LO5; Understand working strategies + procedures for the safeguarding and protection of adults, young people + children Flashcards
LO5; Working strategies + procedures for adults, young people + children
What are the main ways in which organisations can ensure safeguarding?
LO5; Working strategies + procedures for adults, young people + children
The main ways for organisations to ensure safeguarding are:
- having effective policies + procedures in place
- using a multi agency approach
- carrying out risk assessments
- having an accessible complaints procedure
- having a designated protection/safeguarding officer
LO5; Working strategies + procedures for adults, young people + children
What is a policy?
LO5; Working strategies + procedures for adults, young people + children
Policies:
- a written document where organisations set out the ways in which they deal w/ specific issues, including safeguarding
- these then link to or include procedures which are set ways of doing something, e,g. reporting suspicions + disclosures of abuse
- often, policies work together to ensure the care environment provide a good standard of care + protect individuals from harm
LO5; Working strategies + procedures for adults, young people + children
What do policies that work to safeguard include?
LO5; Working strategies + procedures for adults, young people + children
Policies that work to safeguard include:
- safeguarding
- confidentiality
- data protection
- risk assessment
- disclosure + barring service
- staff recruitment policy/training policy
- complaints
LO5; Working strategies + procedures for adults, young people + children
How can staff recruitment protect vulnerable people?
LO5; Working strategies + procedures for adults, young people + children
Staff recruitment:
- having clear + effective recruitment procedures can help to ensure that unsuitable people aren’t employed to work w/ vulnerable people
- must ensure that they have the qualifications, skills, values + behaviour that are compatible w/ working in care
LO5; Working strategies + procedures for adults, young people + children
What are the different ways that staff recruitment can be done?
LO5; Working strategies + procedures for adults, young people + children
There are a number of ways that this can be done, including:
> advertising posts + ensuring that the info includes a clear job description, where all qualifications, skills, etc. are there
should also explain to people the type of work they’ll be doing + who they’ll be working with, in terms of service user + other staff
> the application form by asking for info, such as declaration of convictions, qualifications + previous experience to carry out initial assessments as to whether someone’s suitable or not
> assessment centres usually take place before a final interview + applicants are asked to undertake a number of ‘tests’. some may be academic, e.g. maths
however, they’re used to assess your values + if they match the organisation’s culture + beliefs
> interviews; questions asked should establish if the applicant’s suitable for the job + interview process should be fair, e.g. asking the same questions
> references; organisations should always take up references from previous employers, schools, colleges + unis that verify the individual’s ability to do the job advertised
these should always be taken up before the person starts work
LO5; Working strategies + procedures for adults, young people + children
What is a DBS check for staff recruitment?
LO5; Working strategies + procedures for adults, young people + children
Staff recruitment - DBS Checks:
- alongside this, the backgrounds of all staff should be checked with the ‘Disclosure and Barring Service’ (DBS Checking)
- this service works closely with the police to keep an up-to-date record of convictions (meaning an individual isn’t suitable to work w/ vulnerable people
LO5; Working strategies + procedures for adults, young people + children
When may a DBS check be needed?
LO5; Working strategies + procedures for adults, young people + children
any job which includes working with vulnerable groups, including children
LO5; Working strategies + procedures for adults, young people + children
Who can you ask for a DBS check?
LO5; Working strategies + procedures for adults, young people + children
the organisation that the individual wants to work for, e.g. the employer
LO5; Working strategies + procedures for adults, young people + children
How can you get a DBS check?
LO5; Working strategies + procedures for adults, young people + children
the individual can apply online
LO5; Working strategies + procedures for adults, young people + children
What do they look for when carrying out a DBS check?
LO5; Working strategies + procedures for adults, young people + children
a check of their criminal record, showing details of all spent + unspent convictions, cautions, reprimands + final warnings held on central police records (apart from protected convictions + cautions)
LO5; Working strategies + procedures for adults, young people + children
What does ‘Probationary period’ mean?
LO5; Working strategies + procedures for adults, young people + children
- when a person’s first employed by a setting, they may undertake a trial period of employment before their contract’s permanent
- this allows the employer to assess the individual + make final judgements on whether they’re suitable
- this can assist w/ safeguarding, as those unsuitable won’t be a permanent staff member
LO5; Working strategies + procedures for adults, young people + children
What does ‘Induction’ mean?
LO5; Working strategies + procedures for adults, young people + children
- when a person starts employment in an health, social care + childcare setting, they must have an intro to the organisation + job role. should never start work w/o this
- during this period, the worker will have sessions on the various organisational policies, incl. safeguarding. may be given initial training, as part of their induction
- may have a period of time shadowing or buddying w/ a more experienced staff member
new staff members could complete the Care Certificate (2014), as part of their induction, to ensure they had the skills + knowledge needed to work in health + social care settings
LO5; Working strategies + procedures for adults, young people + children
What does ‘Appraisal’ mean?
LO5; Working strategies + procedures for adults, young people + children
- a process which the performance of staff is monitored as part of a formal process, where workers are supported by their managers
will also reflect on their practices, acknowledge their strengths, weaknesses + produce a personal development plan for the future, based on identified weaknesses - can be beneficial to safeguarding, as it should bean opportunity to discuss issues w/ a staff member + support them in developing to become better at their job
- can also help to identify the training needs of staff + usually takes place annually
LO5; Working strategies + procedures for adults, young people + children
What does ‘Training’ mean?
LO5; Working strategies + procedures for adults, young people + children
- the ongoing training that staff receive whilst in the role + described ‘a range of learning activities through which health + care professionals maintain + develop throughout their career, to ensure that they retain their capacity to practise safely + effectively within their evolving scope of practice’
- it’s important that workers are up to date in their training, as risks to vulnerable people change as society changes, e.g. the emergence on online grooming, cyberbullying
LO5; Working strategies + procedures for adults, young people + children
What does ‘Supervision’ mean?
LO5; Working strategies + procedures for adults, young people + children
- supports the appraisal process, it’s how managers continually monitor the performance of staff
- supervisions usually take place ever 1 to 3 months where the targets set in the appraisal can be assessed + support offered where necessary
- poor performance can result in dismissal
LO5; Working strategies + procedures for adults, young people + children
What does ‘Mentoring’ mean?
LO5; Working strategies + procedures for adults, young people + children
- linked to supervision, mentoring can assist workers to become better at their job, they can be coached + advised by more experienced staff, where knowledge + expertise can be shared
- again, having better trained + supported staff can reduce the risk of abuse taking place
LO5; Working strategies + procedures for adults, young people + children
What does ‘Continuing professional development’ mean?
LO5; Working strategies + procedures for adults, young people + children
- it’s important that all workers have the skills + knowledge to do their job correctly + involves an element of training, incl. safeguarding training. they’ll learn or be reminded about how to recognise the signs of abuse, dealing w/ a disclosure + reporting it
- gov. guidelines state that all staff should have safeguarding training every 3 years, but designated officers should have it every 2
this will keep them up to date w/ the latest safeguarding legislation + national/local guidelines
LO5; Working strategies + procedures for adults, young people + children
How do risk assessments protect vulnerable people?
LO5; Working strategies + procedures for adults, young people + children
Risk assessments:
- when planning how best to safeguard from abuse, it’s important that consideration is given to risks that may cause harm to a person + the action that could be taken to prevent them (a risk assessment)
- involves identifying, managing, recording + reviewing risks that have the potential to cause a person harm
this then contributes to reducing the likelihood of abuse occurring + gives those in the setting guidance about how to respond to when harm does occur
LO5; Working strategies + procedures for adults, young people + children
Why are risk assessments important?
LO5; Working strategies + procedures for adults, young people + children
They’re important because:
- maintain the health + safety of those working for the service + the user
- ensures that there are adequate safety measures in place, to reduce the risk of harm, e.g. safety locks on doors + restrictive entry system
- can be updated + amended as necessary, e.g. if there’s a new user w/ additional/different needs
- if incidents do occur, they’re reported + reviewed, so action can be taken to prevent them from happening again again
therefore, reducing the risk of harm
LO5; Working strategies + procedures for adults, young people + children
What is a ‘Multi-agency approach’?
LO5; Working strategies + procedures for adults, young people + children
- refers to a number of agencies + professionals working together to meet the needs + safeguard vulnerable people
- this approach means that agencies, e.g. social care, health, youth services + police can all share info that can ensure the safety of the individuals being looked after
LO5; Working strategies + procedures for adults, young people + children
How can a Multi-agency approach help?
LO5; Working strategies + procedures for adults, young people + children
A multi-agency approach can help by;
- ensure any concerns are identified + reported early
- ensure professionals + agencies who may have different insights + different info share this, so they can work together effectively to reduce the risk + prevent harm
- workers develop a better insight + knowledge of the info, so they can work together to protect them
- ensure professionals + agencies work in a consistent way when trying to safeguard vulnerable individuals
LO5; Working strategies + procedures for adults, young people + children
What is an ‘Accessible complaints procedure’?
LO5; Working strategies + procedures for adults, young people + children
- it’s important that settings have an accessible complaints procedure in place so, that they can raise any concerns they have about the care provided by services
- also, it’s important that those who may find complaining difficult have access to support, e.g. PALS (Patient Advice and Laison Service) in the NHS
LO5; Working strategies + procedures for adults, young people + children
Why is it important that service users can complain?
LO5; Working strategies + procedures for adults, young people + children
It’s important that people are able to complain because:
- it builds mutual trust + respect where individuals take an active role and have a voice in the care they receive
- when complaints are raised + addressed, poor care + abuse can be dealt w/ swiftly
- having an open policy that can be accessed by all, will mean that people are more likely to raise concerns and/or report abuse
LO5; Working strategies + procedures for adults, young people + children
What is a ‘Designated protection officer’ or ‘Child protection officer’?
LO5; Working strategies + procedures for adults, young people + children
- health, social + childcare environments are required to have a designated protection officer(s) to whom all suspicions + abuse disclosures are reported
- they also provide info + support to staff who have suspicions or are disclosed
