Who is considered vulnerable?
Vulnerable adults, esp elderly
Mentally compromised
Children
Homeless people
People unable to protect themselves against significant harm/exploitation (due to mental illness, age, inability to care of themselves etc.)
What is abuse?
Abuse occurs when a vulnerable adult it mistreated, neglected or harmed by another person who holds a position of trust (partner, GP, carer etc.)
Who is safeguarding the responsibility of?
Everyone, incl. all healthcare workers
What are risk factors for abuse?
Lack of mental capacity Increasing age Being physically dependent on others Low self-esteem Prev. hx of abuse Negative experience of disclosing abuse Social isolation
What are the types of abuse?
Physical
Sexual
Financial or material (theft, fraud, exploitation)
Psychological
Neglects/acts of omission
Discrimminatory abuse
Domestic abuse (psychological, physical, HBV)
Modern slavery
Organisational abuse (poor care within an institution)
Self-neglect
What are e.g.s of psychological abuse?
Emotional
Threats of harm/abandonment
Blaming, controlling, harassment
Humiliation
What are e.g.s of discriminatory abuse?
Racist, sexist or abuse based on a person’s disability
What is the aim of safeguarding?
To keep an individual safe, preventing abuse from occurring
What are the 6 principles of safeguarding practice?
Empowerment Protection Prevention Proportionality Partnership Accountability
Empowerment
Person led decisions and informed consent
Protection
Support and representation for those most in need
Prevention
Take action before the occurrence of harm
Proportionality
Proportionate and least intrusive response appropriate to the risk presented
Partnership
Local solutions through services working with their communities
Accountability
Accountability and transparency with delivering safeguarding
What is safeguarding?
Its about protecting those most at harm
Involves identifying abuse and acting whenever someone is being harmed
Give e.g.s of self-neglect
Neglecting personal hygiene
Hoarding
All concerns regarding significant risk of abuse should…
Be reported to the local services for safeguarding (local authorities)
Discuss with senior, document concerns
Child abuse leads to what?
Lack of trust and relationship difficulties
Feeling worthless or damaged
Trouble regulating emotions
What are the types of child abuse?
Emotional
Physical
Neglect
Sexual
What makes child abuse different from discipline?
It’s unpredictable, lashing out in anger, using fear to control behaviour
What are RFs for child abuse and neglect?
Domestic violence Alcohol and drug use Untreated mental illness Lack of parenting skills Stress, lack of support