Safeguarding Vulnerable Adults: Legal and Ethical Considerations

The assignment discusses the importance of adhering to legal and ethical considerations when providing care services to vulnerable adults. It highlights various principles related to confidentiality, equality, and diversity, as well as relevant legislation such as The Care Act 2014 and Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006. The report concludes that safeguarding vulnerable adults is a critical process that requires adherence to these legal and ethical considerations.

Safeguarding of Vulnerable Adults

TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
MAIN BODY...................................................................................................................................1
1. Application of the safeguarding principles to practice.......................................................1
2. Meaning and application of confidentiality in relation to service users.............................2
3. Principles of equality and diversity....................................................................................2
4. Relevant legislation............................................................................................................3
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................4
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................5
Books and Journals.................................................................................................................5

INTRODUCTION
Any person or individual who is of 18 years’ age or above and is in need of care services
due to mental illness or disability is considered as vulnerable adults. These are the individual,
who are unable to take care of themselves against significant exploitation or harm. The present
report will outline safeguarding principles for vulnerable adults. There are various safeguarding
principles which will be determined in this study, along with the meaning and application of
confidentiality with regards to service users. In addition to this principle of equality and diversity
will be explained in this report along relevant legislations.
MAIN BODY
1. Application of the safeguarding principles to practice
There are various principles related to safeguarding of vulnerable adults or individuals
which are applied by care provider to maintain quality of care services. These principles are
discussed below -
1. Empowerment – The principle is focused on encouraging and supporting vulnerable
adults to take their own decisions by providing informed consent. In order to protect and
safeguard service users, this principle plays a significant role for service providers in
motivating vulnerable adults to take decisions on their own which makes them strong and
empowered (Fenge, Lee and Brown, 2017). Care providers conduct various social
activities for the patients which helps in boosting their morale.
2. Prevention – This principle focus on executing plan before any harm or injury to disabled
individual. It. states that any activity or protection plan must be implemented before any
adult get exploited mentally or physically. For example – Nurses need to aware about the
risk of harassment or any other harm to mental or physical disabled person in order to
protect them from exploitation. he or she should be protected by care provider.
3. Protection – This principle aim at supporting and representing vulnerable adults who are
in great need. This principle states that every care provider or representative must focus
on vulnerable adult who are at major risk of exploitation or harm (MacIntyre, Stewart and
McCusker, 2018).
4. Partnership – This approach focuses on deriving local solutions through services
working with their communities as it helps in preventing, detecting and reporting of
abuse at initial stage.
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5. Accountability – Transparency and accountability is also essential in safeguarding
practice. The roles and responsibilities of individuals working in health and social care
settings must be clear in order to safeguard patients.
6. Proportionality – It refers to the least encroaching response to the risk conferred.
2. Meaning and application of confidentiality in relation to service users
Confidentiality is necessary for the development of a trusting professional relation
between patients and doctors. It is subject to both ethical and legal safeguards & unsuitable
breach of confidentiality can lead to legal action and rejection by the General Medical Council.
Confidentiality refers to keeping a confidence and trust between service user and provider. It is
an essential part of good care practice. It is important to maintain privacy of information of
vulnerable adults in health and social care settings (Northway and Jenkins, 2017). According to
HSCIC guide to confidentiality 2013 there are five main rules which are followed by care
workers when dealing with vulnerable adult. The rules are as follows: -
1. Important or private information about patients and service users must be treated
respectfully and confidentially (Whitaker, 2018).
2. Individuals of a care team should share confidential information when required for
effective and safe care of a patient.
3. It is necessary to analyze and identify significant data from information that is shared for
the welfare of a community.
4. The right of an individual to object on sharing of private or confidential information
about them must be respected.
Confidentiality is not an absolute duty. A care provider can share confidential information about
an individual in any of the following condition:
 The care provider can share confidential information by law or as a result of court order.
 If the patient themselves has given the right or permission to share their information with
parental responsibility.
 If the patient and care provider both gets benefited from sharing information. Like the
details can be shared in case of individual interest or public interest.
3. Principles of equality and diversity
Equality refers to making sure that each and every service user have equal access to care
opportunities regardless of their ability, lifestyle or background. On the other hand, diversity
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refers to difference in individual values, lifestyles, cultures and beliefs of a person. There are
various strategic principles which are implied in health care sector to promote equality and
diversity for vulnerable adults. Some of the values are discussed below -1. Commitment to Equality, Diversity and Human Rights Values – Providers promote
equality and diversity through core values, strategic actions plans and mission statements
(James, 2018).2. Promoting equality, diversity and human rights in decision making – Managers make
sure that decision making, partnership governance and working practices are focused on
promoting equality and diversity.3. Advancement of equality, diversity and human rights – Organisational functions are
planned to build creative relations with different type patients and partner agencies
(MacIntyre and Stewart, 2017).
4. Monitoring human rights performance along with equality and diversity – Management
teams take effective steps to monitor provisions which helps in deriving improvement
areas.
4. Relevant legislation
There is various legislation applied to safeguard vulnerable adults. The laws help in
controlling and managing practices of care communities. Some of the legislation are discussed
below - The Care act 2014 – This law or act places a general duty on local authorities to promote
the well-being of service users while providing support and care. The well-being
principle focuses on protecting dignity, respect, physical and mental health of service
users (Key legislation - Legislation protecting vulnerable people from abuse, 2016). Sexual offenses act 2003 – This legislation prohibits involvement in sexual activity of
care worker with patient suffering from mental disorder.
 Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006 and the Protection of Freedoms Bill - This
act was enforced to safeguard vulnerable group for avoiding harm or risk by preventing
individuals from involving in inappropriate situation.
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CONCLUSION
The above report concluded that providing care services to vulnerable adults is a critical
process and needs adherence to legal and ethical considerations. There are various principles
related to confidentiality, equality and diversity, etc. which are important to be followed or
implemented when providing care to vulnerable individuals. The report determined various
legislation like The Care act 2014, Sexual offenses act 2003, etc., which are enforced to
safeguard vulnerable adults suffering from mental or physical disability.
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REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Fenge, L.A., Lee, S. and Brown, K. eds., 2017. Safeguarding Adults: Scamming and Mental
Capacity. Learning Matters.
MacIntyre, G., Stewart, A. and McCusker, P., 2018. Safeguarding Adults: Key Themes and
Issues.
Northway, R. and Jenkins, R., 2017. Safeguarding adults in nursing practice. Learning Matters.
James, N., 2018. Safeguarding Adults in Nursing Practice. The Journal of Adult
Protection, 20(2), pp.128-128.
MacIntyre, G. and Stewart, A., 2017. Safeguarding Adults with and Without Mental
Capacity. Safeguarding Adults: Key Themes and Issues, p.53.
Whitaker, D., 2018. Liberator or oppressor: using a professional practise journey to find new
possibilities for safeguarding adults through social work (Doctoral dissertation,
Lancaster University).
Online
Key legislation - Legislation protecting vulnerable people from abuse. 2016. [Online]. Available
through:<https://www.scie.org.uk/publications/guides/guide15/legislation/
otherlegislation/vulnerablepeoplelegislation.asp>.
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