Safeguarding in Practice: Types of Abuse and Safeguarding Enquiry

This article discusses safeguarding in practice, types of abuse, and safeguarding enquiry. It explains how to protect children from maltreatment and ensure a safe and healthy environment. The article also includes a form to complete for a Safeguarding Adults Enquiry. The types of abuse discussed are physical, domestic violence, sexual, and emotional or psychological abuse. The article emphasizes the importance of involving different agencies like the department of health and social care to provide better services and improve the health of the patient.

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Safeguarding in Practice

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Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................................................................................................3
TASK-1............................................................................................................................................................................................................................3
TASK-2............................................................................................................................................................................................................................9
TASK-3..........................................................................................................................................................................................................................10
TAKS-4..........................................................................................................................................................................................................................11
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................................................................................................13
REFRENCES.................................................................................................................................................................................................................14

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INTRODUCTION
Safeguarding in practice refers to protecting children from maltreatment, preventing impairment of children’s health or development, ensuring that
children get safe and healthy environment. Best facilities should be provided to children and they should get safe and healthy premises. It is
important to provide good services to children and they should not face any type of abuse. Children should live their life safely and without any
stress. Types of abuse is discussed and category of abuse is placing Geraldine at most risk is described. Rationale is described in which mental
capacity of Geraldine is discussed.
TASK-1
This form should be completed as fully as possible in order that robust decisions can be made about the progression,
or otherwise, of the Safeguarding Adults Enquiry.
Person completing the
form:
Role of Person:
Date of referral to Adult
Social Care:
Organisation:
Phone number: Type of service:
Details of incident/suspected/actual abuse or neglect
Date of alleged
incident:
Who reported the
alert/concern?
Time of alleged
incident:
Date of report:
Where did the incident occur?
Details of the adult at risk
Name: Geraldine Howlton Date of Birth: 26th September, 1980
Telephone: Ethnicity:
Address: The Witten Ave, Bexley
What is the adult’s primary reason for needing care and support? (please tick)

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Physical support: ✓ Sensory support: ✓ Support with
memory and
cognition:
Learning disability
support: ✓
Asperger’s syndrome
support:
Autism support:
Mental health support: ✓ Social support (includes
support for carers/substance
misusers):
No support reason:
Other health condition: Please
specify:
Any other details about the
adult at risk:
Geraldine is suffering from a back injury which has left her with impaired mobility and chronic pain. She is also
suffering from depression and not able to understand what is happening.
Details of the alleged perpetrator (where relevant)
Name: Relationship to victim:
Date of birth: Ethnicity:
(1) Please give a detailed description of the incident (including times), all people involved, witnesses and any other
comments you feel are relevant. If the concern relates to physical abuse, please provide a body map.
(Maximum 200 words)
Geraldine Howlton is suffering from depression from many years. A car accident was happened when she was with her boyfriend.
Geraldine was 17 years old and suffered from a back injury which has left her with impaired mobility and chronic pain. She uses
crutches to move around and adapted bungalow in The Witten Ave, Bexley that she bought form her compensation money. Due
to depression, she was not able to understand and unable to take decision. She is the only child of Bill and Wendy Howlton. She
was very keen on gymnastics and want to make it her career. Parents of Geraldine are very supportive and visit weekly. They are
worried about her daughter and try to encourage her so that she can get well soon. Geraldine has support worker, Helen who
helps her in boosting confidence and encourages her to engage in social activities. After sometime, she met Michael Fullerton.
Each session cost was £150 but Geraldine does not feel good and she feel more depressed. Geraldine giving £500 to Michael because he
wants to buy a special cream. Helen was worried because Geraldine was giving more and more money to Michael and she seems to be
becoming more depressed.
Type of abuse (tick all that apply):
Physical Sexual Psychological/emotional ✓
Financial/material ✓ Neglect/omission Discriminatory

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Organisational/institutional Self-neglect Domestic abuse/violence
Modern slavery Radicalisation/extremism Other
If other, please specify:
Is the victim at risk of further abuse/neglect? (please tick) Yes No ✓ Unknown
(2) What has been done to ensure the immediate safety of the alleged victim(s) and others? Completing and submitting
this form does not constitute management of immediate risks. (Maximum 200 words)
Geraldine is suffering from depression and she is not able to understand what is happening. She needs proper care and good facilities should be provided so
that she can get well soon. It is important to provide good care to Geraldine so that she can live her life happily and safely. It is important to take necessary
steps to improve health of Geraldine so that she can live life easily and happily. To ensure immediate safety to the alleged victim, build strong relationships
with patient and try to understand her emotions. Supporter should try to reduce stress of Geraldine and maintain treatment plan. Regular exercise should be
done by Geraldine so that she feels relaxed and comfortable. It will also help in reducing stress and she feel fresh. This help her in taking decision and
understanding things. Carer must provide good facilities to the patient so that she can recover and get well soon. It is important to reduce stress of patient and
understand her emotions. Geraldine should sleep properly, this is also an important element which reduces stress and treatment should be given on time. It is
important to give proper facilities to patient so that they can get well soon.
Were the Police called? Yes No ✓
Please provide the outcome of the Police action and Police log number (if available):
If the incident relates to domestic abuse/violence, has the
MARAC Checklist (CAADA-DASH) been completed?
Yes No ✓
If yes, has a referral to MARAC been considered?
Please provide details, including discussions with your
agency’s Single Point of Contact (SPOC) for MARAC:
Yes No ✓
Please provide details of other agencies involved that will be able to help with the safeguarding adults enquiry:

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Other agencies that will be involved who can help with the safeguarding enquiry are, department of health and social care, community safety, health
professionals, coroner, trading standards. These are some agencies which can be involved which will be beneficial in safeguarding adults. Different agencies
are having different ideas to provide safety to children. It is important to give proper care and treatment should be given so that patient can recover and live
life safely. Department of health and social care aims at providing good services to patient. This help in providing facilities to Geraldine and helps her in
recovering so that she can live life without any tension or stress. These are some other agencies which provide support to people who are not able to
understand. They will help Geraldine in improving her health and get out of depression. It is essential to consult department of health and social care so that
good treatment can be given.
Are you aware that there have there been any previous referrals made in
relation to this adult at risk or alleged perpetrator?
Yes No ✓
If yes, please provide details (e.g. dates, type of abuse, action taken):
Are there any risks to others (other adults, children)? Yes No ✓ Unknown
Please provide details (also include who this information has been shared with – e.g. Police, Children’s Social Care,
MAPPA). If there are risks to children, you must notify Children’s Social Care.
Children’s social care can be involved because they are having better knowledge and experience about these situations. Social care people can help in
improving health of Geraldine and better treatment can be given which help in reducing stress. It is important to involve social care because they can handle
situation and provide better care to the patient. So, in the given case, Geraldine needs support of a person who understand her emotion and help her in getting
out of depression. Stress can be reduced by doing exercise and sleep properly, social care have better ideas for safety of an individual person and help in
improving health of person.
Involvement of the adult(s) at risk
The following section is crucial to determining the next steps in the safeguarding adults enquiry and every attempt should be
made to complete it as fully as possible.
Has the adult(s) at risk given consent for this referral? Yes ✓ No
If no, please confirm why you have not sought consent or are overriding consent (please tick):
Public interest (risks to others) Risk of serious harm Suspected serious crime
Adult at risk lacks mental
capacity to provide consent
(best interest decision made)
Ability to consent is affected
by threatening or coercive
behaviour
Seeking consent would
increase risks to the
adult or others
Other, please provide details below:
(3) Do you think the adult at risk has mental capacity in relation to making
decisions about their safety?
Yes ✓ No

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If no, has a mental capacity assessment been undertaken? Yes No
Do you think the adult at risk would have substantial difficulty in
participating in the safeguarding adults process?
Yes No ✓
If yes, is there a suitable person who could represent them?
(e.g. family member, friend, advocate)
Yes No Unknown
Please provide the name and contact details of this suitable person:
Has the adult at risk’s family been informed of the concerns (where the adult
has consented to this)?
Yes ✓ No
If you think the adult at risk may need support to participate in the safeguarding adults process, please provide details
of what support may be required:
Yes, the adult at risk need support to participate in the safeguarding adult process because it helps in improving health of an individual
person and better services will be provided. It is important to take part in safeguarding adult process as it is beneficial for an individual
person in reducing stress and plans can be made to solve issues. In the given case, Geraldine is suffering from depression and she
needs emotional support so that she can share her views and express what problem she is facing. This help in solving issue and good
care can be provided to Geraldine. She is also having back injury which has left her with impaired mobility and chronic pain.
Safeguarding adult process seek to respond to concerns about abuse which is sensitive to person centred, depend on circumstances
and focus on outcome. It is important to focus on improving health of a person and provide all the facilities which is essential.
Safeguarding process maintain and review a record of concerns, follow safe recruitment procedures, maintain safe premises and
equipment so that there will be no harm to the patient.
(4) What does the adult at risk (or their representative) say that they want to happen as a result of this meeting and as a
result of a safeguarding enquiry (what are the client’s desired outcomes)? (Max. words - 200)
In the given case study, Geraldine was suffering from depression and she was unable to take decision. Safeguarding process
will help person in improving health and better decision can be taken. Adult at risk or their representatives want that Geraldine
should get well soon and recover so that she can spend her life happily and safely. Safeguarding enquiry refers to action which
is taken by local authority in response to abuse and provide support to adult at risk. It is important to involve some agencies like,
department of health and social care so that better services can be provided. This help in improving health of the patient and
supporter will try to understand problem which is faced by patient. Safeguarding enquiry should be applied by parents of
Geraldine to improve health of her and she can live life safely without any stress or tension. Safeguarding enquiry take action
regarding abuse and better plan scan be made for safety of an individual person.

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Signed: Date:
Printed: Time:

TASK-2
There are different types of abuse:
 Physical abuse
It includes, assault, hitting, punching slapping or pushing someone. This is inappropriate or
unlawful use of restraint, making someone uncomfortable purposefully. It also includes
misuse of medication, involuntary isolation or confinement. This is done purposefully to
harm other person. This is not good and it affects mental capacity of a person. They are not
able to live their life safely and affect their mind (Bae and et.al., 2018). It is an intentional act
which causes injury to another person. Physical abuse affects a person's mind and may be
they die as they are not able to handle this situation.
 Domestic violence
Domestic violence is related to behavior or action towards a partner to scare and control
them. It causes fear and harm to the body, mind and spirit. Domestic violence can be divided
into categories such as, physical, sexual, emotional or psychological, discriminatory abuse
and other. This should be stopped as it is not good, it can happen at home or outside the
home.
 Sexual abuse
Sexual abuse includes, rape, sexual assault or attempted rape, inappropriate touch anywhere,
indecent exposure, sexual photography or forced use of pornography, inappropriate looking,
sexual teasing or sexual harassment. It is also referred to as molestation by one person on
another. Sexual abuse is unwanted sexual activity, making threats or taking advantage of any
other person. This is a type of abuse which affect mental health of an individual person and
they get depressed. They are not able to understand what is happening and need time to
recover.
 Emotional or psychological abuse
Emotional abuse is a way to control other person by using emotions, embarrass, shame,
manipulate other person. Emotional abuse affects a person as it contributes to depression and
low self-esteem. It also contributes to the development of chronic conditions. When a person
is unable to take decision and not knowing that what is going in the surrounding. It includes,

failure to respect privacy, enforced social isolation, preventing expression of choice and
opinion, removing mobility or communication aids (Ginty and et.al., 2017).
 Financial abuse
It includes, theft of money or possessions, fraud, scamming, preventing a person from
accessing their own money, benefits or assets. Denying assistance to access benefits, misuse
of personal allowance in a care home, misuse of direct payments in a family home.
Employees taking a loan from a person using the service, denying assistance to manage
financial affairs. In this a person uses another and get money from them (Sheahan, Pica and
Pozzulo, 2021).
In the given case study, according to my opinion type of abuse is emotional or psychological
abuse. In case study, Geraldine’s health is not improving and she is getting more depressed after
giving money to Michael. This is not appropriate because Michael is taking fees for improving
health of Geraldine but her condition seems to be weaker. She is just 17 years old and her mental
&physical condition is not good. She should focus on her health and her parents should provide
good facilities to improve her health. In the case study, Geraldine is giving money to Michael
and getting more depressed. Emotional abuse refers to as physical abuse and contribute to
depression and low self -esteem. So, Geraldine parents should take care of her and provide good
facilities and treatment to her so that she can recover and get well soon. This help her in living
life safely and she will not face any problem in future.
TASK-3
There are 5 principles of the Mental capacity act such as, a presumption of capacity,
individuals being supported to make their own decisions, unwise decisions, bets interest and less
restrictive option. These principles help in taking decisions and identifying a person’s mental
capacity. To improve mental capacity of a person, encourage and support person to make
decisions for themselves. These principles will help in identifying that Geraldine is mentally fit
or not. According to these principles, people should not be treated like they are not capable of

taking decisions or not. In the given case study, ask some questions to Geraldine and encourage
her to think about it. This help in boosting her confidence and maybe she can get well soon.
Principles of mental capacity act should be applied so that better facilities can be provided to
Geraldine and she can get well soon. This will be beneficial for Geraldine as she can enjoy her
life and live safely and happily.
There are 2 stages in mental capacity test i.e., first, does the person have an impairment of
their mind or brain, as a result of illness or external factors such as alcohol or drug use. Second is
does the impairment mean that person is not able to take specific decision (Lynch, Taggart and
Campbell, 2017). It is important that Geraldine should get safe and healthy environment and
proper care so that she can get well soon. She should not take stress and try to take decisions on
her own. She is so young and has to live her whole life, so proper care should be given to
Geraldine and all the necessary facilities should be provided so that she can get well soon and
live her life safely. It is important to take mentality test so that problem can be find out and ways
by which it can be solved. According to Mental Capacity Act 2005, good facilities should be
provided to people who are not well so that they can recover and live their life happily. This act
is designed to protect vulnerable people who lack capacity. Metal capacity act supports people
who are not able to take decisions on their own and better plans are made to improve health of
people.
In the given case study, to improve health of Geraldine, mental capacity test should be done. It
includes two stages, first to have impairment of mind of person like, use of dug or any other
external factor. This help in identifying that what type of problem an individual person is facing
and better decisions can be taken to improve. The second way is to do the impairment that
whether a person is able to take decision on their own or not. It is important to do assessment as
it help in identifying problem and treatment can be given accordingly (Szelepet, 2018). After test
is done then it is easy to find why Geraldine is so depressed and how to encourage her. This help
in improving health of Geraldine and she will get good facilities. It is essential to determine
problem that a person is facing and try to solve it so that they can live their life easily.
TAKS-4
Making safeguarding principles is important because it aims at development of an individual
person who is not well. The main aim of safeguarding approach is to develop an outcome which
focuses on safeguarding work. This approach helps in improving or resolving problems of people

so that they can recover and live their life happily. There are six principles of safeguarding such
as, empowerment, prevention, proportionality, protection, partnership and last is accountability.
These safeguarding approaches help in providing protection to people who are not well and try to
identify problems. Principles can be used to encourage Geraldine and encourage her so that she
can get well soon (Ekman, Ebrahimi and Olaya Contreras, 2021). This helps in solving issues
and better treatment can be provided to improve health of Geraldine. It is important to apply
these principles to provide good care and facilities to people who lack mental capacity. Geraldine
is suffering from depression and she is not able to take decision on her own.
First principle is empowerment, means to empower or encourage people who are not well.
In the given case study, Geraldine is suffering from depression and she is unable to take
decisions. She is just 17 years old and should get well so that she can live her life happily and
safely. Second principle is prevention; it means to prevent children from harmful activities and
provide them safe and healthy environment so that they can live their life. It is important to
provide good facilities to people who lack mental capacity and encourage them to take decisions
and move on in life. Geraldine is in depression and not able to understand what is happening, she
wants to cope up with the situation. So, proper care should be provided to Geraldine and I will
find ways to solve issue. Another principle is proportionality, means when dealing with abuse
situation services must ensure that there will be no risk. Services which is being provided to
person should be best and it must be beneficial in improving health of an individual person.
Another principle is protection which means support people about abuse or involve in
safeguarding practice (Romeo and et.al., 2017). This help person in recovering and able to take
decision on their own. In the case, Geraldine is suffering from depression and low self- esteem so
she should share her pain with others and live life happily. Next principle is partnership; personal
information should be share with person who is giving treatment because this help in improving
health of an individual person. In case, Geraldine has to share all the information so that it will
be easy to provide better facilities to her. The main purpose of providing service is to improve
health of a person. It is essential to provide good facilities to customer so that they can live their
happily and safely.
A person- centred approach is where the person is placed at centre of service. The main aim
is to focus on person, their disability or condition. There is a tension between being person
centred and addressing risk is person centred focuses on how to improve health and disability

condition of a person, make plans to provide them best facility so that they can get well soon.
Addressing risk refers to understand situation of people and according to that decision must be
taken. Mental capacity assessment helps in determining problem and according to that treatment
should be given to improve their health. This help in providing best facilities to people who are
not well. Person centred help in identifying issue which is faced by an individual person and find
solution to problem.
CONCLUSION
From the above discussion it can be concluded that, safeguarding in practice helps in
providing safe and healthy environment to children so that they can stay safe and happy.
Different types of abuse such as, physical, sexual, emotional, domestic and financial abuse has
been discussed. Mental capacity test, principles and code of practice to the mental capacity act
2005 has been discussed. Further, safeguarding principles has been described such as,
empowerment, prevention, protection, proportionality, partnership and accountability.

REFRENCES
Books and Journals
Bae, S. M., and et.al., 2018. PTSD correlates with somatization in sexually abused children:
Type of abuse moderates the effect of PTSD on somatization. PloS one. 13(6).
p.e0199138.
Ekman, I., Ebrahimi, Z. and Olaya Contreras, P., 2021. Person-centred care: looking back,
looking forward. European Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing. 20(2). pp.93-95.
Ginty, A. T., and et.al., 2017. Cardiovascular reactions to psychological stress and abuse history:
The role of occurrence, frequency, and type of abuse. Anxiety, Stress, & Coping. 30(2).
pp.155-162.
Lynch, G., Taggart, C. and Campbell, P., 2017. Mental Capacity Act (Northern Ireland)
2016. BJPsych bulletin. 41(6). pp.353-357.
Romeo, L., and et.al., 2017. Safeguarding Adults under the Care Act 2014: Understanding Good
Practice. Jessica Kingsley Publishers.
Sheahan, C. L., Pica, E. and Pozzulo, J. D., 2021. Abuse is abuse: The influence of type of abuse,
victim age, and defendant age on juror decision making. Journal of interpersonal
violence. 36(1-2). pp.938-956.
Szelepet, E. M., 2018. The Mental Capacity Act 2005 best interests test as applied to the elderly–
is it fit for purpose?. Medico-Legal Journal. 86(3). pp.142-146.