Safeguarding Interventions and Legislation: A Case Study

This report delves into the multifaceted realm of safeguarding interventions within social work practice, concentrating on the protection of vulnerable individuals from harm, neglect, and abuse. The study examines various interventions, including "Making Safeguarding Personal" and adult family group conferences, evaluating their effectiveness in improving the well-being of individuals like Doris, an 83-year-old widow facing memory loss and potential negligence. The report underscores the significance of these interventions, alongside relevant legislation such as the Care Act 2014 and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards, in empowering social workers to provide person-centered care and protect individuals' rights. Through a detailed case study analysis, the report illustrates the practical application of safeguarding interventions and their role in fostering a supportive environment for vulnerable adults. The analysis highlights the importance of understanding the individual's needs, promoting their participation, and ensuring accountability in the safeguarding process.

Safeguarding in
Practice

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
MAIN BODY...................................................................................................................................1
Safeguarding intervention......................................................................................................1
Importance of these interventions along with appropriate legislation....................................3
Application of safeguarding intervention to the relevant case...............................................5
Conclusion.......................................................................................................................................6
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................9

INTRODUCTION
Safeguarding is a process of keeping people safe from harm, neglect and abuse (Fu, Tigano
and Sfeir, 2020). It includes several interventions by which social workers protect vulnerable and
other people who are at risk and suffer from abuse and negligence. This present study is going to
show about safeguarding interventions and how it helps social workers in improving health of
people. Further, it will discuss effectiveness of adult family group conference and making
safeguarding personal interventions for projecting people, suffering negligence and confused
behaviour. It will also discuss reasons of applying legislations related to safeguarding process
and how it makes social workers able to improve health without exploiting their needs and rights.
Care act 2014 play a vital role in encouraging social workers for improving safeguarding
process.
MAIN BODY
Safeguarding intervention
Safeguarding refers protection from harm and damage with appropriate measures. As a
social workers it is important and responsibility of social workers to identify their problems and
using appropriate measures or protection (Firmin, 2017). There are different safeguarding
interventions which are being chosen by social workers as per the condition of their patients.
Selection of intervention is the main key because it only helps them out in improving health of
people. In the context of Doris, 83 year old widow is suffering from memory loss. She is at risk
of negligence ad abuse by her daughter as she lives alone and forgets many things. She is
becoming dependent on others. So, in this context it is important to select appropriate
intervention. For that it is important to understand effectiveness of selected interventions in a
detailed manner such as:
Making safeguarding personal: It is a person led outcome focused initiative. One of the
main aims of using this intervention is to develop an outcome focus to safeguarding work and
range of responses for supporting people at risk. One of the main effectiveness of this approach
is it is approved by Association of director of adult social care and national partners. They are
trying to promote this approach. It is also found that the making safeguarding personal
framework is being designed to help and informing social workers, practitioners, services users
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and others about all those people who are at risk and are suffering abuse and neglect in their area.
Other features of this intervention for which it has been selected include: it is a broader
participation strategy, all information under this are accessible which can help participation of
people in safeguarding support. It has advocacy and help social workers by providing direction
for working in the way, by looking at their skills which they have and can help them out in
protecting people at risk (Making Safeguarding Personal, 2020). It is all about getting people’s
consent and also understanding what are they feeling and hearing their views as what they want
as an outcome. Overall it can be said that people at risks are being given opportunities at all
stages of safeguarding process of sharing views and say what they want. It makes them feel
valued and also help social workers and practitioners in improving health in an effective manner
(Making Safeguarding Personal: Care Act 2014, 2018).
Adult family group conference: Family group conference is one of the other main
effective intervention in which meeting is being held by social workers and health care
professionals for working closely with family members and closely concerned people of patient.
One of the main reasons and effectiveness of this intervention is taking best decision that can
meet needs of patient and can help them out in improving health. It is mainly being used when
patient is not in his actual or normal zone, feel confused, irritated and forgetful. In regards to,
Doris, it is around that she is confused, forgetful and denies visiting doctor about it. This
intervention is facilitated by an independent coordinator, who is not part of the professional
network. Social workers encourage families of patients in order to take participation in
intervention and helping them out in finding long term solutions which can work better for
patient. This intervention also makes families and closely concerned people able to cope up with
problems in an effective manner than is consistent with their own culture, lifestyle as well as
available resources (Hillebregt and et.al., 2019). This approach is not about to aim at family but
it is all about to get outcomes and successful results through family. Other main effectiveness of
this intervention and reason of selecting this intervention for Doris is: it mobilises natural
resources of adult’s family, friends as well as social workers. Meetings are also being led by
family members as per time they have for developing plan. There are 3 main stages which can
make this intervention successful and can given positive outcomes such as: preparation family
group conference and review meeting. Co-ordinator plays an important part in this intervention
as they make sure that both sides understand situation and for that they meet with referrer they
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also make aware to families about what this adult family group conference might be able to
offer. They also help service users and family members in eliminating barriers to the process and
focus on meeting.
On the basis of detailed analysis of interventions it can be said that it may suit to the case
of Doris and can help her out in solving problem and improving health.
Importance of these interventions along with appropriate legislation
Effectiveness of making safeguarding personal: Before discussing effectiveness of this
intervention it is important to identify problem of Doris for which this intervention has been
selected. In the case of Doris, it is found that she has been forgetful and confused. She is
widowed since 10 years and her daughter, Jenny is also busy in looking after her son and in her
finance job. It is also found that Jenny and Doris argued because Jenny said Doris to visit doctor
about her problem but she denied and in reply she said that in this ages everyone face this
problem. Because of the old age, she was also suffering from arthritis and finding problems in
performing household chores so, jenny arranged a carer, precious, for 2 hours per week. Doris is
also concerned with price of groceries as she does not eat well because of prices of groceries and
one day, Doris misbehaved with precious and said her to leave home and she cannot trust
anymore (Lawson, 2017). Due to her problem, she is facing problems of negligence by her
daughter and other problems as well.
So, in the context of making safeguarding personal it can be said that it can help in
improving health because this intervention is patient centred and social worker focus on
identifying problem, what is important for patient and what requires changing for improvement.
Other effectiveness of this intervention is it is overseen by ADASS, local government association
and safeguarding adult board. Social worker focus on identifying needs as what patient want,
how can they work with patient, does patient feel safer and how do they know intervention has
made difference (Policy and Practice Development under Making Safeguarding Personal, 2018).
So, overall it can be said that by focusing of Doris and listening her problems, social worker can
improve her health in an effective manner.
Effectiveness of adult family group conference: Adult family group conference is also
effective and suitable for Doris case because her daughter is somehow concerned about her
health. With the help of this intervention, social worker can increase participants’ or Jenny
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understands about situation of her mother as due to lack of understanding she argued with Doris.
Social worker can seek for help for helping out Doris in an effective manner because it is believe
that in the case of forgetful, memory loss, confusion and risk of abuse, family plays a vital role.
Other main effectiveness and reason of selecting this intervention is in this approach, participants
are adults not minor so, and they can give appropriate solutions and support social workers in
this FC process. There are main principles which can make this intervention successful and help
Doris in improving health such as: it is participants meeting, participants are assisted by
independent FGC as they are not aware about history of participants so, they remain neural and
chances of biased can be eliminated (Hillebregt and et.al., 2019). They also focus on mobilising
as well as remobilising participants’ network. So from all of these principles it can be said that
all can be suited in Doris case and can help her out in improving health by taking help of her
daughter.
Care act 2014: This act and legislation related to interventions encourages social care or care
givers to focus on patient centre care approach while safeguarding either vulnerable or older age
of people. It helps them out in improving health without hurting their needs. 230 There are 6
principles of this act which needs to be followed by all care workers for improving health and
using interventions in an effective manners. All main principles include: protection, prevention,
empowerment, proportionality, partnership and accountability. It is stated that neglected adults
remain silent at the time of safeguarding process so, care givers have to take all decisions at their
own (Gant and Bates, 2019). So, by following all principles they can protect them without
hurting their need and exploit them. It promotes people’s well-being, promote integration of care
and provide appropriate information and care.
Deprivation of liberty safeguard: It is other effective legislation that also developed for
safeguarding vulnerable people who have mental disorder as well as lack the capacity to consent
to arrangements, made for them. In the case of Doris it is found that she is also facing problems
in performing her own work and often forgets thinks, become confused most of the time
(Griffith, 2017). So, by following all principles and rules of this legislation, care providers can
help her out in providing the best treatment and help her out in taking decision. It protects such
type of people from harm, abuse and negligence by other people and makes them feel valued at
the time of safeguarding process. But it is applicable for people in care homes and hospitals.
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So, on the basis of effectiveness of selected interventions as well as appropriate
legislations, it can be said that social care can improve health of Doris and can protect her against
abuse, negligence and any other harm.
Application of safeguarding intervention to the relevant case
In the context of Doris it is found that she faces problems in completing her own work
because of arthritis, forgetful and confused behaviour. Due to dependency on others, she may
suffer from negligence and abuse. So, it is important for social workers to apply selected
interventions and finding out ways of solving problem. As per the Cooper and Bruin, (2017) care
act 2014 sets clear legal frameworks of ways as how local authorities as well as other parts of
system can protect adults against harm and risk of abuse. By following all principles and rules of
this act, social worker can apply making safeguarding personal intervention to the case of Doris
Gough, (2016) stated and said that it is one of the effective interventions as it helps social
workers to develop person centre responses to safeguarding circumstances by encouraging them.
So, this encouragement and person centre approach can help Doris in improving her health
because it is found that her daughter does not understand her feelings and it can lowers Doris’s
morale. For supporting this views, Cooper, Cocker and Briggs, (2018) stated that safeguarding
process of this intervention can protect Doris against harm, abuse and negligence by her daughter
as there is requirement of hearing her needs and understanding her behaviours and changes, she
is going through. It includes several methods such as: test bed sites in which social workers
implement different approaches and review them for knowing their effectiveness and suitability
with the patient. Social workers work closely with other authorities for test bed sites and
developing tools.
Briggs and Cooper, (2018) argued and said that as per them, this intervention mainly
helps social workers in building confidence, self esteem and respect in patients, suffering from
abuse and negligence. This intervention helps social workers in taking the best decision
regarding selecting ways of providing care to patient by taking help of appropriate associations
and local authorities. In addition, Virani and et.al., (2016) that as per the section 42 of care act
2014 local authority requires to make enquiries and if they find that adults are at risk of abuse
then they need to take immediate and appropriate actions. So, by following all rules of this
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legislation, social workers can better understand problems of Doris and can prevent them at early
stage.
In regards to family group conference intervention Meijer and et.al., (2017) stated that it
is other main effective interventions that can specially being developed for protecting adults
against harm and abuse. It can be suitable in the case of Doris because she is alone and want
someone who can take care of her. Her daughter is busy is taking care of her son and also does
not understand feelings of Doris. So, by making use of this intervention, social worker can make
aware to Jenny, daughter of Doris about her situation and reasons of changing behaviour. It can
definitely help Doris in improving self esteem and health Parkinson, Pollock and Edwards,
(2018) also stated that by involving family and closely concerned people of patient, social care
can take better decision about ways of providing care to patient as Doris denied to visit doctor
But with the help of jenny, Co-ordinator can make Doris able to engage in process of
safeguarding.
On the contrary side, McGinn and et.al., (2020) stated that as per them one of the main
reasons of involving families of patient is to seek for best solutions of protecting patient and to
achieve agreement to find common goals. Making family members understand about changing
behaviours and encouraging for providing extra care and attention to patient is other reason.
These reasons are applicable to Doris’s case as her daughter, Jenny needs to understand as why
her mother is behaving like this and it will be helpful for her to take care of her at initial stage.
So, it can be said that this intervention is also effective in this case.
Conclusion
From the above study it has been summarized mental health and adult abuse has several
negative impacts on the overall health of people. Negligence and abuse to adults affect their
mental health and decreases interest of living. Further, it has discussed effectiveness of
safeguarding process for adults. Adult family group conference intervention plays an important
role in protecting adults and vulnerable people who are suffering from abuse and negligence.
Making safeguarding personal intervention also plays a vital role in improving overall health of
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older people, protecting them against harm and others. Lastly, it has shown reasons of applying
care act 2014 in safeguarding process to social workers.
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REFERENCES
Books & Journals
Briggs, M. and Cooper, A., 2018. Making Safeguarding Personal: progress of English local
authorities. The Journal of Adult Protection.
Cooper, A. and Bruin, C., 2017. Adult safeguarding and the Care Act (2014)–the impacts on
partnerships and practice. The Journal of Adult Protection.
Cooper, A., Cocker, C. and Briggs, M., 2018. Making safeguarding personal and social work
practice with older adults: findings from local-authority survey data in England. British
Journal of Social Work. 48(4). pp.1014-1032.
Firmin, C., 2017. Contextual Safeguarding.
Fu, Y., Tigano, M. and Sfeir, A., 2020. Safeguarding mitochondrial genomes in higher
eukaryotes. Nature Structural & Molecular Biology. 27(8). pp.687-695.
Gant, V. and Bates, C., 2019. ‘Cautiously optimistic’: Older parent-carers of adults with
intellectual disabilities–Responses to the Care Act 2014. Journal of Intellectual
Disabilities. 23(3). pp.432-445.
Gough, M., 2016. An evaluation of adult safeguarding outcomes’ focused recording in the
context of Making Safeguarding Personal. The Journal of Adult Protection.
Griffith, R., 2017. Deprivation of liberty safeguard deaths: changes to reporting
requirements. British Journal of Nursing. 26(7). pp.428-429.
Hillebregt, C.F. and et.al., 2019. Family group decision-making interventions in adult healthcare
and welfare: a systematic literature review of its key elements and effectiveness. BMJ
open, 9(4), p.e026768.
Hillebregt, C.F. and et.al., 2019. Family group decision-making interventions in adult healthcare
and welfare: a systematic literature review of its key elements and effectiveness. BMJ
open. 9(4). p.e026768.
Lawson, J., 2017. The making safeguarding personal approach to practice. Safeguarding Adults
Under the Care Act: Understanding Good Practice, London, Jessica Kingsley
Publications. pp.20-39.
McGinn, T. and et.al., 2020. Family group decision‐making for children at risk of abuse or
neglect: A systematic review. Campbell Systematic Reviews. 16(3). p.e1088.
Meijer, E. and et.al., 2017. Regaining ownership and restoring belongingness: impact of family
group conferences in coercive psychiatry. Journal of Advanced Nursing. 73(8).
pp.1862-1872.
Parkinson, K., Pollock, S. and Edwards, D., 2018. Family group conferences: an opportunity to
re-frame responses to the abuse of older people?. British Journal of Social Work. 48(4).
pp.1109-1126.
Virani, S. S. and et.al., 2016. Comparative effectiveness of outpatient cardiovascular disease and
diabetes care delivery between advanced practice providers and physician providers in
primary care: implications for care under the Affordable Care Act. American heart
journal. 181. pp.74-82.
ONLINE
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Making Safeguarding Personal. 2020. Online Available through: <
http://www.sabberkshirewest.co.uk/practitioners/making-safeguarding-personal/>
Making Safeguarding Personal: Care Act 2014. 2018. Online Available through: <
https://www.scie.org.uk/care-act-2014/safeguarding-adults/safeguarding-adults-boards-
checklist-and-resources/making-safeguarding-personal.asp>
Policy and Practice Development under Making Safeguarding Personal. 2018. Online Available
through: < http://www.fedvol.ie/_fileupload/Safeguarding/Making%20Safeguarding
%20Personal%20Tuesday's%20Presentation%20MPS.pdf >
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