Review of a Case Study on Vulnerable Persons

VULNERABLE PERSONS 1
REVIEW REGARDING A CASE STUDY ON VULNERABLE
PERSONS
Name:
Course:
Professor:
Name of school:
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Date:

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INTRODUCTION
Vulnerable persons are regarded as those unable to make decisions and are at risk of harm by
their own actions or exploitation. In the case study, Clara who is a widow has lost her husband
and she uses negative coping mechanisms. According to Cramer (2012), negative coping
mechanisms occur when one is unable to deal with life events such as death. After her husband
dies Clara becomes isolated and is engaged in competitions. This becomes addictive and as she
continues, she is required to pay more money. The key issue is Clara uses her hard-earned money
to engage in competitions while she hardly gets any return. Clara is being conned. Clara is upset
when she is advised that she is being conned.
Clara loses weight and this raises the attention of the healthcare workers. Clara is affected by this
behaviour health wise but she doesn’t seem to notice its effects. According to Grun and
McKeigue (2013), those who engage in lottery competitions slowly become addicted and it
becomes excessive gambling leading to the likelihood of gambling disorders and health issues.
Clara began developing health issues but is not happy when this is addressed that the competition
may be fraudulent.
Clara spends her pensions engaging in the competitions to the point where she lacks food and
this raises the attention of the health worker and the trading standards worker. The trading
standards in the United Kingdom is a department involved in ensuring consumer protection
against organizations. It is also involved in protecting vulnerable persons against scams and
crime. Clara is also being asked for information about assets such as the house she lives in yet
she continues to engage in the competitions despite the knowledge that she is being conned.
Clara is a vulnerable adult and needs to be protected against the scammers.
SAFEGUARDING

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Safeguarding is a term used in the United Kingdom to refer to protecting vulnerable adults who
are at risk by harm to themselves or others. It is used to protect the rights of these people from
abuse and neglect from family members, professionals, healthcare workers and other adults.
According to the British Medical Association (2010) safeguarding refers to keeping vulnerable
adults from harm by assessing their needs and collaborating with others to ensure their
protection. The harm may be in terms of physical and violent abuse, mental, financial abuse. The
vulnerable adults are unable to make decisions to protect themselves due to illness or incapability
to decide due to various reasons.
According to Braye, Orr and Preston-Shoot (2012), safeguarding has six principles which govern
it. The first is the principle of empowerment which states that the adult is in charge of their life
and should be involved in decision making. The principle of protection states that the adult
should be granted support to protect themselves where they are unable. The principle of
prevention of harm states that there is a reduction of abuse where it is unacceptable. The
principle of proportionality is ensuring a balance between the measures taken and the seriousness
of the situation; less restriction. The principle of partnership is working together with
individuals, communities and professionals to safeguard the adult. Finally, the principle of
transparency and accountability is ensuring the actions taken are open and in communication
with other agencies.
S(afeguarding has come a long way in terms of legislation in the United Kingdom. The data
protection act 1998 involves the use of personal data by obtaining, protecting and using personal
data. Human rights act 1998 article provides that everyone has the right to privacy in his life or
home but sharing of such information may be necessary to protect an individual. Children Act of

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1989 states that local authorities have the right to investigate when a child is suspected to be
undergoing abuse.
According to the Social Care Institute for Excellence (2011) the Care Standards Act, 2000
protects the persons at risk while ensuring the Secretary of State keeps a list of individuals who
are unsuitable to work with people at risk. Safeguarding Vulnerable groups Act 2006 restrict
contact between people at risk and potential perpetrators of harm. The latest act being Care Act
of 2014 requires local authorities to make inquiries when an adult may be at risk of neglect and
abuse. The authority should stop the abuse and set up safeguarding adults board. It should
cooperate with other partners to ensure the protection of persons experiencing abuse and neglect.
ADULT AT RISK
According to Dunn (2013) an adult at risk is one above 18 years old and is a need of social care
services due to illness, disability or other reasons rendering them incapable of taking care of
themselves; is at risk of harm or exploitation. The term vulnerable adult is also used
interchangeably but in the West Midlands and Birmingham adults at risk are preferred. The term
vulnerable adult is contentious since it renders an adult as one who is unable to make decisions
and may lead to stigmatization.
An adult may be considered at risk due to various factors such as being mentally ill, living with a
person who abuses alcohol or drugs. Others include physical and learning disabilities and women
due to cultural factors. Healthcare workers should be able to identify an adult at risk and work
with other partners. Abuse and neglect are some of the issues the adult at risk encounter.
According to the Department of health (2012), abuse consists of a single or repeated act, physical
or verbal and inability to give consent. Physical abuse is being restrained or violence, sexual