, mandatory reporting, improved governance and strengthened independent oversight aligns with the commitment of nursing home providers to deliver safe, high-quality care every day. In many nursing homes, reporting of concerns is already embedded as best practice. The new policy and forthcoming legislation will place this on a clear statutory footing, supporting and strengthening current safeguarding practice across the sector. NHI’s recently commissioned research with the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Placing Human Rights at the Centre of Nursing Home Care, reinforces the need to embed human rights and adult safeguarding as core building blocks of policy and practice.
Tadhg Daly, Chief Executive of Nursing Homes Ireland, said:
“We welcome the launch of this national framework, which provides an essential foundation for safeguarding adults across health and social care. Nursing homes place resident safety, rights and wellbeing at the centre of care, and this policy strengthens the structures that support that commitment. It recognises and reinforces existing good practice while providing important clarity for providers, residents and families.”
“We now need to build on this progress and move towards a national nursing home care policy that embeds human rights and adult safeguarding as core tenets of how Ireland supports older people.
“NHI will work constructively with Government, the HSE and HIQA to support effective implementation and ensure the framework delivers meaningful outcomes for residents.”
ENDS
For more information, please contact:
Nursing Homes Ireland
Kevin Deegan | communications@nhi.ie | 087 236 3039
About Nursing Homes Ireland
Nursing Homes Ireland (NHI) is the national representative body for the private and voluntary nursing home sector, encompassing over 440 nursing homes across Ireland, which provide care to over 27,000 people. Our mission is to actively support and represent our members, enabling them to deliver sustainable, high-quality care to their residents. As the voice of nursing home sector, we are dedicated to championing a care-first philosophy. We actively advocate for the rights and well-being of residents, while responding to the evolving needs and challenges faced by our members. Through this, we pledge to uphold our role as advocates, embracing the direct voices of those we serve and continuously striving to promote excellence in care.