Evaluating Strategies for Minimizing Abuse in Health and Social Care

This report focuses on evaluating strategies for minimizing abuse in health and social care contexts. It discusses the effectiveness of practices and strategies implemented to prevent abuse and highlights areas for improvement. The report emphasizes the need for individuals working in healthcare and social care to be aware of all types of abuses and risk factors that can lead to harm. It also touches on the importance of safeguarding adults, particularly those who are vulnerable or prone to abuse.

SAFEGUARDING IN
HEALTH AND SOCIAL
CARE

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................4
TASK 1 A........................................................................................................................................4
P 1.1- Explaining why particular individuals such as Bridget and other groups may be
vulnerable to abuse or harm to self and others. ..........................................................................4
P 1.2, M 1- Reviewing risk factors which may lead to incidence of abuse or harm to Bridget
and others. ..................................................................................................................................5
P 3.1, M 2- Identifying the extent to which individual are at risk to harm.................................6
TASK 1 B .......................................................................................................................................6
P 1.3, M 3- Analysing the impact of social and cultural factors on different types of abuse or
harm to self and others................................................................................................................6
TASK 2............................................................................................................................................7
P 2.1, D 1- Analysing the strengths and weaknesses in current national and local legislations
and policies relating to those vulnerable to abuse. .....................................................................7
P 2.2, M 2- Explaining how a range of professionals are involved in the protection of
individuals and groups vulnerable to abuse................................................................................8
TASK 3............................................................................................................................................9
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................9
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................10

INTRODUCTION
Safeguarding in Health and Social Care (HSC) is a process which protects the rights of
every person for their health and safety. It is very important to save the person who is facing the
issue regarding these. There are many malpractices which are done to harm the rights of
individual. Safeguarding makes the victim person to feel safe and secure. Government had made
many laws and legislations to save and protect every individual from any harm and abuse.
Individuals have the right to rise their voice against any kind of ill treatment. There is very strict
law to safeguard and protect old people from any kind of abuse.
This report includes about explaining why individuals and other groups may be
vulnerable to abuse and harm to self and others. Risk factors are reviewed which may lead to
incidence of abuse or harm to individuals. Extent to which individuals are at risk to harm are
identified (Glasby, 2017). Impact of social and cultural factors on different types of abuse has
also been discussed in the report. Strengths and weaknesses in current national plus local
legislations and policies are analysed. Furthermore, it explains how range of professionals are
involved in the protection of individuals and groups vulnerable to abuse. Moreover, existing
working practices and strategies along with effectiveness of those and improvements in practices
are analysed to minimise the abuse.
TASK 1 A
P 1.1- Explaining why particular individuals such as Bridget and other groups may be vulnerable
to abuse or harm to self and others.
There are some laws and legislations which are only made to protect the rights of people
who are prone to any harm or abuse. One person can abuse other in many ways like emotional
abuse, financial abuse and harms like neglecting etc. Bridget was very wrongly abused by Mr. Y;
he had used her for his own benefit. The victim had faced many problems due to this. Facing of
abuse and harm by Bridget and by many others have many reasons which are is Affection. Many
people faces any abuse and harm because they have no affection from the family and friends.
According to the scenario, Bridget had faced problem because there was no person left in her
family. She had one brother who stayed far away from her (Dickinson and O'Flynn, 2016). She
did not get any emotional support from any person.

Social activeness: Individuals and other groups who are not socially active are very prone
to be abused and harmed (Davies, 2015). Mr. Y had made Bridget to lose her all the social
contacts which made her mentally depressed.
Dependent: There are many people who are dependent on others to fulfil their basic
needs. Bridget was totally dependent upon Mr. Y to fulfil her some needs. Although she was
financially capable but Mr. Y took all the control on her finances.
Old person: People who are in their old age does not have any energy to fight with abuse
or any harm done to them (Moss, 2017). Bridget was the old lady who did not had any other
person to look after her. That's why she faced the abuse and harm from Mr. Y.
These are the reasons because of which individuals like Bridget and other groups may be
vulnerable to abuse and harm to self and others.
P 1.2, M 1- Reviewing risk factors which may lead to incidence of abuse or harm to Bridget and
others.
There are many factors because of which individuals can lead towards the harm and
abuse. These risks can be inside the person or in their external environment. Those risks can be
isolation. In this individual started getting isolated from the society (Crawley, 2015). Bridget did
not get any support from the people of society because she made no contact with anyone. This
has led her to incidence of abuse and harm. This risk can lead to emotional abuse.
Low self-esteem and reduced mental capacity can lead the person towards the abuse or
harm. Mental health of the Bridget had deteriorated because of the Mr. Y. This made her to take
no action against the abuse. This is also the case of emotional abuse.
No attention of anyone is the factor which leads the individuals towards any kind of
abuse or harm (Dimond, 2016). Getting no affection on attention from the other person had led
Bridget towards this situation. She had got no one who can look after her. Mr. Y had taken
advantage of her because of this situation. This is the risk of emotional and neglect.
External environment around the people can also lead them towards the situation of abuse
or harm. Environment around the Bridget was not good. She does not have any ability to make
the situation better and take some control over it. Mr. Y deprived her from getting any facility
which will make her free from his clutches. This risk factor leads to emotional and financial
abuse.

These are the risk factors which may have led Bridget or others to incidence of abuse and
harm. These risks are very dangerous (Shardlow, 2016). It can lead any person towards getting
prone to any kind of harm and abuse.
P 3.1, M 2- Identifying the extent to which individual are at risk to harm.
Individuals who are prone to any risk which is discussed in the above paragraphs can face
any kind of harm. They can be physically, emotionally or financially can be harmed from any
person.
TASK 1 B
P 1.3, M 3- Analysing the impact of social and cultural factors on different types of abuse or
harm to self and others.
There are many social and cultural factors which are present in the internal and external
environment. These factors if not used properly then they can lead the individuals and other
groups towards the abuse or harm to self and others (Fenge, Lee and Brown, eds., 2017). Social
factors or elements which are contained or included in it can be assistance, financial condition,
wellness, exclusion from the society. On the other hand, cultural factors or elements which are
included in it can be any discrimination, language, religion etc. These have various types of
impact on abuse or harm.
Emotional abuse is harm on emotional state of any person. This type of abuse happen
because of getting no attention and affection from any family or friend. It has very bad impact
upon the health and mental capacity of the individual. Bridget has lost her mental capacity of
remembering anything because of this kind abuse from the Mr. Y. she had faced emotional abuse
because of the social element of lack of attention and affection. Seminars should be held to
reduce the amount of emotional abuse because of the social or cultural factors (Types of abuses,
2017).
Financial abuse is the harm caused on the financial ability of the individual. Mr. Y had
full control on the finances of Bridget (Coughlan and Cronin, 2016). She faced this situation
because of the lack of knowledge which is the social and cultural factor both. She did not get any
amount of money to fulfil her basic needs. Proper knowledge can be given to the individuals to
be safe from the financial abuse which are held because of some social and cultural elements.

TASK 2
P 2.1, D 1- Analysing the strengths and weaknesses in current national and local legislations and
policies relating to those vulnerable to abuse.
Government of the UK had made many laws and legislation which safeguards and protect
every individual from any kind of harm and abuse (Dong, 2015). Many people are facing the
abuse like Bridget. Legislations which are made by the government includes The Care Act 2014;
it makes the person to treat every person with respect. Person who is facing any kind abuse or
neglect is protected under this act. This act protects the personal relationship of the individual
and makes them to be socially and economically well. This act ensures the physical and
emotional health of the persons. The individual who does not have education or any knowledge
of work then this act provides them with proper training and education to work efficiently. The
Care Act 2014 enhances the individual's attention towards the society. This act provides the
person better place to live.
This act has many strengths which protect the people of UK from any kind of abuse or
harm. It makes the government to take the strict actions on the persons who had conducted some
malpractices. It provides many measures or solutions for the victim or for the person who had
faced any kind of abuse. This act had made the compulsion for each and every person to follow
all the rules and regulations which are made for protection and welfare of people. The Care Act
2014 is strictly against any kind of discrimination (Dong, Chen and Simon, 2014). It protects and
safeguards every individual without giving any head to the culture or background of the person.
Persons with all kind of status can take the benefits of this act and get saved from any abuse or
harm.
This act has weaknesses too. Many people do not have any knowledge about the
existence of this act. Some strong proof is needed to take actions against the guilty person.
There is another act in the UK which is Safeguarding Vulnerable Group Act, 2006. It is
the act which protects the children and adult persons from getting any kind of abuse or harm. It
can save Bridget from Mr. Y and his abuse.
This act has the strengths of protecting any children and adults from the abuse. Strict
actions are taken against the person who had harmed others with any kind of abuse. UK
government had made the strict rule of following each and every thing which is written under

this act of safeguarding vulnerable group (Spencer-Lane, 2014). It does not make any kind of
discrimination while helping the victim.
The act contains some weaknesses which makes it less effective. Public of UK are not
aware of the Safeguarding Vulnerable Act, 2006. Proof is required by the authority before taking
some action against the abuse or harm.
P 2.2, M 2- Explaining how a range of professionals are involved in the protection of individuals
and groups vulnerable to abuse.
There are many types and range of professionals who are required to get involved to
protect the individuals from abuse or harm. In accordance with the scenario range of professional
involved who can protect are doctors. They are the one who can provide medical facilities to the
abused person. Bridget was in the requirement of some doctor who can help her in managing the
emotional state and mental capacity. They are the person who analyse the whole situation of
victim and give treatment according to it (Desmedt and et.al., 2017). They help is making the
individual talk and tell what has happened with them. Doctors are the professional who guide the
abused person make them aware about their rights of health and safety.
Government is the authority who makes the laws and legislations against the person who
do some ill treatments and malpractices to others. They create the strict environment and forces
each one to follow the rules and regulations which are written or made under the any legislation.
They have to be updated with every type of situation to make legislations according to it.
There are some safeguarding councils who are only working in the direction of making
people aware about their rights. They help the individuals go understand the procedure which
will help them to take against any kind of abuse or harm. These councils conduct various
seminars to let the persons know about the action which can be taken against the guilty
individual who had done some abuse or harm to other (Cooper and et.al., 2017). These
safeguarding councils only made for this reason only. Members of this council know and
understand each and every law which makes individuals protected from the harm.
Social workers are the persons who works for solving the social problems in the country.
Their main aim is to make that environment which is safe and secure for everyone. They take
necessary actions to safeguard the individuals from any kind of abuse. These workers do not
have any kind of profitable aim they only want welfare of the public.

Educators are the person who are working in giving education about the abuses and
harms to people (Penhale and et.al., 2017). This makes individuals aware about the situations
which can cause the harm to them. They make their students know and understand each and
every thing about the topic and tells them about the action which could be taken if they face any
kind of abusive or harmful situation. They also tell them about what should be done if they see
someone in this situation and need help.
These are some professionals who can and are working in the direction of protecting the
individuals who are facing any kind of abuse or harm. They have to get involved in the abusive
situation to take control of it.
TASK 3
Covered in poster
CONCLUSION
This report concludes that there are many people who are vulnerable to abuse or harm to
self or others. There are many risk factors which can lead the individual towards the abusive and
harmful situations like Bridget. Social and cultural factors have very much impact on the
different types of abuses. Current national and local legislations and policies relating to those
vulnerable to abuse have many strengths and weaknesses. Some professionals range is there who
are working or are involved in the protection of individuals and groups who are prone or
vulnerable to abuse. Regarding this, practices are made who are working in the direction of
minimising abuse in health and social care contexts. These practices and strategies are very
effective to minimise them. In this way, there are some improvements which can be made to
make working practices and strategies more effective. This report states that each and every
individual should be aware about all types of abuses and risk factors which can lead them
towards any type of harm.

REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Glasby, J., 2017. Understanding health and social care. Policy Press.
Dickinson, H. and O'Flynn, J., 2016. Evaluating outcomes in health and social care. Policy
Press.
Moss, B., 2017. Communication skills in health and social care. Sage.
Dimond, B. C., 2016. Legal Aspects of Mental Capacity: A Practical Guide for Health and
Social Care Professionals. John Wiley & Sons.
Shardlow, S. M., 2016. Educating professionals: Practice learning in health and social care.
Routledge.
Fenge, L. A., Lee, S. and Brown, K. eds., 2017. Safeguarding Adults: Scamming and Mental
Capacity. Learning Matters.
Coughlan, M. and Cronin, P., 2016. Doing a literature review in nursing, health and social care.
Sage.
Dong, X. Q., 2015. Elder abuse: systematic review and implications for practice. Journal of the
American Geriatrics Society, 63(6), pp.1214-1238.
Dong, X., Chen, R. and Simon, M. A., 2014. Elder abuse and dementia: a review of the research
and health policy. Health Affairs, 33(4), pp.642-649.
Spencer-Lane, T., 2014. Safeguarding the public by regulating health and social care
professionals: lessons from Mid-Staffordshire and the Law Commission review. The
Journal of Adult Protection, 16(1), pp.52-59.
Desmedt and et.al., 2017. Integrating and safeguarding care: The potential role of health
information technologies. International Journal of Care Coordination, 20(3), pp.112-
118.
Cooper and et.al., 2017. Adult safeguarding and the Care Act (2014)–the impacts on partnerships
and practice. The Journal of Adult Protection, 19(4), pp.209-219.
Penhale and et.al., 2017. The Care Act 2014: a new legal framework for safeguarding adults in
civil society. The Journal of Adult Protection, 19(4), pp.169-174.
Crawley, C., 2015. A view from the Department of Health. The Journal of Adult
Protection, 17(3), pp.151-152.
Davies, N., 2015. Safeguarding Adults and the Law.

Online
Types of abuses. 2017 [Online]. Available through:
<http://www.loveisrespect.org/is-this-abuse/types-of-abuse/>.