With recent stories of tragedy in Florida schools and real cases of abuse and neglect in the care sector in the news constantly I think it’s a good time to refresh our safeguarding knowledge.
Safeguarding Adults – The Care Act 2014 defines adult safeguarding as protecting an adult’s right to live in safety, free from abuse and neglect.
Within the care sector a vulnerable adult is a patient or service user who is or may be for any reason unable to take care of him or herself, or unable to protect him or herself against significant harm or exploitation.
It is about people and organisations working together to identify, prevent and stop the risk and experience of abuse or neglect,
Types of Abuse
Physical abuse is an individual’s body being injured
Domestic violence is any incident of threatening behaviour, violence or abuse (psychological, physical, sexual, financial or emotional)
Modern slavery includes human trafficking, and forced labour
Financial or material abuse is the use of a person’s funds and belongings without their permission.
Sexual abuse is when a person becomes involved in sexual relationships or activities that they do not want to be involved in.
Neglect is also known as the ‘omission to act’ or ‘failure to act’. It is a failure to meet the basic needs of the individual.
Self-neglect is the term used to refer to those who fail or refuse to take care of their own basic needs.
Psychological abuse results in a person feeling worthless, unloved or uncared for.
Organisational abuse happens where services provided are focused on the needs of the organisation rather than the individual.
Discriminatory abuse refers to an individual or group being treated unequally
I am aware of the efforts you guys put into explaining this subject with your students and I hope the above and attached (hyperlink below), particularly the chart on page 3, which gives examples of how to recognise the types of abuse helps when covering this subject in the class.
http://www.skillsforcare.org.uk/Document-library/Standards/Care-Certificate/Standard%2010%20CC%20Workbook.pdf
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