Safeguarding Vulnerable Individuals in Health and Social Care

This report provides an overview of the legislative framework, policies, and practices for safeguarding vulnerable individuals in health and social care. It examines the concept of safeguarding, the legislative framework for safeguarding vulnerable individuals, serious case reviews, and the actions to be taken in case of suspected or actual abuse. It also analyzes how service provision supports individuals to take risks and make informed choices, and provides information on signs and symptoms of abuse. Additionally, it discusses measures to avoid abuse and promote the safety and protection of vulnerable individuals.

Health and Social care
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CONTENTS
Contents...........................................................................................................................................2
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
LO 1.................................................................................................................................................3
Examine the concept....................................................................................................................3
The legislative framework for safeguarding vulnerable individuals in health and social care....3
Serious case reviews....................................................................................................................4
The action to be taken in the event of suspected or actual abuse................................................5
LO 2.................................................................................................................................................6
Analyse how service provision supports individuals to take risks and make informed choices. 6
Provide information to others on signs and symptoms of abuse.................................................6
Inform others of the measures to be taken to avoid abuse taking place......................................7
Others practice that maintains the safety and protection of vulnerable individuals....................8
LO 3.................................................................................................................................................8
Agreed protocols for working in partnership...............................................................................8
Importance of working in partnership with others in relation to safeguarding.........................10
LO 4...............................................................................................................................................11
Challenge practices....................................................................................................................11
Recommend to staff and management any proposals for improvement....................................12
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................12
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................14
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INTRODUCTION
The vulnerable people are those who for any reason are not able to take care of
themselves and protect them from any kind of significant harm or any kind of exploitation. These
people usually have to face abuse while their stay at care homes or through their carers and
family members. So, it is essential for the health and social care institutions to maintain strict
policies against it and also keep the staff members well trained so that they can taken corrective
actions in this regard. The current report is based on presenting detail about several policies and
practices that help in safeguarding vulnerable people from getting exploited (Moore, 2016). This
report contains a description regarding the legal frameworks, policies, procedures for
safeguarding and protecting vulnerable people. Additionally it also contains detail about
management of services that help in safeguarding such people and also talks about the
importance of partnership in working toward protecting vulnerable people. At last it discuss
several practices which promote safeguarding of vulnerable people.
LO 1
Examine the concept
Safeguarding
It is defined as that action taken for promoting the welfare of people and keeping them
protected from any kind of harm. Safeguarding is a term which is used for providing protection
to the health, wellbeing and rights of an individual which allow people, children and vulnerable
adults to enable them to live free from any kind of abuse, neglect and harm.
Protection:
Protection is about the measures which are taken for guarding an individual against any
kind of harm from outside forces. Vulnerable people have to face abuse, harm numerous of time
which is very essential to be minimise and eliminate from providing them a better way of living
and reducing their complication in life (Lonbay, 2018). There are certain policies and standard
that are being created to protect such people from any kind of harm or abuse they face with care
centres or other places.
The legislative framework for safeguarding vulnerable individuals in health and social care
Vulnerable people are those who for any reason are not able to taken care of themselves
against any kind of exploitation or harm. These harms can be from many sources such as from
carer, other vulnerable people, family members etc. So to keep them protected from such harms
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or abuse there are several legislative frameworks are prepared by government in health and
social care settings so that better living can be provided to them. These legislative frameworks
are explained below:
Care Act 2014: - This Act set out certain kind of legal framework about how the local
authority as well as other part of the system should protect the adults from the risk of abuse or
neglect. In this the local authority have to lead a multi-agency local adult safeguarding system
which focuses toward preventing the abuse and stop it whenever it happens (The Care Act:
safeguarding adults, 2020). Also make regular enquiry to identify such practices and also formed
a safeguarding adult board including local authority and NHS to create a joint safeguard strategy.
Our health, our care, our say (2006): This is a policy which provides a new direction to
the community services which work over four key objectives such as increased patient choice,
increasing support for people with long term need, tackling inequality and improve access to
community services and better health prevention services with interventions (Our health, our
care, our say: a new direction for community services, 2020).
Putting people first (2007): This is a protocol which is created with an aim to ensure
providing adult who are vulnerable can be able to live independently by providing better place
with collaborative partnership among local and central government, service provider and social
care regulators (Putting people first protocol, 2020).
Valuing people- a new strategy for learning disability for 21st century: This policy was
published in year 2001 by identifying several challenges faced by people who are living with
learning disability. This mainly includes insufficient support from carer, limited employment and
housing choice, inconsistency in expenditure and poorly coordinated services. As the mental
health and chronic health issue is increasing among people with learning disability the
government has pledge to provide same right for health service access to people with learning
disability as compare to normal people.
These are certain legislative framework and policies which are being developed from
improving the living condition of vulnerable people within society.
Serious case reviews
There are number of cases of vulnerable people care system which are being exposed that
created the requirement for development of better care setting for vulnerable people and
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influence the requirement for safeguarding and protection such people. These cases are
mentioned below:
Winterbourne View Hospital: This was the case reported as a staff mistreatment and
abuse of patients within the private Winterbourne View Hospital. This hospital was registered as
a centre which provide services related with the assessment, treatment and rehabilitation for
people with learning disability and autism (Winterbourne View failures lead to care system
review. 2012). But as suspected of treating people badly, BBC investigate about it iwth hidden
camera and found that vulnerable people are being bullied and also get physical as well as mental
harm which is committed by the staff of the Winterbourne view. This demanded for a need to
take instant action for protecting ad safeguarding the patients from such environment and
provide them with a better place to live in.
Orchid View: This was the another case of inappropriate care and treatment to the
patient with some disability. In year 2013 an inquest was launched about the death of nineteen
residents at Orchid view care home operated by Southern Cross Healthcare. From this it was
found that around five death was caused due to neglect and reason behind other death was a sub
optimal care. This poor treatment and condition were remained unnoticed by the authority and
result into such a big issue.
These are certain cases which shows the abuse that vulnerable people usually face at care
home centre and consequences of such kind of behaviour. Hence, these cases usually create a
pressure and also influence the government to bring up certain strict regulatory practices so that
such kind of har or risk to vulnerable people can be eliminated and they can be safeguard from
such conditions.
The action to be taken in the event of suspected or actual abuse
In case when any individual is found to get abused by the carer or other people near to
them, then one should firstly discuss with the people who are being abused and try to collect
evidence about it (Griffith, 2017). Later on after gather all the details and information in this
regard the concern must be presented in front of higher authority along with the evidence so that
corrective actions can be taken toward safeguarding the people. At this stage, the situation can be
tackling with the help of several protocols and legislator requirements that are being established
by the government in this regard.
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In case any initiative are not taken by the higher authority toward stopping any abuse or
misshaping toward the people with disability. Then this suspected abuse must be reported to the
police, local social service or CQC, so that vulnerable people can be protected against this abuse.
But as the confidentiality remains at paramount so detail must not be disclosed to everyone
rather it must be disclosed in front of authorised person.
LO 2
Analyse how service provision supports individuals to take risks and make informed choices.
Supporting a person to take own informed choice regarding their living is also consider as a
part of person-centred approach which promotes dignity. This can involve short decisions such
as day to day choice about what to eat, how to act, what to wear etc. or it can be at wider level
such as how the care and support must be delivered to an individual (Shamsad, 2020). So, it is a
part of service provision of carer that they must provide their patient with relevant and accurate
information regarding how to form their own decision by having proper understanding regarding
the risk as well as possible implication to their choice. There are several people who do not
remain in a condition where they can take decision by their own due to weak mental ability. So
there are certain actions that can be taken into consideration for supporting individual in taking
up the informed decision. These are explained below:
 An individual can be explained with all the information and can also present them with a
people who can share their experience which support them in taking better decision.
 Other than this the people can also be provided with certain number of options and enable
them to select one of the points which they wish and like.
 Several communication methods to which an individual is familiar can be used for the
person who is having a learning disability. Such as pictures, sign language, objects etc. so
that they can detect the information and be able to take decision by their own.
Provide information to others on signs and symptoms of abuse.
In order to avoid the abuse and neglect for the vulnerable people, it become crucial for
keeping people aware about the several sign ands symbol of abuse. This information will support
them in getting an idea about suspected abuse which is being executed nearby (Bartkowiak-
Théron, Asquith and Roberts, 2017). For this the health and social care institution must focus
toward providing a training to their staff members to keep them aware about several type of
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abuse that are experienced by the vulnerable people. So that when any such thing gets suspected
then corrective actions can be taken to deal with it,
Physical abuse: It is a kind of physical abuse or mistreatment which is performed by one
person over another that may or may not result into physical abuse. It can be including pushing,
hitting, exposure to heat or cold, denial of treatment, illegal use of restraint etc. The sign of
fracture can be seen as a burn, fracture, pain, mark etc.
Psychological or emotional abuse: It is one among the most harmful abusive behaviour
which can cause mental distress. This mainly involve a range of verbal and non verbal abuse that
can be humiliate, scare or can isolate a person. This mainly includes threats, blaming,
controlling, provoking fear of violence, intimidating and many more. Its sign mainly includes
showing compulsive behaviour, not able to perform actions effectively, not able to being focused
etc.
Financial abuse: This kind of abuse mainly happens if someone wants to steal or defraud
an individual due to their money, property and goods (James, 2018). It mainly includes
exploitation, withholding pension and exerting the pressure around property, wills or inheritance.
Its sign can be seen in the form of financial abuse such as not having enough money, not having
home comfort, unusual difficulty in finance etc.
Inform others of the measures to be taken to avoid abuse taking place
The abuse practices usually remain common among the vulnerable people which are
required to be remove in order to provide them better place of living and for reducing their
exploitation. Following are certain measures that can be taken up within a heath and social care
institution to avoid abuse among the vulnerable people,
Creating a culture of openness and dignity: For avoiding the abuse and exploitation
toward the vulnerable people is to create a culture of openness where staff as well as patients are
free to express their view about things that are getting wrong to them or in case they are being
abused by others. Addition to this the people who are being admitted to the care home must be
treated with dignity and must be provided with full respect despite of disability they are having
in order to create a culture where each individual is get valued and respect which help in
reducing the chance of abuse.
Clear complaint procedure roles: The staff member of a care home must be provided
with a proper understanding about the way to complaint abut any suspected abuse toward the
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vulnerable people. This help in taking quick actions and reducing such kind of issues with the
people who are disable in some manner (Foulds, 2016) . For this the staff members must be
motivated that they do not support such situation where a person is get exploited rather they must
complaint about it take action to stop it.
Others practice that maintains the safety and protection of vulnerable individuals
Despite of general health and social care centre practices there are also some another
practices that can be followed in order to maintain the safety and protection of the vulnerable
people. These are mentioned below,
Safeguarding: There are certain policies created by the government for safeguarding the
people which underpins six main principles. It includes empowering people to take their
decision, providing protection who are in need, preventing act of harm, partnership with local
communities, accountability in actions and safeguarding must be built on proportionately with
human rights.
CPD: Continuous profession development can also be considered as a best medium to
protect people from any kind of abuse (McKendrick and Finch, 2017). In this carer and other
staff members can be provided with regular training to develop their understanding about the
ways of reducing abuse practices with the vulnerable people and provide them a better care
system.
LO 3
Agreed protocols for working in partnership
The concept of partnership working is crucial element in health and social care. In order to
protect the vulnerable people, the idea of discussion, sharing the control and working jointly is
effective. The attributes of partnership include respect for each party, team work, shared goals,
agreed objectives, reciprocity, confidence and trust in accountability, respect for expertise,
appropriate governance structure and empathy. The partnership protocol directs relationship
between the agencies work to promote health and wellbeing of community. In partnership
working, all the boards were collectively to develop join the process as well as understand
influence of service on outcomes (Keywood, 2017). This year information by regular reports
which includes response or actions needed from receiving partnership. The protocol involves
different roles responsibilities as well as governance arrangements of the boards.
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In health and social care, partnership working brings together different organizations or
institutions so that they can get benefit from pooled resources, expertise and power sharing. The
main aim of partnership is to improve quality and efficiency of service provision. The
organizations involved in partnership have some traits including working collectively over
reasonable time period, having trust and respect between the partners, all partner work towards
common goal, parties involved in partnership have some personal stake and mutual
understanding of value of contribution of each partner.
Joint working protocol (JWP): it is a protocol which set out descriptive working
arrangements in order to support memorandum of understanding, involving what two
organizations can expect from one another, the way work will be managed as well as
commitments to consultations and including others in work. The written procedures which are
agreed by the agencies are significant to make sure that the support is delivered effectively to
vulnerable people (Poyner and Sherratt, 2018). Some of the organisation have formulated an
overarching Universal protocol which includes general principles of supporting vulnerable
people and procedures that required to be followed. The agreed protocols for working in the
partnership with other institutions or organisation includes boundaries, Information sharing,
decision making, areas of responsibility, recording information, limits of authority etc.
The protocol involves development of provision for people to access information
regarding how to remain protected from abuse to uphold human rights. It makes sure that any
institution or organisation receiving reports that a vulnerable person experiencing abuse responds
and proactive and positive manner and lays down processes and timings for reporting. It also
includes deal with the agencies included in circumstance of abuse or neglect and highlights
Information sharing procedures among multi agencies (Menichelli, 2019). The joint working
protocol defines the roles of partner organisation as well as intended as guidance which requires
to follow by institution which work collectively and in accordance with principles.
Commissioning body, local authorities, service /provider, care quality commission, NHS and
other local health and social care organisations work in partnership to protect vulnerable people.
Each authority has some specific roles and responsibilities which they perform and work
collectively to ensure safeguarding and protection of vulnerable individuals from abuse and
provide them with appropriate care services.
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Importance of working in partnership with others in relation to safeguarding.
Cooperation among the agencies are consider to be very much helpful in reducing the risk
of increasing domestic or other kind of abuse at early stage or stopping it to happen by managing
it at early stage. This is so because the partnership with the local agencies support by getting
early risk identification in case of any suspect issue related with abuse or exploitation of people
found. Additionally, it increases the information sharing, allows taking up joint decision and help
in coordinating the actions that bring most positive responses. The cases of exploitation and
abuse related with the children and vulnerable adults are increasing speedy. The main reason
behind this is that such things remain hidden from the knowledge of higher authority or
organisation who are involve in safeguarding the people as even if seeing any such situation
suspected, people do not come in front and take action against it (Lifeboat and Policy, 2019). So,
partnership with other local agencies proves to be very much helpful as it helps in getting quick
information regarding any things found to be against vulnerable people which is required to be
safeguard from any condition or harm which people are experiencing. There are number of
benefits that partnership working for safeguarding vulnerable people provide are mentioned
below:
Information sharing: The partnership approach will support in getting quick information
sharing about any kind of suspected issue that found within the society regarding exploitation of
vulnerable people and abuse they are experiencing. This allows the authorities to take strict
actions toward safeguarding the people from such issues and also provide them with a chance to
stop such kind of situation instantly without getting it more sever and affect people badly.
Sharing of skills, knowledge and expertise: With the help of partnership the skills and
expertise can be shared which in turn allow to provide better care bad support to vulnerable
people and help in empowering them to take their own decision and live better. Other than this
the knowledge regarding the safeguarding and protection policies for vulnerable people can also
be helpful in reducing the cases of people abuse at different places and help them in enhancing
their living in a better manner.
These are the factors which shows that the work for safeguarding the vulnerable people
will be more effective if it get performed with the help of partnership with local agencies and
other community areas as it provide quick access to such issues that are moving unnoticed.
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LO 4
Challenge practices
The vulnerable people face several kinds of exploitation and harm due to their inability to
react and taken action toward it. Hence for this several policies are also created that rae required
to be followed by health and social care centres for keeping the people safe from any kind of
harm and get better care and support from the staff. But still there are several challenges that
vulnerable people usually face at care centres and remain hidden from the notice of higher
authority (Jenkins and Barnes, 2018). This is so because the people who notice the suspect of any
abuse or harm find several challenges while exposing it and presenting it in front of the higher
authority who can take action against it. So, for this several kinds of policies and legislative
practices are formed which allow the people to expose such practices as they are protected under
certain policies and also help in promoting practices toward safeguarding vulnerable people.
These are explained below:
Public Interest and Disclosure Act(1998) : This Act mainly protect the staff members
who make a disclosure within the interest of public by providing them a assurance that they can
claim for compensation for victimisation that is followed by such disclosure. It provide
protection to such individual both insider the institute where they are working or outside the
institution so that they do not get harm because of taking action toward exposing any information
toward public interest.
Whistle blowing: This is actually involve within the policy of health and social care
institutions where an individual can complaint about any thing unusual experience or any things
which is conducted wrongly with the vulnerable people (Graham and et. al., 2016). In such
situation institutions have their own policy and according to which a staff has to firstly complaint
to HR department or their head. In case no action is taken with the complaint through whistle
blowing then the staff member can approach other institution who deal with such practices. This
includes NHS, GMC etc.
These are the policies and practices which ensure the staff member to safeguard them from
any kind of mishappening which they may face due to exposure of information. This in turn help
in encouraging more actions to be taken toward safeguarding the vulnerable people and keeping
them safe from any kind of abuse and harm.
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Importance of the involvement of the individuals in the review of the systems and procedures in
services.
Involvement of individual play significant role through which an organisation can
effectively enhance its overall productivity as well as profitability in a well define and effective
manner. It has been identify that Involvement of individuals in the review of the procedures as
well as systems in services not only make individuals creative but also boost their capacity to
perform their roles and responsibilities in more effective manner. Furthermore according to the
analysis it has been identified that involvement of individuals also develop a positive as well as
healthy workplace environment that effectively enhance decision-making process. In addition to
this according to the analysis that has been identified that it so enhance overall level of
motivation that automatically comes from involving individuals. It also maximizes innovation
and uniqueness that improves corporation and communication. Involvement of workers in review
of system and procedure in services significantly enhance loyalty that automatically develops
relationship. In addition to this it has been identified that by involving individuals overall
motivation can also be enhance that significantly facilitate empowerment.Furthermore, to the
evaluation it has been identified that involvement of the individual also develop positive
workplace relationship through which a strong sense of teamwork among individuals also
enhance. It also helps in accomplishing goals and objectives with more uniqueness and
innovation. Involvement of individuals effectively establish positive culture that automatically in
great individuals to maximize their performance level it is significantly increases commitment
and increase productivity.
The major advantage of involving individuals is that it helps in bringing value and
facilitates more growth opportunities for each and every individual. In addition to this according
to the analysis it has been evaluated that it also help in building personal characteristics and
effectively facilitate learning and development in a well define an effective manner. Thus
according to the above mentioned evaluation it has been identified that in moment of individual
in the review of system and process is in the services they most important and significant role of
age productivity and performance level can be enhanced in a well defined and effective manner.
In addition to this has been identified that involvement of individual enhance decision making
ability, strength relationship among individuals through which productivity can also be
enhanced. Furthermore, according to the analysis it has been evaluated that involvement of
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individual in the review of procedure and systems in services facilitate organisation to enhance
of loyalty and belongingness among staff through which the overall objectives of organisation
can be accomplished in a well define and effective manner.
Recommend to staff and management any proposals for improvement.
As the vulnerable people experienced a range of exploitation in several different manner
due to their inability to voice against such practices. So it become the responsibility of staff
members to take care of them and also try to eliminate such situation where people are being
abused. There are certain recommendation which can be used by the health and social care
institution for improving the environment of the institution so that abuse and exploitation of
service used can be avoided,
 The staff member must be provided with appropriate training about the policies and
legislator framework that are created in relation to protecting and improving the care
practices of vulnerable people.
 A regular inspection must be done with the care home and try to have a discussion with
the patients as well as staff members personally so that if any things which is getting
wrong at care home can be identified and corrective actions can be taken into
consideration.
 The health and care institution must formulate such policies and procedures which
support in addressing the verbal as well as physical abuse and make staff members aware
about it for encouraging and motivating them so that voice up against such practices.
Other than this while they confront such situation then they can take action by themselves
as per the organisational policies so that such issues can be stop instantly.
CONCLUSION
From the above performed investigation it can be concludes that the vulnerable people
have to go through so many of thing such as abuse, disrespect, bullying, harm etc. which can do
by carer, family members, carer, other vulnerable people or by themselves too. There are number
of abuse that can be seen by vulnerable people such as physical, mental, financial abuse and
many more. So, to keep them safeguarding from such issues there are several polices and
legislative frameworks are established that allow the people to take actions when such issue get
suspected for the vulnerable people. These mainly includes Care Act 2014, Our health, our care,
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our say (2006) and Putting people first (2007). By implementing these regulations and policies it
become possible to provide vulnerable people a better surrounding to live. Additionally, the
individual who went for exposing such suspect in front of authority are also provided with some
protection in form of legislations such as whistle blowing, Public Interest and Disclosure
Act(1998) etc. which not only safeguard those people but also motivate people to voice against
such practices to safeguarding people.
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REFERENCES
Books & Journals
Bartkowiak-Théron, I., Asquith, N.L. and Roberts, K.A., 2017. Vulnerability as a contemporary
challenge for policing. In Policing Encounters with Vulnerability (pp. 1-24). Palgrave
Macmillan, Cham.
Foulds, L., 2016. A reflection on safeguarding in practice. British Journal of Nursing, 25(17),
pp.S28-S30.
Graham, K. and et. al., 2016. Models of adult safeguarding in England: a review of the
literature. Journal of Social Work, 16(1), pp.22-46.
Griffith, R., 2017. Safeguarding vulnerable adults. British Journal of Neuroscience
Nursing, 13(1), pp.46-47.
James, N., 2018. Safeguarding Adults in Nursing Practice. The Journal of Adult Protection.
Jenkins, R. and Barnes, J., 2018. safeguarding. Essentials of Nursing Practice, p.299.
Keywood, K., 2017. The vulnerable adult experiment: Situating vulnerability in adult
safeguarding law and policy. International journal of law and psychiatry, 53, pp.88-96.
Lifeboat, F.I. and Policy, S., 2019. 1. Safeguarding Principles. Policy.
Lonbay, S.P., 2018. ‘These Are Vulnerable People Who Don’t Have a Voice’: Exploring
Constructions of Vulnerability and Ageing in the Context of Safeguarding Older
People. British Journal of Social Work, 48(4), pp.1033-1051.
McKendrick, D. and Finch, J., 2017. 'Downpressor man': securitisation, safeguarding and social
work. Critical and Radical Social Work, 5(3), pp.287-300.
Menichelli, F., 2019. Governing through vulnerability in austerity England. European Journal of
Criminology, p.1477370819880154.
Moore, S., 2016. Safeguarding vulnerable older people: a job for life?. The Journal of Adult
Protection.
Poyner, I.K. and Sherratt, R.S., 2018. Privacy and security of consumer IoT devices for the
pervasive monitoring of vulnerable people.
Shamsad, R., 2020. Safeguarding Vulnerable Persons. The Journal of Development
Communication, 31(1), pp.26-26.
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Our health, our care, our say: a new direction for community services. 2020. [Online] Available
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Putting people first protocol, 2020. [Online] Available
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The Care Act: safeguarding adults. 2020. [Online] Available through:<
https://www.scie.org.uk/care-act-2014/safeguarding-adults/>.
Winterbourne View failures lead to care system review. 2012. [Online] Available
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