Safeguarding refers
to reducing and preventing the potential risk of harm, exploitation, abuse and
supporting the people to take control over their lives by informed choices.
The role in
safeguarding the people is to update myself as a worker regarding the
legislation and code of practice. In case of any risk and hazard, report the
matter to the line manager and senior staff member, so that frequent action can
be taken to reduce the potential risk. The very common types of abuses and
harms are as following.
Physical Abuse. The physical abuse
refers to hitting, slapping, kicking pushing and violation of their rights by
giving them the wrong medication, and inappropriate sanction (Binnet, &
Kingston, 1993).
Domestic Abuse. The domestic violence
means the psychological, physical, emotional, sexual and financial abuse and
controlling the behavior, also known as honor-based violence.
Sexual Abuse. Sexual abuse
includes sexual harassment, rape, sexual teasing, inappropriate touching,
forcing someone for watching pornography or sexual acts, sexual assault.
Emotional\Psychological Abuse.
The psychological abuse includes the threatening, blackmailing, controlling,
blaming, humiliation, cyberbullying, verbal abuse, isolation, unjustified
withdrawal of services, and putting pressure on someone (Binnet, &
Kingston, 1993).
Financial\Material Abuse.
Financial/ material abuse refers to fraud, theft, interest scamming, misuse or
misappropriation of property or stealing, possession, and putting pressure on
someone for financial arrangements including, property, will, transaction or
inheritance (Department of Health, 2003).
Modern slavery. Modern slavery
refers to the trafficking, forced labor, and domestic violence. Slavery Masters
and traffickers use inhuman ways to deceive and force an individual into a life
of abuse.
Discriminatory abuse.
Discriminatory abuse refers to the harassment based on the victim, race,
religion, sexual orientation, ethnicity, age, gender, sect, and language.
Institutional\Organisational Abuse. Institutional/organization abuse refers to the poor care
services in a care setting such as a hospital and home. The abuse in an
organization indicates the poor services, policies, medication, professional
practice, and treatment of the patient or individual.
self-neglect. self-neglect means that
an individual does not meet the criteria of personal hygiene, health, and
surrounding also known as hoarding. It is also considered to be a form of abuse
as it may be alarming for the personal hygiene of the individual and need
safeguarding referral.
Neglect by others.
When the other people do not support or facilitate the individual in
maintaining their hygienic or social needs that also called abuse. The
individual need social support to fulfill their basic need, if the needs are
not fulfilled properly may pose a threat to individual safety.
Harm
Harm refers to the
physical, emotional, or psychological damage or threats that limit one’s
ability to perform in a particular field. The harm can be described in two
categories, deliberated self-harm and harm to others (Department of Health,
2003).
Describe Restrictive Practices
Restrictive practice
facilitates the disable or limited capacity people to make choices, freedom,
and sense of self-worth. The primary aim of the restricted practices is to
protect the individual from potential harm. The restrictive practice values the
supporter rather than the service user.
Identify the signs and\or symptoms associated with each of the following types of abuse:
Physical abuse. Major injuries,
numerous falls, bruising in arm, abrasion, thighs, teeth indentation, weight
loss, depression, injuries on hand and face.
Domestic abuse. Injuries,
depression, loss of weight, difficulty in walking, sitting, loss of contact with
reality, low self-esteem, isolation, fear, mood disorder, frustration, and
identity loss.
Sexual abuse. Sexual abuse
symptoms include difficulty in walking, sitting, overt sexual behavior, sexual
language, injuries on genital or oral areas, strained, torn or bloody underwear
and soreness around genitals (Binnet, & Kingston, 1993).
Emotional\Psychological Abuse.
Withdrawal, fearfulness, depression, agitation, sleep problem, change in
appetite, behavior, and weight, aggressive shouting, deprivation of liberty,
Financial\Material Abuse.
Financial/Material includes the unexplained withdrawal from a bank, unpaid
bills, unusual activity on the bank, lack of cash on the daily basis,
reluctance to pay funds on time, reluctant to fulfill the responsibility to roved
clothing, food, etc. (Ritchie, Sanderson, Kilbane, & Routledge, 2003).
Modern slavery. Avoid eye contact,
reluctant to ask for help, fearful, anxious, malnourished, injuries, lack of
belonging, reluctant to talk to strangers, restricted freedom or movements.
Discriminatory Abuse.
Discriminatory abuse comprised of lack of respect to discriminatory people,
substandard services, repeated exclusion from justice, health, or employment,
and failure to respect their identity (Department of Health, 2003).
Institutional\organisation abuse. Institutional\organisation abuse symptoms include the
shortage of medical, first aid and emergency services. It also includes the lack of first aid
facility, salary package, financial aid, verbal abuse, psychological neglect,
inflexible routine, inappropriate use of power and control.
Self-neglect. The symptoms of
self-neglect are lack of interest in the pleasurable activity, personal
hygiene, and occupational functioning. It also includes inappropriate physical
condition, long and dirty nails, do not wash hands before taking meals,
reluctant to take a bath, inappropriate weight, and body structure.
Neglect by others.
Neglect by other symptoms includes the absence of food, hygiene, clothing, and
comfort. Prevent the individual taking legal, health-related and social service
and medication (Binnet, & Kingston, 1993).
Vulnerability to being abuse
The
factors that contribute to an individual being more vulnerable to abuse are the
limited mental capacity to understand the difference between right and wrong.
They also cannot comprehend the situation that what is happening in the current
moment. Isolation, lack of self-esteem on in some cases the aggressive behavior
is the reason for being vulnerable to abuse. Sometimes lack of knowledge and
training also cause the vulnerability for being abused.
In the case
suspicions of abuse, always report the right person about the incident. The
suspicious person should be investigated without losing temper, evidence should
be collected, and after paperwork, the legal action should be taken. Make sure
that the perpetrator is punishing the right way without any threat to the
victim. Then a senior staff member, other professional and social worker must
be reported about the incident to enhance the probability of justice at the
workplace.
Action to take if an individual alleges that they are being abused
The organization,
company and health care already had some code of practice and a code of ethics
regarding the security and safety of the individual. If a person alleges that
he is being abused at the workplace, the immediate action should be taken to
investigate the suspicious person, with the calm way. The paperwork should be
completed, and the matter should listen without biases, or without making
judgments. Ensure the perpetrator doesn't have any contact with the victim to
threaten him. Contact the appropriate manager for the investigation of the
suspicious person, take photographs of the scene if possible.
Identify ways to ensure that evidence of abuse is preserved
Ensure that no one
else enters the crime place before the police. The evidence should be hand over
to the appropriate manger. The legal action should be taken to punish the
perpetrator. Note down and keep record about the injuries using hand drawing
and body map. The description of injury includes the shape, color, size, and
date of the injury, etc. (Department of Health, 2003).
The nation and local
policies regarding the safeguarding and protection from abuse are The Mental
Capacity ACT 2005, Court of Protection, Crown Protection Services (CPS), The
Deprivation of Liberty Safeguarding Authority (DOLS), No Secret (Adult
Protection), Care Quality Commission (CQS), Housing Organization, The Office of
Public Guardian and The Corner.
Roles of different agencies in safeguarding and protection individual from abuse
•
The
Court of Protection deals with the orders to protect the rights of the people
who are lacing capacities.
•
Housing
organization supports, those individuals who are at risk of abusing,
exploitation and neglect. The supporting person of the housing provides all the
basic needs of the vulnerable peoples.
•
Crown
Prosecution Service prosecutes a crime against older people and adults to
support and intimidating witness to provide their best evidence.
•
The
Corners are the independent judiciary officers investigate the cases of
unnatural and sudden death. They investigate the risk of adult death rate to
reduce the ratio.
•
The
Deprivation of Liberty Safeguarding Authority (DOLS) 2009 protects the right of
the adults regarding their freedom.
•
The
Mental Capacity ACT 2005 helps the individuals who are lacing capacity to make
the decision on their own. The above act direct and facilitate the individual
to make the decision for them (Ritchie, Sanderson, Kilbane, & Routledge,
2003).
Factors which have featured in reports into serious cases of abuse and neglect
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b011pwt6
the link contains a BBC TV documentary Panorama, which indicates the care staff
of the hospital subject to physical assault, torture, and systematic brutally.
The program also highlights some bitter truth of the society that the abuse and
sexual assault patient are mostly disabled, autistic people.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2064957/Elderly-people-abused-carers-Neglect-bad-pensioners-wanted-die.html#ixzz23Xe5Hjrp
provides the daily basis news about the abuse and neglect on a high scale.
Numerous legislation
and code practice impose some role and responsibility to people for protecting
the abuse and neglect. My role in safeguarding and protecting the people from
abuse is to train, supervise, and review the vulnerable adults (Binnet, &
Kingston, 1993).
In the challenging
situation that goes beyond your skills and practices, you need to contact the
appropriate management, and policy maker, or legislation help. The individual
should be referred to authoritative agencies working for the betterment of the
people and adult human rights.
The likelihood of abuse may be reduced by:
Working with person-centered values. Working with person-centered values directs the supporting
staff to treat the individual by giving them value and dignity. For protecting
the individuals, their needs and preferences give importance and accept them
unconditionally. The person-centered approach works on the principle that
treats the humans as you want to be treated (Department of Health, 2003).
Encouraging active participation. The active participation enhances the self-esteem and
reduces the isolation of the individual. It also promotes inclusion, and the
adult feels themselves as a part of the community to address their abuse and
neglect issue. The active participation
is compulsory for the positive outcome of the health care services that not
merely satisfied the health-related queries of the service user but also
enhance the reputation of the company.
Promoting choice and rights.
The encouragement for the self-determination and discussion in all decision
reduce the likelihood of child abuse. The encouragement for the values, views
and speaking for their right also decreases the likelihood of abuse by their
carer.
Supporting individual with an awareness of personal safety. The people ethical
and moral supports boost-up their confidence to cope and face the challenging
situation. The supporting people may find in the general community, healthcare,
and working place that may decrease the potential harm of abuse. The individual
should be educated about the safety precaution in the challenging situation.
Importance of an accessible complaints procedure for reducing the likelihood of abuse
Promoting choices and
rights also enables a person to take independent action in a case of being the
victim of abuse. They have the right to take or withdraw the services at any
time. Taking independent decision and choice may enhance their confidence and
self-worth that they can file a case on their own. In this way, the likelihood
of abuse may reduce. Furthermore, it will also reduce the confidence of the
perpetrator.
The likelihood of abuse can be reduced by managing risk and focusing on prevention
The focus on solution
and prevention is more crucial than the risky situation. The individual and
supporting staff teach the individual how to manage a problematic situation
rather than giving up. The challenging situation and harm caused the severity
of stress. Therefore, the management skills and prevention method should be
focused to avoid the possible harm.
Unsafe practices that may affect the well-being of the individual
The unsafe practices
worsen the situation on a high scale. It may be alarming for the victim and the
society as well. The unsafe practice leads to psychological stress, physical
injuries and threat of death as well. The unsafe practice may distort the
self-image of the individual, they develop a negative attitude towards the
health and social care services, and may generalize their negative attitude to
the whole community and supporter. The situation may worsen both physically and
emotionally. The unsafe medical practice adversely impacts the physical
condition of illness to an optimal level that increases the physical pain and
sufferings.
The action to take if unsafe practices have been identified
People commit unsafe
practices due to lack of experiences, training, and work quality at a previous
job. Id the unsafe practices identifies at the workplace, health and safety
commissioner, the manager, QCQ inspector, local social care services, local
safeguard team, area manager, and police should be informed. The safety of the
victim should be ensured, and the written record should be saved (Department of
Health, 2003).
The possible actions to take in response to abuse
If you notice that
despite the case has been reported, but nothing action has not been taken in
response and the abuse and unsafe practices are still happening. In such cases
consult a senior manager to take the initiative against the matter. If he does
not take serious action, report the matter to police officers and another local
safeguard team to take action.
Describe the potential risks through:
The use of electronic communication devices. The use of electronic devices made the life easier but had
raised some risk for the health and security of the individual. The excessive
use of electronic devices has been limiting the hearing, visual and mental
capabilities o the individual. The people started initiating unhealthy
conversation, gossips, texting, and, etc.
The use of the internet. The
use of internet in beneficial with the references of study and employment but
it has damaged the health of our new generation, as people left the interest in
outdoor activities, but like to spend hours and hours in front of computer and
internet. The communication between family member, friends, and neighbor has
limited, and people prefer to talk to a stranger on the internet. Even the
searching for life partner has become the popular trend of the current times.
Furthermore, the friendships and marriage on the internet not merely increased
the likeliness of deception but also weaken the relationship quality. The
sexual talk and sharing of the inappropriate picture have become another trend
and internet evil (Ritchie, Sanderson, Kilbane, & Routledge, 2003).
The use of social networking sites. The social networking sites such as Facebook, Twitter and
instant-gram are the most popular sites. Those are raising the issues on
cyberbullying, emotional, physical and socioeconomic disparities. People prefer
to jealous one another by posting their picture with different branded clothes,
hotels, and other accessories (Department of Health, 2003).
Carrying out financial transactions online. The online financial transaction is not safe for some reason
such as the hacking of the computer, and the operating system is very common.
The people hack and transform the amount using different websites and
application. Therefore the bank withdraw is safe and authentic means of the
transaction (Ritchie, Sanderson, Kilbane, & Routledge, 2003).
The use internet,
social sites, and online transaction appropriately eliminate the risk. For
example, blocking the URL and the inappropriate websites in the home computer
and laptop system may be beneficial to some extent. The extraordinary interest
in social sites and the lives of people may also reduce the bullying. The
people need to understand each individual is unique and had a different belief,
opinion, right and ways of living; we should respect and accept them without
bullying or abusing them on social site. Jealousy should, and the tolerance
should be promoted by social or safeguard services. The transaction deception
should be reduced at Government level. The government law and policymaker should
take some steps to control the situation. The employer needs to adherer the
policies of the company for the prevention of disease to implement the
localized procedures (Ritchie, Sanderson, Kilbane, & Routledge, 2003).
The balancing measures for online safety
The balancing measure
for online safety is important for some reason such as to reduce the potential
risk of losses and hazards, to minimize the risk of cyberbullying and
psychological suffering, to discourage the online system of corruption and to
eliminate the risk of a threat as well.