Detailed Report on Safeguarding in Health and Social Care Practices

This report delves into the critical aspects of safeguarding in health and social care, focusing on the protection of vulnerable individuals from abuse and harm. It begins by identifying factors that contribute to vulnerability, such as physical disabilities, alcohol consumption, lack of awareness, and homelessness, using case scenarios to illustrate these issues. The report examines the impact of social and cultural factors on different types of abuse, highlighting the influence of responsibilities, beliefs, ethical values, and cultural practices. It then analyzes the strengths and weaknesses of existing legislation and policies, including the Mental Capacity Act 2005, the Safeguarding Vulnerable Group Act 2006, the Health Care Act 2014, and the Sexual Offences Act 2003. Furthermore, the report discusses the involvement of key professionals, such as social workers, managers, educators, doctors, and nurses, in protecting vulnerable individuals. The conclusion emphasizes the importance of recognizing risk factors, providing education, and implementing effective risk assessment strategies to enhance safeguarding practices. The report also covers the evaluation of potency of working patterns and schemes in health and social care.

Safeguarding in health & social care

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
TASK 1............................................................................................................................................1
1.1 Factors that may lead individuals and groups vulnerable to abuse or harm to self and
others......................................................................................................................................1
1.2 Covered in poster.............................................................................................................2
1.3 Impact of social and cultural factors on different types of abuse to self and others........2
TASK 2............................................................................................................................................3
2.1 Analysis of strengths and weaknesses in existing legislation and policies related to those
vulnerable to abuse.................................................................................................................3
2.2 Involvement of key professionals in protection of individuals and groups vulnerable to
abuse.......................................................................................................................................4
TASK 3............................................................................................................................................5
Covered in ppt........................................................................................................................5
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................5
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................6

INTRODUCTION
Safeguarding in health and social care involves techniques and urgency of protecting
individuals from getting abused and harmed by others and from oneself too. There are various
factors such as mental, physical, cultural, individual that makes a person unstable causing harm
and damages. Therefore, there is urgent need to look upon this matter and find ways of
protecting children and young people (Ash, 2016). Various case studies will be taken into
consideration to identify potential factors and remedies for individuals being harmed. In the
study, strengths and weaknesses of existing laws and policies will be discussed. Involvement of
professionals in protecting individuals and group of people from abuse will be also be covered.
Report will also cover evaluation of potency of working patterns and schemes in health and
social care. Necessary and possible improvements will also be disclosed to reduce harm to adults
and child in the given context.
TASK 1
1.1 Factors that may lead individuals and groups vulnerable to abuse or harm to self and others
As per given case scenario, BV, a child of one month old found dead and unresponsive
due to carelessness of parents as they consumed large quantity of alcohol and does not remember
anything. Term abuse could be defined as using physical appearance along with skills and
capabilities improperly for fulfilment of needs. Various factors are responsible that makes an
individual or groups vulnerable to injure themselves and others. Some of them are discussed
below: Physical disabilities: When people are weak and can not produce fast reactions as the
situation, they become vulnerable to harm (Blais, Hayes and Erb, 2015). In the given
case, BV was a small infant one just one month old, was not able to speak anything and at
the time of death could not even ask for help for safeguarding. Individuals who suffer
from disabilities are the most open people who get easily affected. Alcohol consumption: People who consumes huge amount of alcohol and not being able
to handle themselves can cause harm to others as well as to oneself as they do not have
control over their body which causes damages and destruction. BV's father before his
death in last month faced accident due to consumption of alcohol. He was a regular
drinker. Thus, it becomes very essential in such kind of situation to care children
properly. One should also ensure that drunk and drive case should be avoided.
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 Lack of awareness: Individuals who are not aware of the rights and protection acts about
their safety and security gets easily targetted to harm by others. Thus, it is required for
everyone to have knowledge about their safety rights and it is the responsibility of an
individual itself to take care of themselves (Dickinson and O'Flynn, 2016). Children who
are very small and depends on their parents, in this case father along with mother should
ensue safety of their child from getting harmed by anyone.
 Homeless: When individuals do not have anyone to care and are far away from their
families, the chances of getting abused increases. They are more prone to emotional and
sexual abuse.
1.2 Covered in poster.
1.3 Impact of social and cultural factors on different types of abuse to self and others
Social factors: Such as responsibilities, beliefs, ethical values and many more gives rise
to risk of abuse and harm to oneself and others. People who do not have anybody to care for
them and are away from their homes makes them potential risk of harm for others. It gives rise to
mental disorders making them unstable and aggressive. Factors such as education, poverty and
surrounding people impacts well being of an individual (MacKian and Simons, 2013). In many
regions across the world, child marriages are prevailing which directly impacts women's health.
Unequal rights given to men and women also arise several issues that also leads to domestic
violence.
Cultural factor: Unethical values and religions issues along with different cultural beliefs
gives rise to child and adult abuse. People being discriminated on the basis of religion, caste,
gender, etc. affects their well-being. Unequal treatment gives rise many issues causing harm to
oneself and others. In many religions, women are not allowed to have interaction with men
which requires urgent modifications in the existing cultural happenings.
People involved into personal issues and happiness neglecting their child causes various
events that may lead to child abuse. This situation demands urgent care for children as well as
adults. It is required to have proper protection policies in the nurseries where children could be
safeguarded (Manthorpe and et.al., 2015). People should be taught about harmful effects of
alcohol consumption on the child upbringing. Safeguarding Children Board (LSCB) therefore,
conducts various campaigns so that parents could be taught and make them understand their
responsibilities towards family and child. Parents could conduct various activities at home to
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engage themselves with children so that they do not feel alone as well as their child also feel
secured which could help in minimizing child abuse and domestic violence to a wider extent.
TASK 2
2.1 Analysis of strengths and weaknesses in existing legislation and policies related to those
vulnerable to abuse
According to the given scenario, MRS S was admitted in the nursing home where she
was suffering from health issues and was not able to interact with anyone. She was completely
dependent on other to carry out day today activities (McLaughlin, Leigh and Worsley, 2015).
She was not even able to move by herself. An incident took place where she fell down from the
electric chair because of irresponsible behaviour of the staff and authorities. Nobody was taking
it on serious note and care home claimed family for being frighten. Several legislation laws are
there which could be taken into account in the given case to ensure rights of the lady remains
preserved. Some of the acts are discussed below:
In the year 2005, the Mental Capacity act was formulated with the aim of protecting
people who are suffering from mental disabilities and disorders. People who have weaknesses in
the brain are refereed as low mental capacity individuals and are added to this group. Thus,
people are required to be treated with care and special attention as they could prove to dangerous
in various situations causing harm to oneself and others.
Safeguarding vulnerable group act 2006 is designed for protection of child and adults in
context of health care. It leads to formulation of panel of authorities that ensures safety and
support to the individuals by availing first aid along with transport facilities. But there are some
limitations as well as it is has limited definition which is required to expand in terms of potential
groups that are vulnerable to harm and abuse in the community.
To promote good health and importance of healthy life, Health care Act 2014 was
framed. This act was designed with the aim of protecting individuals rights in health safety and
their well being while ensuring their social and physical state of mind remains balanced (Moss,
2017). The laws associated with this act explains respecting person's individuality and
viewpoints along with identification of risk factors that may hinder in safety and security
purpose. Assessment is carried out to identify individuals that requires care and ways in which
care could be provided. It also involves analysing possible risks that may come into existence in
near future.
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Sexual Offences Act 2003 was developed with the objective of ensuring sexual safety of
people that are vulnerable to harm. It comprises various methodologies which guarantees
minimization of factors causing risks so that people feel safe and secured. This kind of laws
cannot be applied in the care homes that are of small scale (Mossberg, 2016). Services providers
of care homes of such kind do not have knowledge and information regarding providing care and
support to the people. For application of these laws, deep knowledge is required.
2.2 Involvement of key professionals in protection of individuals and groups vulnerable to abuse
As per the given scenario, social worker analysed the whole scene and conducted meeting
along with family members and manager of the nursing home to address the problems raised
ensuring involvement of both the parties so that everyone could have equal participation.
Social manager acted as key professional whose job was to assess risks and develop
services provided to the patients. Managers thus have responsibility to handle various operations
of the organisation (Moule, 2015). They are also required to check that all the rules and laws are
properly followed by the employees in such a way that rights of individuals do not get violated.
They engage themselves in smooth functioning of activities and strategies within the care homes.
Risk assessment plan is prepared to identify potential factors that may affect well-being of
individuals.
Educators play contributing role in protecting children from being abused and harmed.
Education teaches moral values and ethics to be followed in workings of individuals. An
educated person knows how to behave and what are etiquettes and manners while dealing with
people. Necessary information regarding child abuse and neglect could be collected through
market surveys and accordingly action plan could be prepared. In schools, classes and teachings
are provided along with training programmes on how to handle child and adult abuse.
In hospitals and care homes, doctors have strategies and ways to tackle emotionally,
physically and mentally challenged people (Munro, Taylor and Bradbury‐Jones, 2014). They
could easily identity care needs. Diagnosis reports are also utilized by them so that issues could
be identified that are affecting individual's health. Identified problems are provided with medical
help so that they could be cured. They also provide assistance in physical well-being. Thus,
people feel supported as they are provided with medical help and doctors aid.
In care homes, nurses also work in the field of minimizing risks of abuse. They are also
well trained in handling organisational challenges and determination of health-care needs of the
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vulnerable people (North, 2016). They work for the betterment of the people ensuring safety as
well. They perform their duties following guidelines and policies of the organisation.
TASK 3
Covered in ppt
CONCLUSION
From the report it can be concluded that there is great emergence to safeguard adults and
child from being abused and harmed. Various factors are there which are responsible to make
them vulnerable to such incidents. These risk factors are needed to be identified and analysed so
that necessary steps could be taken accordance with the situation. Current legislations have
provided various laws for protecting individuals. Education could be provided to the people so
that they could be aware of basic rights and knowledge about the necessary actions to be taken if
the such kind of situations prevail. Risk assessment also helps in identifying all the possible risk
factors and extent to which damages could be made by them.
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REFERENCES
Books and Journal
Ash, A., 2016. Whistleblowing and ethics in health and social care. Jessica Kingsley Publishers.
Blais, K., Hayes, J. S. and Erb, G. L., 2015. Professional nursing practice: Concepts and
perspectives (p. 530). Prentice Hall.
Dickinson, H. and O'Flynn, J., 2016. Evaluating outcomes in health and social care. Policy
Press.
Glasby, J. and Dickinson, H., 2014. Partnership working in health and social care: what is
integrated care and how can we deliver it?. Policy Press.
Glasby, J., 2017. Understanding health and social care. Policy Press.
Glynos, J., Speed, E. and West, K., 2015. Logics of marginalisation in health and social care
reform: Integration, choice, and provider-blind provision. Critical Social Policy. 35(1).
pp.45-68.
MacKian, S. and Simons, J., 2013. Leading, managing, caring: understanding leadership and
management in health and social care. Routledge in association with The Open
University.
Manthorpe, J. and et.al., 2015. Did anyone notice the transformation of adult social care? An
analysis of Safeguarding Adult Board Annual Reports. The Journal of Adult Protection.
17(1). pp.19-30.
McLaughlin, K., Leigh, J. and Worsley, A., 2015. The state of regulation in England: From the
general social care council to the health and care professions council. The British Journal
of Social Work. 46(4). pp.825-838.
Moss, B., 2017. Communication skills in health and social care. Sage.
Mossberg, L., 2016. Service user involvement in Swedish mental health and social care: an
analysis of ideological dilemmas and subject positions in a collaboration context.
European Journal of social work. 19(5). pp.716-730.
Moule, P., 2015. Making sense of research in nursing, health and social care. Sage.
Munro, E., Taylor, J. S. and Bradbury‐Jones, C., 2014. Understanding the causal pathways to
child maltreatment: Implications for health and social care policy and practice. Child
abuse review. 23(1). pp.61-74.
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North, C., 2016. Comprehensive geriatric assessment of a mental health service user with
safeguarding needs: In the final article of this series, Chris North discusses how gold
standard assessment can improve nurses’ understanding of the patient experience. Nursing
older people. 28(5). pp.25-29.
Vlachantoni, A., Evandrou, M. and Falkingham, J., 2015. The determinants of receiving social
care in later life in England. Ageing & Society. 35(2). pp.321-345.
Online
Safeguarding adults. 2017. [Online]. Available through:
<http://www.scie.org.uk/adults/safeguarding/>. [Accessed on 11th July 2017].
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