Safeguarding Vulnerable Adults: A Comprehensive Guide Assignment Sample

Introduction - Legal Framework for Safeguarding Vulnerable Adults

The aim of this assignment is to highlight the process of managing safeguarding and protecting the vulnerable in health and social care setup. Safeguarding can be defined as the process of protecting the health, well-being, and human rights of vulnerable people in society. The primary aim of safeguarding is to protect the vulnerable from any abuse or harm. In this assignment, task 1 will focus on understanding the legislation, regulation policies, and procedures related to the process of supporting and safeguarding vulnerable individuals. Task 2 of this assignment will include the importance of partnership working and a review of the process related to safeguarding and protecting the vulnerable.

In Task 1, an information pack will be developed for the staff as a manager in a health and social care organization, which can help them to know how to manage to safeguard and protect vulnerable individuals.

Discussion

Task 1:

1. Understanding the legal framework, regulation, policies, and procedures that can support, safeguard, and protect vulnerable individuals

1.1 Examine the concepts of:

• safeguarding

Safeguarding- this term can be defined by the measures being taken or employed by any organization to protect the health, well-being, and human rights of all staff and key stakeholders, particularly those who are regarded as vulnerable (England, N.H.S., 2015). Every governmental organization and healthcare sector should work with or come up with proper safeguarding policies and procedures to safeguard and protect the people who are in need. Therefore, safeguarding means:

(Figure: Safeguarding concern in England)

1. Protect individuals (including children and adults) from any harm or abuse

2. Prevent maltreatment or discrimination which can harm the healthcare and development of vulnerable individuals (Koubel, 2017)

3. Assurance that the people who are regarded as vulnerable can get access to the provision of safety and effective care and their basic rights are also being protected

4. Taking measures or action to prevent the practice of abuse in society

The six elements of Safeguarding Adults are as follows:

1. Protection: Support and safeguard those people who are in the greatest need

2. Prevention: It is better to take action before any maltreatment or abuse occur

3. Partnership: work in collaboration with Government and local bodies to prevent, detect, and report abuse or neglect (Betts et al., 2014)

4. Proportionality: an intrusive response that is appropriate to the risk

5. Empowerment: support and encourage people to make their decisions and provide consent towards care and support

6. Accountability: maintain transparency while delivering safeguard

• Protection

According to the POVA or All Protection of Vulnerable Adults Team, the concept related to the term protection refers to the process with which it can be ensured that all vulnerable adults are being protected from any abuse or neglect. According to O'Donnell et al., (2015), vulnerable adults refer to those individuals who are aged 18 years and above and who depend on others to do regular activities or basic functions. As per the definition given by the Department of Health, a vulnerable individual refers to a person who:

1. Are in need of community health care services for mental or physical disabilities, age, or chronic illness.

2. Is or may be unable to care or protect own self from any harm or exploitation

3. Have needs of care and support.

4. Is experiencing or at risk of abuse or neglect

The concept of protection is related to the processes and practices that local authorities and healthcare organizations must carry out when there is reasonable cause to suspect that an individual is in need of safeguarding and protection.

1.2 The legislative framework for safeguarding vulnerable individuals in Health and social care

In this section, the different legislative frameworks will be included which are related to safeguarding adults and have been developed over time to promote dignity within health and social care.

The Care Act 2014- this act refers to the generalized duty and responsibilities of local authorities to promote the health, safety, and well-being of the people while carrying out care and supportive function. Safeguarding vulnerable adults comes under the Care Act 2014.

Sexual Offences Act, 2003- prior, it seemed to be difficult in the UK to bring prosecutions against the individual who committed any sexual offense towards an individual with physical and mental disorders. The Sexual Offense Act or SOA 2003 modernized the law by providing legal support in terms of the prohibition of sexual activities between an individual with a mental disorder and healthcare providers during the delivery of care support or "relationship of care (Smith et al., 2021). As per this act,relationship of care refers to the practice when an individual with mental disorders is used to get service and support from healthcare providers (Katulanda et al., 2020). It applies to individuals working both on an unpaid or paid basis and it includes:

1. general physicians

2. nurses

3. care workers at home

4. volunteers

5. healthcare expertise

Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act, 2006 and Protection of Freedom Bill:

The SVGA 2006 or Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act, 2006 has been developed to prohibit the practice of discrimination against vulnerable people and protect them from harm or risk of harm, and exploitation. On 1^st December 2012, the Criminal Records Bureau and Independent Safeguarding Authority merged to form Disclosure and Barring Service- an organization responsible for offering services and legal protection to vulnerable people (Katulanda et al., 2020).

Equality Act, 2010:

According to the Equality Act, of 2010, a person will be regarded as disabled when he has a physical or mental impairment that has a substantial or long-term negative effect on the ability to do regular activities. The term substantial refers to more than trivial or minor, whereas long-term means 12 months or more. According to this act, an individual (including health and social care providers, nurses, and others) cannot discriminate against people for their disabilities. In the healthcare sector, as per the Equality Act, of 2010, every individual regardless of illness or disabilities can access healthcare support and legal protection from any exploitation (Boerman et al., 2021).

1.3 Analyse how serious case reviews have influenced safeguarding and protection

SCRs or Serious Care Reviews established under the Children Act, of 2004. The aim of this legislative framework is to review the cases which are related to the death of any children due to exploitation, or a child who faced abuse or neglect and was regarded as suspected. SCRS can also be carried out in a situation, where the child has not died yet but has been harmed due to exploitation, neglect, or abuse (Papathoma-Köhle et al., 2019). The purpose of Serious Case Reviews is to make the agencies and healthcare professionals knowledgeable and understanding about how they can work in partnership to protect and safeguard children. A local Safeguarding Children Board or LSCB works for serious care reviews and it is commissioned to review any cases related to the abuse and exploitation of children and encourages local practice to reduce the rate of abuse on children ( Ishiwatari et al., 2020). A serious case to safeguard the children includes, where:

1. the abuse or neglect of children is suspected or already happened.

2. the child died or has been seriously harmed.

reviewing these cases can influence the panel and local partners to identify the cases in such a way that they may gain national importance. Additionally, serious care reviews can also promote the partnership working to safeguard and protect children in society. According to Erku et al., (2020), the purpose of case reviews is to protect vulnerable adults by drawing upon lessons to be learned from cases, making a recommendation for preventing such tragedies, and improving the multi-agency process, the SCRS inquiries used to conducted by the English audit protection and safeguarding boards at the local level to protect the vulnerable adults or children from any harm or abuse or any death occurs (Rains et al., 2019). SCR's goal is not to assign blame but rather to determine whether any lessons can be drawn from the case's circumstances regarding how local authorities and experts collaborate to protect vulnerable adults. They assess the effectiveness of multi-agency and intra-organizational procedures (Augestad Knudsen, 2020). Their responsibility is to develop best practices, act to improve local inter-agency practices, and inform local practices.

1.4 The action to be taken in the event of suspected or actual abuse

If an adult experiences any abuse or neglect and wants to speak about that, the first and foremost thing will be to take their notes seriously and show them empathy and assurance. The actions that have to be carried out are:

• Listen to the victim carefully and understand what they want to say

• Stay calm and record factual information

• Be honest and avoid the fabrication of the information (Augestad Knudsen, 2020)

• Ensure the confidentiality of the information and personal information of the victim

• Do not be judgmental and be open-minded and empathetic

If the abuse is suspected, that action plan will be:

• To protect the adult from harm or risk of harm and move them to any safe place

• Deal with the needs of the victim and ensure that the person is as far as the center of the decision-making process (Rains et al., 2019)

• Report the abuse to the home manager of the health and social care organization safeguarding service providers and local police

• Record the event in detail

• All the concerns of exploitation or abuse of the vulnerable individual should be recorded to the relevant local safeguarding adults’ referral point- this can be done through secure internet referral (Papathoma-Köhle et al., 2019)

A brief outline of the procedures that have to be followed to report the abuse:

• Make the scope for individuals to access information about how to remain safe from abuse and maintain human rights

• Identification of the local agencies and system, internal reporting processes for all the partner agencies, for accurately recording the facts and making an action plan

• Also, highlight the Whistle Blowing policies and procedures that can link the safeguarding of adults

2. Management of service for safeguarding and protecting vulnerable individuals

2.1 Analysis of service provision that supports individuals to take risk

In the UK, in 2006 the government of the country took the initiative of starting the Our Health, Our Care, Our Say approach- a white paper that was published in 2006 (Van Dijk et al., 2019). This policy has set a new direction for the community healthcare service and social care setup. In this service provision, it was encouraged that the people who are associated with the program of safeguarding and protecting vulnerable adults for:

• Addressing the problems in the structural framework for planning and decision-making

• The principles should be upheld (Colón-Ríos, 2020)

One of the critical aspects of service that can support individuals to take risks is the development of a tailored care plan. This plan can address the individuals' needs and requirements. The care plan should incorporate the desired outcomes, values, and beliefs as well as the risk associated with performing a course of action to safeguard vulnerable adults (Sánchez-Monedero et al., 2020).

Online communication is another service provision with which the service providers can maintain collaboration with the individual, their families, and the healthcare team. Team-centric service approach can encourage people to make decision, maintain transparency, and provides opportunities to all parties.

2.2 The process to provide information to the people on signs and symptoms of abuse

According to the Care Act, of 2014, adult safeguarding duties applied to adults who:

• Has experienced abuse or exploitation

• Are in harm or risk of harm

• Has care and support needs

• Is unable to protect own self because of the care and support needs.

Concern: as a health and social care manager and staff of such an organization, it should be responsible for carrying out charges of sharing information regarding the safeguarding and protection of the adults. This includes informing the local authorities, government, and local police about when and where there is any indicator of abuse against adults and actions that need to be carried out further (El-Enany, 2020).

Indicators of harm, and abuse among the adults:

Sexual abuse includes rape, indecent exposure, and sexual harassment. Innuendo, and so on. The basic indicators of sexual abuse for adults are bleeding or pain around the genitals; torn, blooded, and stained clothing, self-harm, withdrawal behavior, sleeping difficulties, and unwillingness to receive help or support with any personal care.

Material and financial abuse include someone misusing money to control the freedom of another person. Unexplained lack of money, eviction, change in deeds to an adult's property, and lack of financial records in health care can be considered signs of such abuse.

Domestic violence includes psychological abuse and physical, sexual, financial, or emotional abuse. This abuse or violence includes acts of assault, frightening the person, isolation of the person from the source of support, low self -and so on (Khan et al., 2019).

Action that needed to be taken where there is a safeguarding concern:

Care workers should be aware of the signs and symptoms of the abuse. A record should be taken of the unusual behavior, like inappropriate language, marks of body, low self-esteem, and self-isolation; if there is any suspicious about the behavior or situation, the report should be submitted to the home manager and inform the local agencies (Van Dijk et al., 2019). If abuse is suspected then the report should be made by asking questions to the victim and noting down the factual data.

2.3 Process of Informing others to take measures to avoid the abuse from taking place

Communication is one of the best ways to inform others about taking measures so that the incidence rate of abuse can be avoided. It is often difficult to believe that abuse or neglect is occurring in society. Accepting what the person is saying is one of the best ways to encourage people to be able to raise their voices against abuse. From the first stage of concern, the viewpoint of the victim should be gained. This can help others to get a perspective on the potential abuse or neglect concern (Partington, 2021). Additionally, through campaigns, the health and social care sectors can raise awareness and knowledge about the abuse of adults and what wi;l be the necessary actions that people can take to avoid the abuse taking place. When speaking to adults,

• Speak in a private and safe place

• Encourage them to get out of the incident and make others aware and strong enough to take on-time action at the time of abuse happened (Sashidharan et al., 2019)

• Explain the confidentiality issues their information will be kept secure and how they will support – these initiatives can help people to take measures against any abuse to happen in society

2.4 The process to articulate with others to maintain the safety and protection of vulnerable individual

When speaking with adults who are regarded to be vulnerable, It should be ensured that they are in a safe place and informed about the concern. Additionally, the victims will also be ensured that the person who is the source of risk should not be present. Vulnerable adults should be listened to properly and appraised of their needs and requirements. Give the adults information about the safeguarding process and inform them how this process can help them to be safer. Explain the confidentiality measures to the victim and assure them that the information being shared by the victim will be kept confidential and they will be supported all along (Augestad Knudsen, 2020). During the abuse being recorded, information should be delivered to the CQC and action should be taken under the employment vetting schemes like the DBS scheme. Make a RIDDOR report if the incident falls under the criteria of reportable accident (RIDDOR, 1995).

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(Figure: Referral pathway for the safeguarding concerns)

Task 2:

3. Importance of Partnership working to protect the vulnerable

3.1 Explain the agreed protocols for working in partnership.

Agreed protocols in working into partnerships mainly define the information about the working partnerships which include accountabilities, responsibilities, and shared options. As described by Mead et al. (2022, p. 170), this information-sharing agreement refers to the knowledge that is going to be shared among the partners, the process of sharing it, and its security, consent, and confidentiality issues. Individual National Legislations justify agreed protocols as the agreed and standardized way of executing any task under Council Directive of 97/43/Euratom, June 1997. As in the Royal College of Nursing UK, the agreed protocols in partnership working means the written instructions that educate and guide the medical personnel into the particular steps taken while measuring the patient's health status and offering the clinical solutions. These protocols mainly cover sectors like working practices, data sharing, and communication in safeguarding and protecting vulnerable patients. It is essential to establish the agreed protocols around information sharing, consent, and communication while working with companies in social care or health contexts. Ocloo et al. (2021, p. 10) criticized that, various types of healthcare systems deal with personal data like clinical records management systems that comprise EPRs Electronic Patient Record systems, defining the digital or software imaging systems. A process like PIA or Privacy Impact Assessment is designed by the organization to identify the collected personal data, its importance, and the processes to use it. Working in partnerships with other companies benefits in many ways like cost savings, increased efficiency, and improved patient care. Organisations like the Royal College of Nursing, UK use this tool of working together to ensure the best possible treatment for vulnerable patients with the maximum usage of the available resources.

3.2 Evaluate the importance of working in partnership with others concerning safeguarding and protection.

The main purpose of safeguarding partnerships is to support and enable local agencies and companies to work together in a system where the patients are safeguarded and their welfare can be promoted. As noted by Levine et al. (2020, p. 104668), by working in partnerships people can respond to and identify problems more efficiently and successfully in a seamless style for healthcare services. In the case of the Royal College of Nursing, UK Protection and safeguarding the patients is about protecting the human rights, well-being as well as the health of the individuals that allow people to live free from harm, neglect, and abuse. In partnerships, professionals and other agencies work together but play different roles to save the patients’ interests. Barron et al. (2022, p. e90) argued that, after the UK Children Act, of 2004 it became necessary to establish more important agencies including social and health care personnel for safeguarding children and promoting their welfare in places. The involvement of the individuals is a vital part of this working partnership as it ensures diverse engagement in the reviewing procedures and procedures into the services. Royal College of Nursing, UK the shared partnership not only protects and safeguards the well-being and safety of vulnerable parents but also offers additional measures for the people who are unable or least able to protect themselves from abuse or harm.

4. Review the procedures and practices that promote the safeguarding of vulnerable individuals

4.1 The importance of the involvement of individuals in the review of systems and procedures in service

Working in partnership with the Royal College of Nursing, UK, it can be realized that the Care Act 2014 is one of the best practices or policies that has been followed to develop a clear legal framework for safeguarding adults. This policy includes the process and practices by which local authorities and other agencies will become part of the system and work in collaboration to protect adults at risk of exploitation or abuse (O'Donnell et al., 2015). This act also includes six principles for frontline care providers when it comes to safeguarding vulnerable individuals. Therefore, it can be stated that in the Royal College of Nursing, a person-centric care approach and procedures are used to safeguard a vulnerable individual. According to this act, the organization has set procedures that can:

• Lead the multi-agency local adult safeguarding system to prevent and protect the adult

• Inquire based on how to protect the adults in a best-fit way

• It also includes the Safeguarding Adults Boards, which include the NHS. Local agencies, governments, and police, with whom a joint safeguarding strategy can be formed (Papathoma-Köhle et al., 2019)

• The organization also carried out safeguarding adult reviews when someone needs protection against neglect, exploitation, or risk of harm.

• Under the Care Act, of 2014, the organisation has also set an independent advocate to represent and support an individual with specific needs and who is subjected to safeguard enquire or review.

Considering the procedures being followed by the organization, it can be stated that the robust safeguarding practice typically includes:

1. The steps that should be taken if any allegation or incident of abuse occurs

2. The process includes a disciplinary approach that is followed when allegations arise

3. Contact details for reporting the incident

4.2 Review of the work-setting process and practice against the current legislation and policy in relation to safeguarding and protecting vulnerable individuals

As per the Care Act, 2014, and the Online Harms White Paper (2020), the Royal Nursing College, UK must be aware of the damaging impact of not maintaining the confidentiality of sensitive data, carrying out of exploiting online activities that can negatively impact the mental health and wellbeing of the people. According to the legal framework, the staff of the organization should follow the new statutory duty of care and the organization must abide by the UK's wide mission to "develop rules and norms to protect vulnerably" (Katulanda et al., 2020). Additionally, the current policies and practices being followed by Royal Nursing College, UK now working in partnership with the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act. In summary, the organization is responsible enough to protect the well-being of vulnerable adults. The organization also includes the approach in their practice by which the person with a high risk of abuse can contact the group via DBS check (Rains et al., 2019). The five core principles of the policy and practices that the respective organization follows to ensure the safety and well-being of vulnerable people are:

• empowering or encouraging people who are regarded as vulnerable to make their own decisions,

• the preventive step that an individual can take to stop the harm before occurs

• intrusive response by the organization towards the adult at risk or in danger

• plan and framework to support the people with risk for meeting their greatest need

• partnership working with government and local agencies to safeguard vulnerable adults.

Conclusion

To conclude this assignment, it can be stated that when it comes to safeguarding people from abuse or exploitation, both policies and procedures have to be adopted by the organization. In this assignment, different legal frameworks and legislations are being discussed with which the people can be safeguarded or protected from being abused or exploited. In the second part, the focus has been given to the policies and practices being performed by the Royal Nursing College of the UK while safeguarding and protecting adults who are regarded as vulnerable towards abuse.

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