The protection and safeguarding of vulnerable adults is one of the most crucial aspects of the role of health and social care staff. Expectations and guidance for managing safeguarding and processes are found in legislation and it is vital that all staff understand their responsibilities and what is required of them.
What is Safeguarding?
Safeguarding refers to the measures put into place in order to protect the health, wellbeing and human rights of individuals which allows them to live free from abuse, harm and neglect.
The Care Act legislation defines adult safeguarding as:
‘Protecting an adult’s right to live in safety, free from abuse and neglect. It is about people and organisations working together to prevent and stop both the risks and experience of abuse or neglect, while at the same time making sure that the adult’s wellbeing is promoted including, where appropriate, having regard to their views, wishes, feelings and beliefs in deciding on any action. This must recognise that adults sometimes have complex interpersonal relationships and may be ambivalent, unclear, or unrealistic about their personal circumstances’.
This definition implies that safeguarding adults is not without its challenges.
A safeguarding concern can centre on a single act or repeated acts of suspected, disclosed or witnessed abuse or neglect. It also includes when someone is placing themselves at risk or doing things which will cause themselves harm, especially when that person is deemed to lack capacity to make decisions around that aspect of their behaviour.
6 principles of Safeguarding
Contained within the Care Act (2014) are guiding principles and aims of Safegaurding.
There are:
1. Empowerment
People being supported and encouraged to make their own decisions and informed consent
2. Prevention
It is better to take action before harm occurs.
3. Proportionality
The least intrusive response appropriate to the risk presented.
4. Protection
Support and representation for those in greatest need.
5. Partnership
Local solutions through services working with their communities. Communities have a part to play in preventing, detecting and reporting neglect and abuse.
6. Accountability
Accountability and transparency in safeguarding practice.
Criteria
It is important to be clear about which adults we are discussing. A local authority must act when it has ‘reasonable cause to suspect that an adult in its area’:
