Unit 02: Safeguarding and Protecting Vulnerable Individuals

This document provides an in-depth understanding of safeguarding and protecting vulnerable individuals in health and social care. It covers the concept of safeguarding and protection, legislative frameworks, the influence of serious case reviews, actions in case of abuse, supporting individuals in making informed choices, signs of abuse, and measures to prevent abuse. The document is relevant for students studying health and social care.

Unit 02: Safeguarding and
Protecting Vulnerable Indi-
viduals
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Table of contents
MAIN BODY..................................................................................................................................3
TASK 1............................................................................................................................................3
1. Details of concept of safeguarding and protection..................................................................3
2. Information about legislative framework for safeguarding vulnerable individuals in health
and social care..............................................................................................................................4
3. Analysis of ways in which serious case reviews have influenced safeguarding and
protection. Explanation of actions that can be taken in the event of suspected or actual abuse..5
4. Analysis of ways in which service provision supports individuals take risks and make
informed choices..........................................................................................................................6
5. Information on signs and symptoms of abuse.........................................................................6
6. Measures to be taken to avoid abuse taking place...................................................................7
7. Practice that maintains the safety and protection of vulnerable individuals...........................8
1. An explanation of the agreed protocols for working in partnership........................................9
2. An evaluation of the importance of working in partnership with others in relation to
safeguarding...............................................................................................................................10
3. An assessment of the importance of the involvement of individuals in the review of systems
and procedures in services.........................................................................................................11
4. A review of a work setting procedures and practice against current legislation and policy in
relation to safeguarding and protecting vulnerable individuals.................................................13
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................15
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MAIN BODY
TASK 1
1. Details of concept of safeguarding and protection
Safeguarding: Safeguarding is a concept of identifying measures that can be used to
protect the health, well-being and human rights of individuals that help vulnerable people to live
free from abuse, neglect, and harm. It can also be said that Safeguarding is a concept which is
used for protecting vulnerable people including children, young adults or vulnerable adults so
that they can remain safe in all types of situations and from all kinds of abuse whether it is verbal
or physical (Smikle, 2017). There are various kinds of frameworks that have been developed for
such people so that they can be provided protection and can be safeguarded in an appropriate
manner for prevention of occurrence of negative outcomes in tried and tested manner.
Safeguarding is one of the most important concepts in health and social care. Government of UK
has developed enacted legislation and have also published guidance for protecting vulnerable
people. Most of the care homes in UK provide training to their employees for protecting such
adults and children. All the professional carers majorly focus upon empowerment, prevention,
protection, partnership and accountability of safeguarding adults and children. Care Act, 2014
helps in identifying roles and responsibilities of professional carers for safeguarding children and
adults who are vulnerable.
Protection: Protection is another most commonly known concept in health and social
care sector for protecting people against any kind of abuse, environmental risk protection,
infection protection, patient right protection, protection against any kind of harmful disease or
infection and provision of many other kinds of protection (Godoy and et.al., 2020). Concept of
protection helps in understanding measures that can be taken to provide protection to patient so
that safety of patient can be enhanced and safety of patients at all providers and collaborative
practises can be maintained. It is one of the most important and primary responsibility of health
and social care providers to focus upon protection of patient till they get discharged from health
and social care settings.
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2. Information about legislative framework for safeguarding vulnerable individuals in health and
social care
There are various kinds of legislative frameworks that have been developed for
safeguarding vulnerable individuals in health and social care settings. However in terms of
protecting vulnerable individuals’ legislative framework only helps in provision of guidelines
with respect to rights and services of vulnerable individuals. Some of the most important
legislative framework that helps in safeguarding vulnerable individuals in health and social care
are:
Care Standard Act, 2000: This act focuses upon identifying requirements of care providers in
order to ensure that they have proper and effective procedure in place in providing protection to
adults who are at risk of any kind of harm or abuse whether it is verbal or physical (Asghar and
et.al., 2017).
Care Act, 2014: This Act refers to safeguarding vulnerable adults by outlining main roles and
responsibilities of health and social care practitioners when protecting vulnerable adults. This act
helps in identifying role of local authorities who have primary responsibility in providing
protection to vulnerable adults and should work in partnership with other health and social care
organizations. This act laid emphasis upon overall wellbeing of all vulnerable adults rather than
providing basic protection and safety. Main primary principles of this act are: empowerment,
prevention, proportionality, protection, partnership, and accountability.
Safeguarding vulnerable groups Act, 2006: Main aim of this act is to ensure that people who are
not suitable for working with vulnerable individuals do not end up working with them such as
people with criminal background, history of abuse, exploitation etc (Duffy and et.al., 2017).
Such kind of people are checked when anyone applies for a job with vulnerable adults.
Health and social care act, 2008: This act helps in strengthening protection of people who are
vulnerable and are using residential care. This is done by ensuring that any kind of care home
that provide accommodations together nursing or personal care on behalf of local authority are
subject to Huma Rights Act, 1998.
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3. Analysis of ways in which serious case reviews have influenced safeguarding and protection.
Explanation of actions that can be taken in the event of suspected or actual abuse
Serious case reviews influence safeguarding and protection
Serious case reviews were established under Children Act, 2004 for reviewing cases
where a child have died or have been abused/ neglected or when a child has harmed as a result of
neglect abuse. Such kind of serious case reviews have directly influenced safeguarding and
protection. Serious cases review has influenced ways in which local agencies and professionals
should work together for safeguarding children (Hutchins, 2021). It further results in influencing
local safeguarding practices that can help in providing more protective services that can help in
safeguarding of children. It can also be said that serious case reviews has directly influenced
ways in which safeguarding of children can be done such that protection to children is enhanced
and any kind of vulnerable situation and its impact upon children can be minimized.
Actions that can be taken in the event of suspected or actual abuse
If any kind of actual or suspected abuse is identified then in such case following actions
can be taken.
 As soon as any kind of abuse is identified or suspected, respective local authorities should be
informed so that vulnerable person or individual can be provided protection as soon as
possible.
 In case of emergency immediate actions should be taken for protecting vulnerable individual
and if there is a need to call 999 or ambulance then it should be done immediately (Hutchins,
2021).
 If it is detected those injuries are not accidental then in such case immediate senior staff
members or manager should be informed so that criminal case can be developed and if it is
confirmed that an offence has been committed then police should be contacted, safeguarding
investigation should be started immediately.
 If manager fails to deal with the matter, then it is important to take matter further and higher
authorities should be contacted so that safeguarding of individuals can be done in an
adequate manner.
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4. Analysis of ways in which service provision supports individuals take risks and make
informed choices
Provision of appropriate and timely services help a vulnerable individual in taking risk about
their lives and can further help in making informed choices. Whenever vulnerable individuals are
provided with timely support and care and proper services are provided to them; it helps in
development of confidence within them. It helps in development of trust within service providers
as well as in development of confidence what helps them in taking risk such as filing a complaint
against their abuser or person because of which they were being abused or neglected (Lee, 2019).
This confidence further helps them in trusting within their service providers and making
informed choices knowing its complete implications and alternative options that are available to
them. It further allows them to understand all kind of options available to them with its
implications so that they can take decisions that are fruitful or beneficial for them. Provision of
services further allow vulnerable people to find people who will be helpful and would provide
further support to them so that they can take risk or take appropriate decisions that are beneficial
for them.
Some of the most common ways though which service provision support help individual in
taking risk and making informed choices are: by providing all kinds of important and necessary
information to individuals, helping them to find specialist workers who can provide further
support to them, using effective mode of communication with which individual is comfortable
with, supporting them by involving their friends, family members or other relatives, providing
them with additional options that can help them in taking appropriate decisions (Bhattacharya
and et.al., 2019). It can further be done by providing individual with all the options that can be
taken by them that are beneficial for them.
5. Information on signs and symptoms of abuse
Abuse is the treatment of a thing often to unfairly or treatment which results in improper
gain of benefit. Abuse come from verbal maltreatment, violation, unjust or other types of abuse
which is intolerable for the individuals and through this it is depicted that the abuse is the mental
illness. Signs of abuse is being emotionally upset or agitated, verbally or mentally mistreated,
non communication or non responsive behaviour, nervousness around some people are the main
signs of how abuse is detected (Hoft and et.al., 2017). Abuse is also on the terms that how the
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individuals are being treated and this is related directly to the health and social care sector. Along
with this, there are various other symptoms which are mentioned and which are related to the
abusive behaviour of the individuals who are in contact with and are facing the abuse.
This is the main thing which the abuse holds for the concern in health and social care. The
other symptoms which are there in the abuse are the mental trauma, emotional neglect, isolation,
physical torture, dehumanizing, no communication, keeping away the individuals from
socializing etc. These are some of the factors and the symptoms which are highly relatable for
the purpose to solve the cases of how abuse is being created in the society and this is the main
concern for the health and social care. In abuse the major symptoms which are seen in an
individual is that the person is not able to talk openly in the public places, keeps distance with
people, never shares the feelings or emotions to other individuals. Along with this, the
individuals also face social distance from society as the society treats them differently.
Thus, some of the symptoms are the main source which is depicted for the state of how the
abuse is being generated from (Vrolijk-Bosschaart and et.al., 2018). The purpose of how abuse is
being addressed in the society especially in the health and social care is main thing which is
observed for what is the scale of health and social scale is standing of. This information is
provided which depicts the sign and the symptoms of how the abuse is defined.
6. Measures to be taken to avoid abuse taking place
There are various measures which can be taken to prevent abuse taking place and this can
prevent the individual from being affected mentally and physically and will preserve the health
and social care of the individual. And it is very necessary for the individual to take the concern
of them and to make the way of preserving and protecting themselves from the abuse which can
be mental and physical (Brown and et.al., 2018). Measures to be taken to avoid abuse taking
place is explained as below –
 Making the place abusive free so that the individuals are living their life in an easy way
possible and they are able to analyze what are the possible ways through which the
individuals are not being traumatized.
 Getting rid of alcohol or drug problems will also help the abuse to take their life seriously
and will lead them to have a safe life ahead.
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 Educating yourself and others so that the abuse does not take place and can be avoided at
larger scale by providing knowledge to other people also.
 Examination of the behaviour of the abusive individual should be done so that the
behaviour is observed and the person is able to self analyse the behaviour of which is
being dealt with (Schneider and et.al., 2017).
 Volunteering the time is very essential for analyzing what is to be done with the abused
individuals and how make the meetings possible with them so that they are able to gain
information about how the safe place is to be provided to the people.
 Knowing the signs of abuse is very important for the individuals and the society so that
proper help is being provided to the individuals and they can seek help from the society
for the health and social care purpose.
 Supporting the abusive prevention programs so that individuals who are suffering from
the abuse can take preventive measures and get rid of abuse in an effective and healthy
way.
Therefore, these are some of measures which can be taken to prevent abuse so that people are
suffering in an extreme condition and through this they will be able to take concern.
7. Practice that maintains the safety and protection of vulnerable individuals
There are various types of practices and ways through which safety and protection of
vulnerable individuals can be seen and they can be protected for their very own safety and this
ensures that how they can be well lived with keeping their mental and physical health sane and
this is the main thing which helps in keeping the health and social care aspect on the grounds to
protect the individuals from abuse (Coventry and et.al., 2018). The main thing which the
individuals face is the abuse which affects their mental and physical health and through this they
are not able to face the society on real grounds. To keep this abuse out of the society, the main
thing which the individuals seek is how to keep themselves away from this abuse and for this it is
required to ensure the safe environment which is to be provided to the people on an effective
note possible and ensuring that they are able to cope up with the situations when there is any type
of social abuse or personal abuse. When safeguarding a vulnerable individual it is important to –
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 Ensure that they can live in safety and can free themselves from the negative environment
by making themselves cover towards the positive environment and neglecting the other
negative thoughts which hamper their mental and physical peace.
 Empower the abused so that they can live and start a new life with a fresh beginning and
through that they will be able to analyse themselves even more better on the scale that
they are having a significant life to live (Iqbal and et.al., 2020). This will also help them
to take decisions on their own in an effective manner.
 Keeping them in full conversation so that they can initiate their points and can keep up
their difficulties and problems which are there and which they are facing. This will help
them in knowing what their true potential is and how they are able to cope up with the
issues which they are facing by themselves and in the society.
Therefore, these are the practices through which the individuals can cope up their abuse in an
effective way.
TASK 2
1. An explanation of the agreed protocols for working in partnership
National Health Service (NHS) is the health and social care organization which looks after
the services which are to be provided to the patients in the health care industry at large scale. It is
government – based organization which looks after all the services and the care facilities which
are to be provided to the individuals who are in need of. This is the most important part in which
the organization is engaged in rendering the services to the patients and this makes this is seen
through the aspect of how the patients are provided the services on large scale. the healthcare
system is all available in the terms of what the organization is offering and what are the various
sources through which the organization is able to make the aspects of how the things and the
process is being done to serve the society at large scale (McCrea and et.al., 2021). There are
various partnerships in which the organization is collaborating with and through this; the main
aspect which is being seen is how the organization while combining the efforts with others is
able to serve the individuals and the patients of the society at large. For this, there are various
protocols which are to be followed while collaborating with the other healthcare organizations.
The protocols consists of the rules and regulations which are there in the terms to follow so that
the collaboration and the practices which are to be done are on the note of how the things are
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managed and this ensures that the changes will be taken in the terms of providing the services
and the laws will be framed which will enhance the patterns of how the things are to be managed
effectively and efficiently on a business note.
Partnership working is aligned with promoting the services and the choice which are being
shared between the two healthcare organizations like the NHS and other collaborative
partnerships which are there in helping the society and initiating their step towards the healthcare
sector or the industry in promoting their services at large scale. Healthcare professional of NHS
when work in collaborative partnerships ensure that the decisions are taken on the right scale of
measurement and that the services are provided to the patients as per their requirements and
needs so that they are also satisfied. Along with this, the healthcare professionals and patients of
NHS form collaborative partnership in which they are involved follows the protocol of how the
process is to be maintained effectively (Barson and et.al., 2017). The main reason which is being
considered in framing the protocols is that while the partnerships are framed, it is the
responsibility of NHS that it ensures that all the treatment, investigations, management and care
are the sources which are considered as important and through this it can be concluded that what
are the effects and the positive aspects when healthcare organization NHS comes in partnership
with the other healthcare organizations to provide the services and the duties better in an efficient
and in significant manner.
2. An evaluation of the importance of working in partnership with others in relation to
safeguarding
Safeguarding is the term which is the collection of measure that ensures groups such as young
people, vulnerable adults and the children are protected from abuse, neglect and harm in the
society. These measures are taken to ensure that abuse and other health and care problems do not
occur. This is the main thing which is done in regard to safeguarding the environment for the
patients and the society against anything abusive or the negative which cannot be taken into
consideration for a longer time (Barratt and et.al., 2017). By safeguarding, the health and social
care sector become most of the effective sectors which renders the services to the patients and
through that it regains the health and social care practices which are being formed in the sector.
Safeguarding is the easy and one of the most important aspects in the health and social care
which helps in taking the initiative for the safeguarding healthcare industry on large scale.
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Working in partnership has initiated the process that the organization that is NHS is
working in other collaborating partnerships is the most effective and efficient way in which the
organization is changing its patterns and taking new ways and ideas which generated for the
enhancement of the process on larger scale. While working in partnerships many things are
initiated and through that various safeguarding rules and regulations are also framed which
reflects the healthcare rules and practices of how they are being formed. This is the major thing
which is being initiated and through that the various methods and practices are also changed with
the NHS working in collaboration with the other healthcare organizations. Through this, the
other healthcare organizations also enable the choices and chance to change their patterns and
scales of how the processes and ways can be more effective in the healthcare industry which can
serve best the individuals so that their requirements and needs can be fulfilled on large scale.
Therefore, while working in partnership the main aspect which is observed is the
collaboration with the partnerships of NHS with other healthcare organizations and this enables
the whole process of safeguarding the issues and the problems to be solved on large scale (Rice
and et.al., 2018). Thus, working in partnerships have resulted in positive effects which has
enabled the whole process of how the healthcare organizations are working on the scale of
effectively and efficiently providing the services to the patients and meeting the business needs
as well through the collaboration process being initiated significantly.
Thus, the main importance of working in partnership is the main thing which is initiated
the various aspects which have been on the count of how the partnership of NHS with the other
healthcare organizations is the basic in the terms of how they provide the services to the patients
and through that they are being effective in the terms of brining the healthcare business on scale
effectively and on significant basis. This is the main aspect in which the things like being
collaborative on the terms of business significantly.
3. An assessment of the importance of the involvement of individuals in the review of systems
and procedures in services
The importance of the involvement of individuals in the review of systems and procedures in
services is that the individuals are more concerned about how the services are being rendered to
them so that through this they can analyze what are the essential services which they still require
for their benefits and fulfilment of needs on large scale. while reviewing the systems and
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procedures in services the individuals are able to detect what are the core strengths and key skills
which are being required to them so that the services which are being availed to them through the
health and social care sector. Individuals seek the best services which are provided to them by
following the process and the procedure in the services (Jones, 2021). This is the main reason
which initiates the system to review how the services are being rendered to the individuals so
that they can take concern of the health and social care sector in different forms. The systems and
review of procedures which are being introduced in the services is the main source which the
individuals are seeking and making themselves available for acquiring the services and through
this the main reason why the health and social care sector is providing these type of services are
the main key source to which the individuals are making the efforts in the enhancing the work
and the process through which the services can be utilized effectively and efficiently in the
health and social care sector.
It is very important for the individuals to analyse what are the basic needs and
requirements of the individuals through which they are analyse what the health and social care
facilities serve the individuals on large scale by fulfilling their requirements and needs. This is
the basic necessity which the individuals are able to assess and review so that they are able to
make the initiative towards the changes which are to be done or taken place at the very initial
step of the process which is followed in the system of serving the services to the individuals on
large scale. Through this, it is also analyzed that whether the individuals are able to avail and
take the services which are being provided by the health and social care sector. Individuals are
also responsible for reviewing the systems and the procedures so that if any changes are to be
done on the some large grounds then it is done effectively and efficiently.
Thus, the main aspect which the individuals consider is that being on the grounds o how
the basic requirements and the needs in the health care industry is being fulfilled by incurring the
services which are being rendered to them (McKevitt and et.al., 2020). Through this, the services
which in the health and social care services are being there which grants the services to be more
effective on the scale of how individuals are taking correcting actions and framing various
strategies to work out systems and process of health care sector in an effective way possible.
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4. A review of a work setting procedures and practice against current legislation and policy in
relation to safeguarding and protecting vulnerable individuals
Procedures and practices against current legislation and policy in relation to safeguarding and
protecting vulnerable individuals is described as how the individuals are seeking and following
the legislation policies which helps in the safeguarding of the individuals at large scale
(Shamsad, 2020). The major basis which is seen as the part of the safeguarding and protection
which is needed to the vulnerable individuals is that the individuals are more concerned about
how the safeguarding of the individuals is being done for the basis that all the legislations and
the policies are being followed.
For this, there is Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006. This act was passed to help
and avoid harm by preventing the people who are unsuitable to work with the vulnerable adults
from gaining access through the work which is being done by the individuals. And through this,
they are able to analyze what are the major aspects and the legislations policies which are being
framed in the due course of action for the betterment of safeguarding and protecting the
vulnerable individuals. This makes the prospects of how the legislation policies are being
practised and the value of the safeguarding and protecting the vulnerability of the individuals is
being denoted for the scale of what are the perspectives of growth and this is the main reason
why the safeguarding and protecting vulnerable individuals is important so that the health and
social care perspectives are clear. Safeguarding ensures individuals that they are being protected
against any harm which is being done to them and through this the process of protecting the
vulnerability of the individuals the key source which they incur is having the best medium and
the process through the safeguarding is done, major work is considered for the health and social
care.
Safeguarding the vulnerable groups is being considered as an important aspect as through
this the main aim and the objective of the individuals is to practice the current legislations which
takes place and which are to be followed in process through which the safeguarding and the
vulnerability of the individuals is depicted (Shorrock and et.al., 2019). Various types of practices
and procedures are being followed which makes the most of processing and making the health
and social care concerns effective when the vulnerability of the individuals is analysed.
Safeguarding is done for the purpose in which what are the individuals are being effectively
taking concerns of the health and the safety measures. Thus, the current legislations and the
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practices are being followed for the purpose of how things and the sources are being effectively
taking steps towards safeguarding and protecting the vulnerable individuals and for this major
source through which all process of the safeguarding and protecting vulnerable individuals is
done. Therefore, safeguarding is important for individuals so that they are being protected
against any type of abuse or crime which may happen. Safeguarding is a practice which is
considered in enhancing behaviour of individuals and to keep them safe for perspective of how
things are being created for their safety.
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REFERENCES
Books and journals
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scoping review. BMJ global health.5(5).p.e002553.
Asghar, M.R. and et.al., 2017, October. A review of privacy and consent management in
healthcare: A focus on emerging data sources. In 2017 IEEE 13th International
Conference on e-Science (e-Science) (pp. 518-522). IEEE.
Duffy, R.M. and et.al., 2017. Concordance of the Indian mental healthcare act 2017 with the
World Health Organization’s checklist on mental health legislation. International
Journal of Mental Health Systems.11(1).pp.1-24.
Hutchins, K.J., 2021. The UK Prevent programme–a wolf in Safeguarding clothing or an
opportunity to reduce social violence? Personal reflections on the debate outlined by
False Positives after a quarter of a century as a Designated Doctor for Safeguarding
Children. Medicine, conflict and survival.pp.1-7.
Lee, D., 2019. A model for designing healthcare service based on the patient
experience. International Journal of Healthcare Management.12(3).pp.180-188.
Bhattacharya, P. and et.al., 2019. Bindaas: Blockchain-based deep-learning as-a-service in
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literature. Journal of forensic nursing.13(1).pp.26-34.
Vrolijk-Bosschaart, T.F. and et.al., 2018. Clinical practice: recognizing child sexual abuse—
what makes it so difficult?. European journal of paediatrics.177(9).pp.1343-1350.
Brown, C. and et.al., 2018. Digital dating abuse measures: A critical review. Aggression and
violent behaviour.40.pp.44-59.
Schneider, W. and et.al., 2017. The Great Recession and risk for child abuse and
neglect. Children and youth services review.72.pp.71-81.
Coventry, L. and et.al., 2018. Cybersecurity in healthcare: a narrative review of trends, threats
and ways forward. Maturitas.113.pp.48-52.
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Iqbal, M.R. and et.al., 2020. COVID-19: results of a national survey of United Kingdom
healthcare professionals’ perceptions of current management strategy–a cross-sectional
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McCrea, Z. and et.al., 2021. Coproducing health and well-being in partnership with patients,
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Barson, S. and et.al., 2017. Healthcare leaders’ views on successful quality improvement
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Barratt, H. and et.al., 2017. Health services research: building capacity to meet the needs of the
health care system. Journal of health services research & policy.22(4).pp.243-249.
Rice, S.M. and et.al., 2018. Young men’s access to community-based mental health care:
qualitative analysis of barriers and facilitators. Journal of mental health.27(1).pp.59-65.
Jones, M., 2021. Patient and public involvement in healthcare: Potentials and challenges of lay
expertise and experiential knowledge.
McKevitt, C. and et.al., 2020. Involving patients and publics in healthcare. Healthcare Public
Health: Improving health services through population science.p.33.
Shamsad, R., 2020. Safeguarding Vulnerable Persons. The Journal of Development
Communication.31(1).pp.26-33.
Shorrock, S. and et.al., 2019. Investigating the characteristics of vulnerable referrals made to a
multi-agency safeguarding hub. Policing: A Journal of Policy and
Practice.13(2).pp.201-212.
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