Report on Safeguarding in Health and Social Care: Bella's Case

This report focuses on safeguarding in health and social care, analyzing a case study of a 92-year-old woman with Alzheimer's disease named Bella, who is experiencing physical injuries and mental distress. The report explores the factors contributing to vulnerability, including social isolation, lack of financial support, and the impact of mental and physical illness. It discusses various types of abuse, such as physical, emotional, and social, and their effects on vulnerable individuals. The report also examines relevant legislation, specifically the Mental Health Act 1983, its strengths, and its weaknesses in safeguarding patients' rights. It highlights the responsibilities of care takers, the role of social and cultural factors in causing vulnerability, and the importance of providing emotional support, social integration, and appropriate care to prevent self-harm and improve the overall well-being of vulnerable individuals. The report offers insights into improving health and social care services to better support the needs of vulnerable individuals and prevent abuse.

SAFEGUARDING IN
HEALTH AND SOCIAL
CARE

TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
TASK 1............................................................................................................................................1
1.1...........................................................................................................................................1
1.2...........................................................................................................................................2
1.3...........................................................................................................................................3
TASK 2............................................................................................................................................4
2.1...........................................................................................................................................4
2.2...........................................................................................................................................5
TASK 3............................................................................................................................................6
3.1...........................................................................................................................................6
3.2...........................................................................................................................................7
3.3...........................................................................................................................................8
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................8
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................9

Illustration Index
Illustration 1: Types of abuse...........................................................................................................4

INTRODUCTION
The heath and social care in UK refers to services provided by health and social care
providers to the needed persons. As a discipline, the term involves different components like
biology, sociology and various other ethical practices. Present report is based on a case study that
is based on a 92 year old woman suffering from Alzheimer's disease. The lady is very weak and
wants to live in her own home. The study will be carried out in this report regarding various
reasons due to which a particular person harm themselves and others (Sheldon, 2011). Besides
this, its social ad cultural impact have also been emphasised in present report. Apart from this,
various acts and working practices that are enacted for such people have been focused so that
improvement can be advised in this regard.
TASK 1
1.1
The case mentioned here, discussed about 'Bella', a 92 year old lady who is suffering
from Alzheimer's. The case shows that she has injured her arm, shoulder and have fractured her
hip and collar bone too. In such cases, it is very much evident that patients use to cause harm to
themselves. They use to do this when they are not able to handle their inner stress level. This
harm not only includes the physical hurt but also involve intake of alcohol, drugs and smoke
which shows the harm in long run. When the case becomes more complicated, this situation may
also lead a patient to commit suicide (Currie and Lockett, 2011). This kind of vulnerability is
more apparent in case of adults or old age persons who are aged and are in need of extra care.
The groups that are vulnerable to abuse may be categorised in two parts which are vulnerable
individuals and vulnerable individuals. In case of Bella, she can be taken under vulnerable
individuals. This group contains children and old age group people who are placed at hospitals
and at any assemblage centre as they are suffering from any kind of disease or disability. Bella is
also a vulnerable adult who needs special care as she is not able to take care of herself. This kind
of adults suffer from mental and physical illness hence they are in need of special care and
attention (Glasby and Dickinson, 2014). Major causes due to which adults are more vulnerable to
abuse are enlisted below:
 When the persons feel detached or separated from family, friends or their social groups.
 When anyone is feeling that they are not being cared properly.
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 When there is lack of financial and emotional support for them.
 When person is addicted from any kind of bad habits like drugs, alcohol and smoke.
In case of Bella she is feeling isolated from her family and that is why she use to attempt
to harm herself. She repeatedly asks to go home as well because she doesn't feel good at home
taken care by a carer. This has increased her disease as well because she use to forgot her family
history also where her husband and family has passed away. She has started to feel neglected as
she is completely dependent on others (Care Quality Commission, 2010). These kind of people
need to be treated with full dedication and sympathy so that they do not feel detached from
society. In the absence of such care at home, Bella's health is going down day-by-day. Thus, to
decrease the vulnerability it is essential to enhance the access to service of health and social care
providers. Besides this, patients should be treated with respect and attachment by their family
members as well.
1.2
The various kind of abuses may result in various kinds of risk factors which includes
depression in patients and leading to various abuses like drugs intake and alcohol uses. Some of
the major reasons due to which the possibility of abuses can increase in adults are:
 Physical and communicative hostility of patient.
 Socially detachment of the patient.
 Carer's ignorance and inability to coordinate with ill person.
 Increasing insanity of patient and less assistance from the caregiver.
Many of the cases have been filed which states that care giver's irresponsible attitude has
lead to seniors abuses. Bella is at her home where is taken care by a career but she does not feel
good and wants to be with her family (Parton, 2011). This is because she is not receiving the care
as she is supposed to have from any family member or care taker. The symptoms of such elderly
abuse is shown in patients as their behaviour becomes more aggressive. They start opposing the
care takers and may remain untidy along with keeping themselves reserved. If their
aggressiveness increases they use to harm by giving injuries to themselves. A fear use to develop
in them and as a result they scare from loneliness. These situations may rise when care taker is
not giving right service. According to case, Bella has also injured herself and always stresses to
go home and live with her family. This is an alarming stage where she needs to be given proper
care and emotional support so that she can be saved from reaching to complete mental disorder.
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Moreover, she needs to be cared with social attachment by care taker and her family member as
she may start to feel more detached from social group and her family members (Care Quality
Commission, 2012). Thus, it is a crucial demand in present situation to provide Bella with
emotional support and care to save her from mental disorderliness.
1.3
The adult vulnerability is mainly caused by social and cultural factors that includes
various discarded components. Some of the social factor's affect include following elements: Poverty and unemployment: A research done to find social factors that influences a
person to be vulnerable is poverty or unemployment. In absence of any good source of
income leads to poverty and they are not treated well in society. This makes them more
vulnerable to abuses (Lymbery, 2010). Social detachment: This is the most common reason of increasing vulnerability in people.
Mostly aged persons who are ill and dependent on others for their care reach to this
situation. They do not get any physical and emotional support which is very essential at
this time and this leads them to feel neglected from society and hence become vulnerable
to harm (Rigby and et.al., 2011).
 Social status: This is also one of the main reason where everyone wants to be respected
by others and have a good status in society. In absence of such situation, person starts
feeling disrespected and becomes isolated resulting in elderly abuse.
Cultural factors
 Religions: There are various religions and communities who come under minority
groups. This develops feeling in individuals that they are less in number and hence
become more vulnerable.
 Discrimination: There are various kinds of discrimination that takes place in society on
the basis of colour, caste, race, religion and so on which makes different types of
differences between individuals. Thus, people use to become vulnerable and become
separated from social groups.
Beside all above stated abuses, there are physical abuse which includes ill treatment
resulting into harms caused to person physically. Another abuse is sexual abuse which includes
rape, inappropriate way of touching, harassment etc. This is done by carers and or some other
persons due to which patient starts feeling neglected and becomes mentally disturbed (Lymbery,
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2010). Next is emotional abuse due to which person may start taking drugs and alcohol and
remains isolated from any groups.
All above stated factors implies the causes due to which different kind of abuses use to
originate. The stated factors use to lead for varied self harm and abuses. In case of Bella, she is
socially isolated which has resulted into self harm and abuses. The reason behind feeling socially
isolated is, Bella has been kept separated from her family at some other place due to which she
is feeling parted from society. Hence, she always demands to take her home and let her live with
her family. Moreover, her family and care taker does not tending for her illness and do not
provide needed care to her. This makes her to feel isolated and she use to harm herself by giving
injuries physically. She also use to argue with carer and want to be with family. She needs to be
placed and cared socially among family members and friends.
TASK 2
2.1
The act of Mental health 1983, is an act which is made by UK government chiefly covers
the people of England and Wales (Great Britain. Department of Health, 2012). The act provides
coverage to mentally disordered persons where court gives judgement on matters related to care
of physically or mentally disabled person and administration of their belongings. The act further
4
Illustration 1: Types of abuse
(Source: Sheldon, 2011 )

entails that any person who is examined and found to have mental disorder, can be confined to
stay at hospital or in custody of police. In addition to this, while keeping in hospitals or police
custody, they can be forced to take the treatment which may or may not be in accordance to their
wish. Because of these regulations, the act was reviewed and some amendments were made. The
amendments were laid down in the direction of providing more clearer defined role and
responsibility of carer of patients. The act also made a provision according to which, any closest
and nearest relative can be appointed in care of patient in the form of civil partners. Moreover,
the following legislation also gave order according to which no person can be detained forcibly
until and unless other treatments are not possible (Lai and et.al., 2012). Further, no electric shock
therapy can be given to patient if he/she is able to refuse or give consent for it.
Thus the whole act has provided various rights after the amendment and give favourable
right to Bella as well. According to the section 2 of mental health act 1983, the person have to
reside in hospital and cannot refuse there treatment as well (Mental Health Act 1983 - Sections 2,
3, 4 & 5, 2016). Therefore this act may become a pressure and very tensed for Bella. All these
shows the weakness of act in safeguarding the rights of patients. While on other hand, section
127 of act reveals that no person can treat badly with such mentally disordered individuals in
hospital. The act was effective in these terms as it provides safeguard to some extent, while this
act also has some ambiguity. The act also enforces that the action done by career or hospital will
be considered under ill treatment if it was done purposely. Thus, it becomes very difficult to
assess the intention of doers (Stevens and et.al., 2011). Therefore the whole law of mental health
act 1983 has some strengths and some loopholes as well which makes the act quite unclear in
case of vulnerable persons.
2.2
The care takers are mainly responsible for giving services in the case of mental illness
and any other disability. Apart from these service providers, many other professionals are also
involved who are supposed to keep monitoring the whole work of subordinates. The supervisors
or line managers are entrusted with such responsibilities. They use to monitor the workings of
various bottom line employees so that they can keep a check on unwanted activities. Next level
can be described at this stage is senior management level. They are expected to do the strategical
functions so that some good measures and plans can be made for development of service
providing centres. Another level of key professionals is Chief executive who use to contribute in
5

making policies at national level and support various subject matters that are related with same
industry. In general, there are various health and social care units at national level where the role
and responsibilities by these professionals are performed (Lloyd, 2010). Some of them are:
 NHS: There are about 66 centres of NHS in England whereby the unit use to provide its
services. All the centres of said unit is located in areas which are easily accessible by
individuals. The mentioned centre also supports people by giving them advices in any
kind of health conditions.
 Primary care trust: This unit is responsible for serving primary health care to prevent
general disruptions related to health. It helps the public and local communities with the
assistance of some members formed as a team.
 General practitioners: These are the most common persons who are contacted at first step
to ask for help in any health conditions.
In case of Bella, she can ask for help with mental health act mangers and can also go to a
tribunal for opposing the detention in hospital. Besides this, the managers and other supervisors
are also responsible to monitor the work of carer (Fyson and Kitson, 2010). If any act that is not
right according to law can be used as a subject matter and any strict decision should be taken by
the authority.
TASK 3
3.1
Adults or children who are of age over 18 are the most vulnerable group of society who
need help and and safeguard from any kind of abuses. For this, it is crucial to look upon the
present working practices with regard to minimising abuses in society. For improving the current
practices that are made in relation with safeguarding vulnerable individuals it is necessary for
social and health care units to work in coordinated way. The present case of Bella clearly shows
that the carer was not much helpful in the treatment and she needed some good care with dignity
and responsibility. In this regard, various practitioners and social care units can work together.
General practitioners can offer some primary health care tips and refer the patients to social care
centres if needed (Barlow and Calam, 2011). Besides this, the social care units are also
accountable to keep necessary arrangements in their premises which are necessary for patients.
Necessary fund raising is also the responsibility of such units for appropriate management of
6

these centres. The different care units should work as a team and try to identify various groups
that need help. Various risk factors should also be considered and advance planning should be
done to overcome those elements. Some steps have been taken in this sense to encourage
association of health and social care units which are as follows:
 Care trust: This trust favours the merger of health and social care units. Till now it has
almost 10 companies who work as a team and with group efforts.
 Health act 1999: The following act has enhanced its power of health and social care units
by grouping the budget, increasing scope of activities of service providers and enhancing
various other authorised activities.
 Children's trust: This trust attempts to frame a common policy for children and sharing
useful information that can be utilised for their care (Balen, Rhodes and Ward, 2010).
For preventing elder abuse, some suggestions have been made by professionals which
states that it is necessary to listen the problems of patients and carers while if any activity which
creates doubt should be interfered. Moreover, increasing education in relation to such activities is
also a crucial part.
3.2
Some strategies have been developed so that the cases of adult abuse can be minimised.
The different units have made a combined efforts so that strong strategies can be built to
overcome the problems related to adult abuse. Some strategies include imparting education
among the society so that they may remain aware of possible outcomes. Some abuses like child
sexual abuse can be identified only if the child is properly educated about it. Another step that
can be taken in this regard is making a list in which each kind of individuals who are most
vulnerable to abuses should be included. Thus, they can be monitored in a good way and
possibilities of occurring any type of abuse gets lower (Currie and Lockett, 2011). Moreover,
government can also use to encourage the people so that their can be a good bonding between
family members. Steps to improve financial conditions of people, lowering any kind of
discrimination among society etc. can be made.
3.3
The carers of person who are vulnerable to abuses should be skilled and talented so that
they can make an effective communication with patients. This will help in making good bonding
between patient and care takers. The carers should also communicate properly and regularly with
7

management so that they also keep aware of current position of the patient. The units should try
to develop such plans that can help in improving the health conditions of individuals. The
companies who are indulged in health and social care units should work with combined efforts
so that caring plan can be made in appropriate way (Parton, 2011). The major work of the caring
units is to implement the plan in right way. The managers are responsible to monitor the working
of staff and ensuring the correct implementation of plans. Thus there will be improvement in
work of social care units and number of adult abuses can be minimised.
CONCLUSION
The present report carried out on safeguarding health and social care unit articulates
various points that needs to be improved. The case study of Bella implied that she is suffering
from Alzheimer's disease and which has grown due to many conditions. The report has drawn
attention towards various kinds of abuses like physical, emotional and sexual according to which
it is found that Bella is suffering from emotional abuse. The report has discussed the legislation
of mental health act 1983 in which it is found that act makes a provision of forcibly detaining the
patient in hospital. Whereas, the act has also a good side as it restricts the use of treatment
without the consent of patient. In context of present society, it is still suffering from narrow
mentality where old age people or mental patients are taken as a big load and kept away from
society and family. This has made the problems severe and complicated to solve. While on other
hand some aware people have come up to favour such patients so that they can get their rights to
live in society. They have also created awareness among others so that these patients can be
served properly. Finally the report makes various recommendation like encouraging bonding
between family members and framing various policies that acts as a guideline in minimising
adult abuses.
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REFERENCES
Journals and Books
Balen, R., Rhodes, C. and Ward, L., 2010. The power of stories: Using narrative for
interdisciplinary learning in health and social care. Social Work Education. 29(4). pp. 416-
426.
Barlow, J. and Calam, R., 2011. A public health approach to safeguarding in the 21st century.
Child Abuse Review. 20(4). pp. 238-255.
Care Quality Commission, 2010. The State of Health Care and Adult Social Care in England:
Key themes and quality of services in 2009 (Vol. 343). The Stationery Office.
Care Quality Commission, 2012. The state of health care and adult social care in England in
2011/12 (Vol. 763). The Stationery Office.
Currie, G. and Lockett, A., 2011. Distributing leadership in health and social care: concertive,
conjoint or collective?. International Journal of Management Reviews. 13(3). pp. 286-300.
Fyson, R. and Kitson, D., 2010. Human rights and social wrongs: Issues in safeguarding adults
with learning disabilities. Practice. 22(5). pp. 309-320.
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.
Great Britain. Department of Health, 2012. Health and Social Care Act 2012: Chapter 7,
Explanatory Notes. The Stationery Office.
Lai, T. and et.al., 2012. Estonia: health system review. Health systems in transition. 15(6). pp. 1-
196.
Lloyd, L., 2010. The individual in social care: the ethics of care and the ‘personalisation
agenda’in services for older people in England. Ethics and Social Welfare. 4(2). pp. 188-
200.
Lymbery, M., 2010. A new vision for adult social care? Continuities and change in the care of
older people. Critical Social Policy. 30(1). pp. 5-26.
Parton, N., 2011. Child protection and safeguarding in England: Changing and competing
conceptions of risk and their implications for social work. British Journal of Social Work.
41(5). pp. 854-875.
Rigby, M. and et.al., 2011. Social care informatics as an essential part of holistic health care: a
call for action. International Journal of Medical Informatics. 80(8). pp. 544-554.
Sheldon, B., 2011. Cognitive-behavioural therapy: Research and practice in health and social
care. Routledge.
Stevens, M. and et.al., 2011. Assessing the role of increasing choice in English social care
services. Journal of Social Policy. 40(02). pp. 257-274.
Online
Mental Health Act 1983 - Sections 2, 3, 4 & 5. 2016. [Online]. Available through:
<https://www.rethink.org/living-with-mental-illness/mental-health-laws/mental-health-act-
1983/sections-2-3-4-5>. [Accessed on 25th November 2016].