Marina Agachi

Unit 2 assignment
1.1 and 1.2 Using activity sheet 1 identify the signs and symptoms
associated with the types of abuse stated.
See activity sheet 1

1.3 Using activity sheet 2 identify in the 5 case studies what factors
contibute to each individual being vulnerable to abuse and note
what types of abuse for each.
See activity sheet 2

2.1What actions are you required to take if you suspect abuse may
occuring?
There are 4 Golden rules for responding to any suspected abuse, That I must follow,
these are:
Protect I must ensure I protect them from any further harm of danger
Report - I must report immediately and disclosure of abuse to the manager
Preserve - I must preserve any physical and written evidence as far as possible for
investigations
Record and refer _ I have a duty to report and record accurately all information
concerning any accusations of abuse
If I suspected abuse or a change in the behavior of a service user that indicated
there could be abuse happening, I will make sure that I ask what has happened
telling the service user the changes that I have noticed and if they had any issues. If
it is in my place of work and the name of the person that abused is known, whether
staff or another service user, I must also record and report this. I will listen carefully,
It is up to them to tell me, I would not ask them any leading questions about this as
this is not part of my job role and would need to stay calm and actively listen to
what is being said.
I will make sure that I record what the service user tells me using the individuals
own words. I will make sure that I reassure and explain that their safety is the most
important and that it is my duty of care to tell the manager.
I will make sure that I let my manager know what has happened immediately and
pass this information on in private and make sure my report is also maintained in a
confidential way. I will only report and record the facts - what the service user has
told me. Depending on what is found out might need to continue to be monitored
and a plan of care will be put in place that must be followed to protect the service
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user. I will make sure that I let my manager know and report and record this in
private but if the allegation is about my manager or the manager is unwilling to do
anything, I will follow my companys policy and ensure I follow the correct procedure
for reporting abuse and understand the need to report any accusations to the CQC
using their alert form.

2.2 Complete the activity sheet 3 identifying how to deal with a

disclosure of abuse.
The action I needed to take if I suspect that abuse is occurring:
I need to be open and be honest about my concerns
I need to stay calm
To listen very carefully
Ensure that no one is in any further danger or risk
Call for emergency health services if urgent medical assistance is needed
Encourage the person not to wash or bath, as this could help medical evidence.
I need to tell the person that they did the right thing, in letting me know about the
abuse
I have to express my concern about what has happened and try to give back some
control to the person, move at their pace
I have to reassure individual that the information will be taken seriously and that I
will inform the person on what is going to happen next.
I need to let the person know that they will keep them informed of the outcome at
every stage and who will do so.
I have to inform my manager of what has happened immediately.
See activity sheet 3

2.3 a)What types of evidence can be considered in an abuse

investigation?
Physical abuse is deliberate physical force that may result in bodily injury,
pain, or impairment.
EVIDENCE: bruising, particularly in well-protected and covered areas,
fractures, sprains or dislocations, lacerations, burns - including friction burns
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and scalds, drowsiness, pressure sores, cowering and flinching, unexplained

hair loss, significant weight loss.
Sexual abuse is when a person is forced or tricked into taking part in any
kind of sexual activity
EVIDENCE: bruises around breasts or genitals, genital infections, unexplained
vaginal or anal bleeding, torn, stained, or bloody underwear, disturbed sleep
patterns, vulnerable adult appears withdrawn and fearful, inappropriate
dressing.
Emotional Abuse is where one person gains power and control over another
through words and gestures which gradually undermine the others selfrespect.
EVIDENCE: depression, anxiety, withdrawing or refusing affection, fearful or
agitation, lower self-esteem and self-confidence, shouting or swearing,
behaviours such as rocking, hair twisting and self-mutilation, vulnerable adult
withdrawn and fearful.
Financial abuse is stealing or defrauding someone of money, goods and/or
property, allowing others to steal money or property, tricking or threatening
individuals into giving away money or property, withholding money, refusing
to allow individuals to manage their finances.
EVIDENCE: Signs of financial abuse are signatures on cheques that do not
resemble the service users signature, or signed when the service user
cannot write, unexplained withdrawals of large sums of money by a person
accompanying the service user, lack of amenities, such as TV, personal
grooming items, appropriate clothing, that the service user should be able to
afford, deliberate isolation of service user from friends and family, resulting
in the support worker alone having total control.
Institutional abuse happens when the lifestyles of service users are sacrificed
in favour of the routines and/or restrictive practices of the home.
EVIDENCE:e lack of own personal clothing and possessions, no flexibility of
bedtimes, eating times or waking times, dirty clothing or bed linen, misuse of
medication, lack of care plans, lack of heating, staff entering into service
users rooms without knocking.
Self-neglect is when a person does not pay attention to their health and wellbeing.
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EVIDENCE: living in dirty conditions, poor personal hygiene, poor

nutrition...not getting medical help, not being interested in the way they
look, long toe nails not taking medication.
Neglect is when a care worker does not carry out their duty of care and fails
to care for a service user this can be deliberate or unintentional due to the
care worker being ill or stressed.
EVIDENCE: absence of food, water, and heat, poor personal hygiene
including soiled clothing, dirty nails and skin, inappropriately dressed for cold
or hot weather, bedsores, constant hunger, withdrawn, illness.
b)Discuss the methods and requirements for the recording of
evidence.
I should aim to:
- note what the people actually said, using their own words and phrases
- describe the circumstances in which the disclosure came about
- note the setting and anyone else who was there at the time
-separate factual information from your own opinions.
- use a pen or biro with black ink, so that the report can be photocopied, and be
aware that your report may be required later as part of a legal action or disciplinary
procedure.
- Ensure all written evidence is accurate, legible, factual, relevant and is
signed and dated and time of report recorded on the document.

c)How do you preserve the various types of evidence?

Ways to ensure that evidence of abuse is preserved are as follows:
By leaving things as they are and not touching anything.
By not removing, cleaning or washing what the individual is wearing and by not
handling the individuals clothes or bedding.
By keeping the area safe and not allowing anyone to enter into the area.
By recording and reporting carefully, factually within the agreed confidentially
protocols and is sufficient and reflects all that was told to me by both the individual
and others if present at the time and also what I noticed; stating the facts only.
By preserving any first aid items used.
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3.1 Identify the relevant national policies for the safeguarding and
protection of vulnerable adults and explain how these are used to
guide practice.
The national policies and legal framework for the protection of vulnerable adult are:
-codes of practice for health and social care workers(HCPC-2000)
-local systems which include organisational policies and procedures
- Human Rights Act 1998.
-Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006,
-care quality commission (CQC)
- The Criminal Records Bureau(CRB)
- Social Services-Safeguarding Adult Boards agreed SOVA policy
- Independent Safeguarding Authority(ISA)
- Health/ Medical profession ethical practice standards
- Specialist Voluntary Service protocol
What is their purpose? It is my responsibility as a care worker to get to know the
legal framework underpinning the SOVA framework as part of my Duty of Care Unit
4, this is so that if there is any abuse occurring in our organisation, I need to ensure
I know what to do to ensure the safety of individuals or clients from abuse or harm
by making sure I follow my organisation policies and procedures and the relevant
national policies to guide my practice.
To provide a framework for safeguarding adults from abuse.
To promote good practice and challenge practice that is abusive or poses risk to
adults.
To promote partnerships with centres, local authorities and other agencies to
provide a safe environment for vulnerable adults.

3.2 Using activity sheet 4, identify the roles of the various agencies
involved in the protection of vulnerable adults from abuse.
See activity sheet 4.

3.3 Using activity sheet 5,identify the lessons learned from the
reports into serious failures and how these are used to inform your
service and your own practice.
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From these reports I have learnt that an abuse is a violation of an individual's
human and civil rights by another person or persons. Many of abuses occurred in
the case studies because procedures were either not in place or not followed and
the findings in each of the 3 cases demonstrated poor practice. I understand the
need to review these so that I and others do not repeat the same mistakes as there
were similarities in each of the 3 cases.

3.4 Identify sources of support,information and advice that helps

you in maintaining the required standarts of practice in the
protection of adults.
I need to know both when and how to ask for advice and support when I am unsure
what to do or when situations are highly complex and beyond my understanding or
level of responsibility. I have to seek information and advice from key people where I
have difficulty in learning or knowing what to do.
I can get help and advice from my workplace and receive constructive feedback
from line manager, tutor, supervisor. My manager, colleagues, My companys
policies and procedures on safeguarding, Care Quality Commission, Independent
Safeguarding Authority, Training and advice from training centres.
Other sources of knowledge and support can be sought externally from: books,
publications, TV and radio, documentaries and educational programmers,
government websites, conferences and staff meetings, llocal authority Adult
Services Department like the Social Service Adult Protection Board and CQC
inspectors also provide information and support

4.1 Explain how the likehood of abuse may be reduced by working

within the following frameworks
In unit 3 I discussed the importance of embedding in my care practice the 8 core
values and Code of Practice principles and ensure I treat all service users in a fair
and equal way. I have to ensure I work in partnership with service users ensuring I
see them as an equal partner and ensure I do not see them as inferior to me. If I do
see them as an inferior it is more likely I will treat the harshly as was proven in the
Jane Elliot video of the Blue and Brown eye activity. The Person-centred values
include the individuality of the person, the rights of the individual, the individuals
choice, the individuals dignity and the individual being respected.If person centred
values are taken into consideration when supporting an individual there is less likely
to be abuse as all the staff will be working in the same way and will feel shamed if
they abuse because of the way that they have been taught to work. If a service user
is considered to have a say in what he or she wants and is at the centre of any
decision, it will be more unlikely that there is abuse. He/she will know what suits him
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or her and will not get so frustrated. I always put the service users I work with at the
centre of any decision about them and they are an active partner in their own care.
They decide what to do, where to go, what clothes to wear and are treated with
dignity, respect, confidentiality and are able to make their own choices.
Active participation is a way of working that recognises a service users right to
participate in the activities and relationships of everyday life as independently as
possible; the service user is regarded as an active partner in their own care or
support, rather than a passive recipient. So if the service user participates actively
in their daily activities, which is what I practice, then the risk of abuse is low. For
example in choosing the kind of meal to prepare I support individuals to make the
lists of what they want to buy and go shopping with them so that they can choose
the brand they want. They cook the food the way they want it with little or no
support. This is the same with all choices of clothes and outings.
Service user are supported to make their choices in anything they want like in
choosing food or drink, in what to wear, whether to use hot or cold water to bathe,
etc. No one will choose what will hurt him or her therefore abuse is reduced to the
minimum.
Service user rights are promoted throughout the service. My service user has the
right to do anything that they wish to do and if it is what they want as long as it is
not dangerous; a risk assessment is then done to stop any abuse happening.
If I ensure that I promote service users rights and choices by allowing them to make
their own choices and support them to have the rights of anyone else and be seen
and treated as an equal it is less likely they will be abused.

4.2 Explain how an accessible and user friendly complaints

procedure can help reduce the likelihood of abuse occurring.
The complaints procedure gives the complainant the right to be heard and
supported to make their views known; this is a Human Right that everyone must be
able to exercise. An accessible and user friendly complaints procedure is required by
law to be in place and must be understandable and easy to use. It sets out clearly
how to make a complaint, the steps that will be taken when the complaint is looked
into. It also provides flexibility in relation to target response times.
An accessible complaints procedure resolves complaints more quickly as the
complainant feels that they are being listened to and their complaint taken
seriously. These sets up an open culture of making sure that abuse will not be
tolerated in any form and encourages the complainant to not accept this.
It is important that every employer should have procedure in place in case of any
concerns of abuse.

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For example:

Protects legal rights of adults

Helps prevent bad practice

Raise awareness with managers/regulatory bodies of issues

Helps to improve health and care services for self and other users as part of
the quality assurance cycle

5.1 Identify types of unsafe practices that could lead to potential

harm and danger affecting the well-being of individuals.
-Unsanitary conditions can spread infection as cross-contamination can occur and
can affect the well-being of the individual and others. Improper hand washing can
also pose a risk. Dirty kitchen surfaces and equipment can spread infections, not
covering hair when cooking can pose a risk to individual as cannot reporting faulty
equipment when working or not having cleaning materials can also be unsafe.
-In terms of health and safety not having risk assessments in place when a service
user hurts themselves. Staff not checking when a service user is ill or unsteady on
their feet. Staff not recording in care plans about a service users wellbeing and
health and not monitoring them.
-Other unsafe practices which also amount to abuse can occur such as leaving a
service user on the toilet too long, ignoring or not listening to them.
-Marks on body not taken seriously and complaints not taken seriously can put them
at more danger, harm and risk of abuse.
I have a duty to ensure that I keep to all the procedures for checking for abuse and
the wellbeing of the individuals that I work with; by following these and the
individuals care plan I keep within the minimum standards of care and also work in
a person centred way to make sure all individuals are happy and safe.
Other types of unsafe practice that could lead to potential harm and dangers
affecting the well-being of individuals are many:
Poor working practice and attitudes to safety
Failure to update knowledge on safeguarding issues example: not attending
ongoing meetings or training to update my practice
Operational difficulties and lack of adequate resources
Unsafe administration of medication example; not checking the right dosage
routine, method and refusals etc.
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Neglect of duty for personal care such as: not washing, feeding, bathing, and
dressing.
Inappropriate communication or sharing of information; breaching the policy of
confidentiality.
Inappropriate physical contact such as in relation of moving and handling etc.
This above was covered by myself in Unit 4 assignment and direct the reader to this
assignment to back up my answer given here.

5.2 What actions are you required to take if you noted unsafe
practices were taking place?
If I identify unsafe practices then I must follow the correct procedure and ensure I
protect my client and then report it immediately to my manager or supervisor,
regarding my concerns about the clients safety. I will need to stop the activity
immediately, try to raise the awareness of the dangers to those involved, if they do
not listen then report to my manager immediately or if it involves my manager then
to another appropriate person using the whistleblowing procedure.
I will need to monitor all unsafe practices and make sure that I record and report in
full all the evidence and then will talk to my manager because all unsafe practices
are dangerous practices that could cause harm to the individual and others.

5.3 What action should you take if after reporting suspected or

actual abuse or unsafe practices,nothing is done to address your
concerns?
If suspected abuse or unsafe practices have been reported but nothing has been
done in response or if it has to do with my manager then I will report to the next
level or manager.
If it has to do with my manager then I will report to management, then to the social
worker and safeguarding team and to the care quality commission and even to the
police depending on the response I get.
If the manager had not done this then I would follow the whistle blowing procedure.
I need to contact a different senior manager from another organisation or contact
and alert the Care Quality Commission.