Safeguarding Adults and Promoting Independence

SAFEGUARDING ADULTS
AND PROMOTING
INDEPENDENCE

TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
TASK 1............................................................................................................................................1
4 Forms of abuse which may be experienced by vulnerable adults............................................1
Indicators that abuse may be happening to adults.......................................................................2
4 factors that may lead to abusive situations...............................................................................3
Likely immediate effects of two different forms of abuse..........................................................3
Potential long- term effects of these two types of abuse on the health and wellbeing of adults. 4
TASK 2............................................................................................................................................4
Key legislation and regulations which govern safeguarding adult’s work..................................4
Working strategies and procedures used in health and social care to reduce the risk of abuse...5
Legislation and regulations, working strategies and procedures used in health and social care
to reduce the risk of two types of abuse......................................................................................5
TASK 3............................................................................................................................................6
Provide a description of the vulnerable adult, their current situation and their lifestyle.............6
Explain and discuss the role of supportive relationships in reducing the risk of abuse and
neglect, using examples in your case study.................................................................................6
Explain and evaluate the role of multi-agency working in reducing the risk of abuse...............7
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................7
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................9

INTRODUCTION
Safeguarding is way though which health, wellness and human rights of an individual is
protected so that all people can live free from harm, abuse and negligence. In health and social
care sector abuse is one of the most common type of issue which is faced by vulnerable adults
due to which it becomes important to focus upon safeguarding such people (Chalise and Basnet,
2017). This assignment focuses upon a residential care home that provides adult service to users
with physical and emotional disabilities who wants to focus upon increasing knowledge of new
employees on topic Safeguarding systems and processes. This assignment covers, different forms
of abuse experienced by vulnerable adults, indicators that abuse may be happening to adults,
factors that may lead to abusive situations, legislation and regulations which govern safeguarding
adults work, role of supportive relationships in reducing the risk of abuse and neglect.
TASK 1
4 Forms of abuse which may be experienced by vulnerable adults
There are various form of abuse that can be experienced by vulnerable Adults but there
are four main type of abuse that may be experienced by vulnerable adults. Four main type of
abuse are:
 Physical abuse: it is one of the most common type of abuse that might be experienced by
vulnerable adults in which their family members of care takers might handle them roughly,
assaulted, hitting, hair pulling, pushing, making someone feel purposefully uncomfortable
like in winter time opening nearby window or removing blanket etc. This kind of abuse
impact overall physical health of vulnerable adults and eventually mental wellness of patients
can also get disturbed (Platt and et.al, 2017).
 Psychological and emotional abuse: Vulnerable adults can be forcefully isolated from seeing
friends or family members, leaving them unattended when they need assistance, neglecting
their opinion or choices, humiliating or abusing them verbally. There are many other forms
of psychological or emotional abuse that can be suffered by vulnerable adults. This form of
abuse impact overall mental wellness of such adults.
 Financial abuse: It is one of the most common form of abuse which is faced by most of the
vulnerable adults (Torjesen, 2020). In this form of abuse personal saving of adults can be
misused, theft of money, fraud, access their money for personal use or misusing financial
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benefits of adults for other uses or purposes. There are many other forms of financial abuses
that can affect self- confidence of adults and impact them emotionally.
 Neglect: It is another form of abuse that can be experienced by vulnerable adults. This form
of abuse can impact physical, mental and emotional wellness of vulnerable adults (Yıldızer
and et.al, 2018). Provide care in a way that adult dislikes, failure to provide access to food,
shelter, clothing etc. There are many other form of neglect failure to ensure privacy or
dignity etc.
Indicators that abuse may be happening to adults
Each of the above specified form of abuse have their own signs and indications that can
help in identifying that vulnerable adults are suffering from any kind of abuse. Some main
indications of above specified form of abuse are:
 Physical abuse: one of the main indicators of physical abuse is abusive marks visible on bare
skin or degradation in overall health or reducing effect of medications of treatment taken by
such adults. But most importantly physical abuse is clearly visible on bare skin of adults
which is an indicator that vulnerable adults are experiencing physical abuse.
 Psychological and emotional abuse: one of the main indicators of this type of abuse that
individual starts isolating themselves, they remain sad or unhappy mostly and prefer to
remain or left lonely (Swadley, 2017). Such individuals can easily breakdown emotionally.
Emotional stability of such kind of adults is disturbed much easily.
 Financial abuse: One of the main indicators of this type of abuse is that main requirements of
adult are not fulfilled or they fail to buy proper treatment or medicines despite of being
provided with care funds or having good financial saving (Puhlmann and et.al., 2019). This
clearly indicate that they are suffering from financial abuse their money is being used by
others or is not sped on others.
 Neglect: there are various kinds of indicators that can directly helps in identifying that
vulnerable adults are suffering from neglect abuse. Despite of being provided with proper
treatment and medicines overall improvement within health is not seen, nutritional level
required by such individuals is not fulfilled (Donnelly and et.al, 2017). Overall health of such
individuals is degraded continuously and medications and treatment of such adults is not
monitored or administered properly.
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4 factors that may lead to abusive situations
Any kind of abuse that vulnerable adults experience can directly degrade their physical,
mental and emotional health, effectivity of treatment or medicines provided to them is also
reduced. Some of the main factors that can lead to abusive situation are as follows:
 Environment is one of the main factors that can lead to abusive situation. If environment in
which adults and their care takers live is negative then it can become a result of abuse.
 Characteristics of vulnerable adults is another factor because of which abusive situation can
be created. If adults are non-cooperative, have difficulty in communicating or has any kind of
behavioural problem then it can lead to creation of situation like neglect abuse situation or
psychological and emotional abuse situation (Puls and et.al, 2019). If adults demand care
beyond level of capacity of their care takers then it can lead to situation of negligence.
 Family history is another factor because of which abusive situation can occur. Like many
families use abusive method to deal with conflicts. In such family’s physical abuse is
extremely common because abusive behaviour is developed with care takers as they see
others using abusive way to deal with confit and use same method with vulnerable adults and
as a result physical abuse situation can arise.
 Stress of carers is another factor due to which abusive situation can occur. Many times, when
vulnerable adults required additional care or attention it becomes difficult and stressful for
carers to deal with the current situation (Zhao and et.al, 2019). Other than this there are many
factors due to which stress of care takers can increase like financial problems, failing to take
care of themselves is another factor because of which abusive situation like financial abuse,
neglect abuse, physical abuse or emotional abuse situation can arise.
Likely immediate effects of two different forms of abuse
Main 2 types of abuses that are being faced by adults are: physical and emotional. Both
types of abuses have immediate effects on health of adults. In regards to physical abuse it can be
said that it leads to bruises, welts and black eye or redness on body of people (Kato and et.al.,
2018). It swells their body and due to these immediate effects like fractures, broken bones, adults
face problems and they become dependent on their family members. In the context of emotional
abuse, it can be said that this type of abuse leads to headache, anxiety attacks. Adults who suffer
from emotional abuse they are more likely to feel worthlessness and also find problems in
regulating emotions or sharing their feelings with anyone.
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Potential long- term effects of these two types of abuse on the health and wellbeing of adults
Both emotional and physical abuse has long term effects. Adults with physical abuse later
face anxiety. It leads to criminal behaviours and for long term they have to face breathing
problems, stomach problems and panic attacks. Adults with this abuse take too much time in
recovering and sometimes they become depressed for long run.
Adults who suffer from emotional abuse or when their family or friends leave them
lonely and harass them they are more likely to suffer chronic heart disease. Fibromyalgia and
chronic fatigue syndrome are main 2 long term effects of emotional abuse that have on health
and well being of adults (Kumari, 2020)
TASK 2
Key legislation and regulations which govern safeguarding adult’s work
There are various kinds of legislation and regulations that govern safeguarding adult’s work,
some of them are as follows:
 Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act: this act protects adults who are incapable of protecting
themselves.as per this act, everyone who is more in power than vulnerable adults should
protect them.
 Rehabilitation of Offenders Act: this act protects those who have been criminal offenders in
drug region. Such individuals are given a chance to make their lives better only after
rehabilitation period has been completed (Zhao and et.al, 2019).
 Care Standards Act: this act is for administration of hospitals, residential care homes etc. It is
important for authorities of such regions to provide best and high- quality care.
 Care home regulations: These regulations say that when an adult is admitted, every carer or
administration need to behave with such adults in a proper manner. It should not matter
where that adult works, carers should also check whether that adult is suffering from any
kind of abuse and should work on stopping it immediately (Puhlmann and et.al., 2019).
 Mental capacity act: This act is to protect or safeguard adults who are receiving treatment
related to any kind of mental disability or illness.
 Disability discrimination Act: This act safeguard peoples against discrimination especially
for those adults who have any kind of disability (Puhlmann and et.al., 2019). This act can
directly help in reducing negative behaviour of others towards disabled adults.
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Working strategies and procedures used in health and social care to reduce the risk of abuse
In order to reduce risk there are various kinds of strategies and procedures that can be
used in health and social care in order to reduce risk of abuse to vulnerable adults. Some of the
main strategies are:
 Recruitment of staff members is one of the most common strategy. This strategy says that it
is important to have proper procedure when recruitment of staff members is done. For
example if an induvial do not have access to an individual with a specific individual then in
such case other staff members can work and obtain necessary information about those
individual regardless of their background or condition (Zhao and et.al, 2019). This can help
in recruiting employees who are excellent in their work.
 POVA is another strategy which is used in this sector to reduce risk of abuse. Full form of
this strategy is protection of vulnerable adult scheme. This scheme prevents people with
criminal records for abuse from working with vulnerable individuals. Any criminal who have
been arrested before for abuse is listed here (Puhlmann and et.al., 2019).
 ISA or independent safeguarding authority is another strategy developed to make sure that
people who are unsuitable to work in health and social care sector are unable to have access
of working in this sector.
 CRB or criminal record bureau plays a vital role in reducing risk of abuse in health and social
care sector as it checks criminal records of a person working in this sector. Employer in this
sector can check criminal records of their employees under this scheme.
Legislation and regulations, working strategies and procedures used in health and social care to
reduce the risk of two types of abuse.
As it has already been discussed that psychological or emotional abuse and physical abuse are
two main type of abuse which is suffered by vulnerable adults. So, legislation and regulations,
working strategies and procedures that can be used to reduce risk of both type of abuse are:
 Safeguarding vulnerable group Act is one type of legislation that can be used to prevent risk
of physical abuse with vulnerable adults. It prevents unprofessional individuals to put case
service at risk and increase risk of physical abuse (Zhao and et.al, 2019).
 Care Standard Act: this act reduce risk of psychological or emotional abuse for vulnerable
adults. As it helps in ensuring that required standard of care is provided to to such people or
not and required care standards are meet on regular basis.
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TASK 3
Provide a description of the vulnerable adult, their current situation and their lifestyle
Vulnerable adults are those people who are facing mental and physical issues and need
community care services. This situation can be because of the harms they have faced by abuse.
These people are unable to take care of themselves and also they have inability to make their
own decisions. These people can cause harm to themselves and also to others. They are unable to
protect themselves or can cause significant harm to others. These are the current situation of
vulnerable adults. They have no life style, as they don’t know what to eat and even how to take
care of themselves. These people are also at high risk of facing risk of abuse, so community care
workers are been engaged in protecting them from sexual, physical and mental abuse. There are
various risk factors which are associated with abuse like low self esteem, lack of mental
capacity, so it is the duty of multi agency to make sure that better protection is been provided to
the vulnerable adults. It will help the care workers in enhancing health outcome of vulnerable
adults (Jessiman and Cameron, 2017).
The present case study is about Jake who is of age 33 and has low self esteem and lack of
mental capacity. He is living with his step brother and his wife and they are figuring out what is
wrong with Jake. Patient is at risk of facing harm or abuse as he roams here and their people
make fun of him and also abuses him. Here the role of multi agency is to provide patient with
better support and protection so that risk related to harm can be lower down (Herring, 2016).
Explain and discuss the role of supportive relationships in reducing the risk of abuse and neglect,
using examples in your case study.
In order to lower down the risk of abuse and neglect there is a huge role of the supportive
relationship. In this family member has the huge role to lower down the risk of abuse and
neglect. Family members and other relatives need to be engaged in communicating with patient
so that they can figure out the issues faced by them. They should also be involved in making sure
that better protection is been given to vulnerable adults at home only. In the present case
situation the family member must be engaged in making sure that the needs and demands of
patients is not been neglected by them. There are various risk factors which are being related to
abuse. This includes lack of mental capacity, low self esteem, previous history of abuse, social
isolation. Family members also need to assure in the case situation that they do not live in social
isolation. If the patient live in social isolation than the risk to harm themselves can be increased.
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Family members must make sure that proper support is been provided by them so that health
outcome of patient can be enhanced and improved.
Explain and evaluate the role of multi-agency working in reducing the risk of abuse
Legal framework: In this multi agency is following all the legal rules and regulations, in
order to make sure that patients are been keep in safe and secure condition. It has been analysed
that they are involved in following the mental capacity act, 2010. In this patient cannot be
admitted to hospital without seeking their permission and also the permission of family
members. The involuntary admission of vulnerable adult should be made sure by making them
go through mental analysis test. All these rules and conditions must be followed (Puhlmann and
et.al., 2019).
Regulations: Multi agency must be engaged in following all the ethical codes and
regulations so that their risk of abuse of vulnerable adults can be lower down. This will also
assist them in making sure that better protection is been provided to vulnerable adults. The multi
agency also needs to make sure that respect and dignity is been given to patients while providing
them with treatment.
Working strategies: Better working strategies must be followed by multi agency. They
need to make sure risk management strategies are been implemented, so that no harm is been
caused to patient. Multi agency must make sure that signs and symbols must be placed so that
vulnerable adults can manage their daily activities. The signs should be clearly mentioned so that
no risk is been faced by them and this will assist them in facing no injury.
Procedure: Multi agency needs to be involved in following proper procedure. This will
assist them in making sure that higher quality of care services is been provided to patients. It will
assist multi agency in enhancing health outcome of vulnerable adults. This will assist them in
enhancing health outcome (Curry and et.al., 2018).
CONCLUSION
From the above study it has been summarized that there are various risk factors which are been
involved with vulnerable adults to face abuse. It includes lowering down of mental capacity, low
self esteem. It has also been analysed from the report that vulnerable adults cannot make their
own decisions. This has assisted them in lowering down of their self esteem. It has also been
analysed that vulnerable adults are unable to do their own work. It has also been analysed that
family members and other relatives need to be engaged in communicating with patient so that
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they can figure out the issues faced by them. They should also be involved in making sure that
better protection is been given to vulnerable adults at home only. They need to build up
supportive relationship with vulnerable adult so that their health outcome can be enhanced. This
has assisted them in making sure that no situation of abuse and neglect is been faced by them.
This has also supported them in enhancing health outcome of patients which is really necessary.
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REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Chalise, H.N. and Basnet, M., 2017. Abuse of older adults residing in the communit y of
Nepal. J Gerontol Geriatr Res. 6(2). pp.1-5.
Curry, S.J. and et.al., 2018. Screening for intimate partner violence, elder abuse, and abuse of
vulnerable adults: US Preventive Services Task Force final recommendation
statement. Jama, 320(16), pp.1678-1687.
Donnelly, S., and et.al, 2017. Adult safeguarding legislation and policy rapid realist literature
review.
Herring, J., 2016. Vulnerable adults and the law. Oxford University Press.
Jessiman, T. and Cameron, A., 2017. The role of the appropriate adult in supporting vulnerable
adults in custody: Comparing the perspectives of service users and service
providers. British Journal of Learning Disabilities, 45(4), pp.246-252.
Kato, K. and et.al., 2018. Differential effects of physical activity and sleep duration on cognitive
function in young adults. Journal of sport and health science, 7(2), pp.227-236.
Kumari, V., 2020. Emotional abuse and neglect: time to focus on prevention and mental health
consequences. The British Journal of Psychiatry. 217(5). pp.597-599.
Platt, L., and et.al, 2017. The role of gender in violence experienced by adults with
developmental disabilities. Journal of interpersonal violence. 32(1). pp.101-129.
Puhlmann, L.M. and et.al., 2019. only vulnerable adults show change in chronic low-grade
inflammation after contemplative mental training: evidence from a randomized clinical
trial. Scientific reports, 9(1), pp.1-12.
Puls, H.T., and et.al, 2019. Newborn risk factors for subsequent physical abuse
hospitalizations. Pediatrics. 143(2).
Swadley, R.L., 2017. Returning to Abusive Relationships: Related and Predictive Factors.
Torjesen, I., 2020. NICE asks care home visitors to look for signs of neglect.
Yıldızer, G., and et.al, 2018. The association of various social capital indicators and physical
activity participation among Turkish adolescents. Journal of Sport and Health
Science. 7(1). pp.27-33.
Zhao, S., and et.al, 2019. Risk Factors and Prevention Strategies for Postoperative Opioid
Abuse. Pain Research and Management, 2019.
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