Impact of Law and Social Policy on Learning Disability Nursing and Social Work

Critical reflection on the impact of law and social policy on learning disability nursing and
social work.
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Introduction
In this assignment i would be discussing how mental capacity Act (MCA 2005) is at the heart
of safeguarding (Social care Institute for Excellence, 2011). I would be discussing how this
can protect them or hinder their rights. My main focus would be on abuse that vulnerable
people may suffer in care. I would be discussing whether the policy has made any impact on
the practice since it was introduced and how it can be assessed. The first part of the
assignment will be on safeguarding and empowerment. The second part will talk about
abuse of vulnerable adults and the introduction of no secret by the (Department of Health
2000).
The third part of the assignment i would discuss the safeguarding law and policies that
support and informed the practice for nursing and social workers, followed by my reflection
from placement. Finally, i would conclude by summarizing the key points raised in the essay.
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Safeguarding:
Safeguarding was defined in the children’s Act of (1989) is been implemented by
government so that protection and care can be provided to children those are in need. This
act is basically applied on children who are below the age of 18. Protection is been given to
risk and vulnerabilities that can be faced by them. The key aspects of this legislation have
been extended recently to include vulnerable adults. Main aim of this act is to protect
children from various types of abuse that exists in society.. This places a responsibility on
social services to organize and develop local policies and procedures that will protect
vulnerable people from abuse. The publication no secret was brought about following the
1994 autumn, on leaked council report to journalist, which revealed the abuse of learning
disability people in long care homes in Buckinghamshire. Although, arrest and prosecutions
were made at long-care home, the GP in the home was not prosecuted and still practices till
date in London (Disability news services 2012).
In 2005 the association of Directors of adult social services published safeguarding
adults, a national framework of standards for good practice. They are engaged in providing
children with safe and secure environment so that they can be prevented from abuse. They
make sure that children are not engaged in following any such type of behaviour that
increases risk of abuse. In this authorities are (Perkins, et al 2007). It can assist them in
reducing the amount of vulnerabilities that is being faced by individual in situation of harm.
It is really necessary for children to get protection from the abuse at it can lay impact on
their mental and physical abilities to perform task. It has been analysed that all the agencies
need to have proper knowledge of their roles so that proper protection can be given to
children.
Effective information sharing has continued to be a hindrance due to demands of Data
Protection Act ( 1998). It has been analysed that information related to children who are
suffering from abuse needs not be shared externally. Also agencies must have proper access
to history of children who have been suffering from abuse. There are various cases where
agencies are not being engaged in providing full time safe-guarding to adults. This has made
their work more in effective. If information related to abuse is not being shared properly
than this can result in increase in number of death because of abuse. Children can also get
severely ill if they are not being given protection properly. Health care professionals can
make use of person centred approach for children who are suffering from domestic or any
other type of abuse. (Reid et al., 2009) stated that there needs to be taken proper
measures so that safety can be provided to children. This can reduce risk to the safety
related to patients suffering from abuse. It can assist them in improvising health outcome of
service users (Flynn,2007). (Gibson,1991) stated that nurses and health care professionals
must make sure that acute care is been provided to patients suffering from abuse
It has been analysed that giving protection to vulnerable adults has continued to pose
difficult challenges for multi-` agency despite their involvement in partnership working.
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