Safeguarding Vulnerable People The Information Booklet All adults have the right to be safe from harm and live a life free of abuse, neglect and exploitation. Safeguarding Vulnerable People Who is a vulnerable adult? • Essex County Council is committed to safeguarding vulnerable adults and their families from abuse. • Regrettably, every day, vulnerable people in Essex and across the UK suffer abuse of some kind. • When abuse is reported, Essex County Council and its partner agencies for example, Essex Police, NHS and the voluntary services will take joint action to ensure vulnerable people are safeguarded from further abuse, and their risks are managed appropriately.
This means we have an agreement where organisations work together with the person who we think may be abused, to safeguard that person and take what actions we can. Adult and Community Services co-ordinate the policy, with the Police and the NHS sharing responsibility for ensuring the correct process is used. Definition of a vulnerable adult A vulnerable adult is someone aged 18 or over: * Who is, or may be, in need of community services due to age, illness or a mental or physical disability * Who is, or may be, unable to take care of himself/herself, or unable to protect himself/herself against significant harm or exploitation (Definition from the Department of Health 2002) Who is a vulnerable adult? Abuse can affect any vulnerable adult, but particularly someone who is, or may be, unable to protect themselves against significant harm or exploitation, for example: * Older people * People with mental health problems * Disabled people * People with learning difficulties * People with acquired brain
They will gather evidence from settings or other agencies. They will take immediate action if the child in question is in danger. They will also have to attend court to give evidence if a crime has been committed. Health professionals also have the responsibility to safeguard the welfare of children. They will carry out medical observation or examination of the child thought to be at risk of abuse.
Dementia is a syndrome associated with an ongoing decline of the brain and its abilities. This includes problems with: * memory loss * thinking speed * mental agility * language * understanding * judgment People with dementia can lose interest in their usual activities, and have problems controlling their emotions. They may also find social situations challenging, lose interest in socializing, and aspects of their personality may change. A person with dementia may lose empathy (understanding and compassion), they may see or hear things that other people do not (hallucinations), or they may make false claims or statements. As dementia affects a person's mental abilities, they may find planning and organizing difficult.
Analyse the differences between the concept of safeguarding and the concept of protection in relation to vulnerable adults Safeguarding is everybody’s responsibility, and includes measures to prevent or minimise the potential for abuse occurring. It means CSW’s and all people involved with the service user use a person centred approach keeping the individual safe and to promote their welfare. Protection is considered a statutory responsibility in response to individual cases where risk of harm has been identified. Protection is a central part of safeguarding and promoting welfare. It is the process of protecting an individual identified as either suffering or at risk of suffering significant harm as a result of abuse or neglect.
Even direct family of a victim can be helped by this program since this can also hurt that victim's family. All of them have rights and these rights must be respected by treating a witness with respect, by being informed by all court proceedings, confidential information divulged, and even protection from somebody that might want to do harm because of any court hearing. Victims are protected under these rights by, Victims Bill of Rights Act 2008 Marsys' Law (Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office, 2012).
Task A Supervision Notes As an experienced social care worker you have been asked to mentor a new social care worker. You plan to use a supervision session to explain about the duty of care and how this helps to protect individuals from harm and abuse. Prepare a set of notes to help you in this supervision session. In the notes, you must include an explanation of: Ai What is meant by the term “duty of care” It is a legal obligation to provide care and support to vulnerable adults. The social care worker must do everything they can to keep the service users safe from harm, injury and abuse.
3.3 Evaluate ways in which concerns about poor practice can be reported whilst ensuring that whistleblowers and those whose practice or behaviour is being questioned are protected. Every school has whistle blowing policies and procedures and these policies are put in place to provide protection for the person against victimisation or reprisals from other members of staff (physical or verbally) when the concerns are genuine and accurate. If a member of staff is the victim of reprisals then an employment tribunal may be able to take action. If any concerns about malpractice or misconduct in a school setting are raised against another member of staff then this should be reported to the safeguarding officer of the school. If concerns are raised then they are certain procedures to follow.
These might include evidence or suspicions of bad practice by colleagues and managers, or abuse by another individual, another worker or an individual’s family or friends. Addressing Conflicts or Dilemmas That May Arise Between an Individual’s Rights and Duty of Care In situations where there is a conflict of interest or a dilemma between an individual’s rights and my duty of care, it is best practice to make sure the individual is aware of the consequences of their choice and that they have the mental capacity to understand the risks involved in their choice. It is their right as an individual to be able to make informed choices about their own lives even if you disagree with their choice. It is the right of every individual in my care to make choices and take risks. It is my role to assist them in making those choices and reducing the risks without compromising their rights.
Unit 304 2.1 Describe potential conflicts or dilemmas that may arise between the duty of care and an individual’s rights. Conflicts and Dilemmas that may arise between the duty of care and individuals rights could be staff having a difference of opinion over an individual for example a staff member believing they have signs of abuse and another staff member thinking they don’t. This could lead to conflict between the individual’s family / carers if staff involved other agencies such as Social Services. Dilemmas could be knowing when to get further help regarding child/adult protection and safeguarding issues for example if you did not refer the case to social services the individual might still continue to suffer abuse. Another dilemma would be knowing when to break confidentiality and share information.