1.1 Explain what is meant by ‘safeguarding’.
Safeguarding is a method or step taken to improve the well-being of children and keep them safe from harm. It may also imply protecting the children from abuse or maltreatment, saving children from harm that could harm their health or growth, as well as ensuring that children develop with access to safe and efficient care. Safeguarding also means protecting people’s health, welfare, and human rights, allowing them to live independently from danger, abuse, and neglect. It is an essential component of providing high-quality healthcare, and protecting children, adolescents, and adults is a corporate responsibility.
Children and young people, adults at risk, such as those with physical disabilities, mental impairments, sensory impairments, those with learning disabilities, and those who receive care at home, are all in need of protection. All care workers and staff, whether in a hospital, care centre, general profession, or providing community care, and whether hired by a public sector, private, or non-profit organisation, have an obligation to protect children and adults at risk of abuse or neglect.
Safeguarding has six principles developed by the UK government to assist in protecting vulnerable individuals and which are agreed upon within the Care Act 2014, which are as follows:
- Empowerment that allows individuals to control and make decisions over judgments made;
- Protection by offering assistance and representation to those in desperate need. It is critical to act before danger strikes to protect against neglect, abuse, or harm;
- Proportionality ensures that an individual’s life is impacted as little as possible by precisely assessing the threat or risk;
- Partnership, which means being involved with local communities, can provide solutions by assisting in the prevention and detection of abuse;
- Accountability implies that protecting is everyone’s responsibility, and those in close proximity to a vulnerable person should be held accountable for observing any risk;
- Prevention that gives an individual the required knowledge and understanding to identify and avoid dangers.
Other answers in the full document:
- 1.2 Explain how safeguarding:
– Keeps individuals safe
– Value individual needs
– Protects individuals - 1.3. Explain how Health and social care practitioners can take steps to safeguard themselves.
- 2.1. Summarise current legislation in relation to safeguarding.
- 2.2. Describe the relationship between legislation, policy and procedure.
- 2.3. Identify policy and procedures in relation to safeguarding.
- 3.1. Explain factors that may contribute to an individual being vulnerable to harm or abuse
- 4.1. Describe signs, symptoms, indicators and behaviours that may cause concern relating to:
– Physical abuse
– Sexual abuse
– Domestic abuse
– Emotional abuse
– Neglect - 5.1. Explain the boundaries of confidentiality in relation to the safeguarding, protection and welfare of individuals
- 6.1. Evaluate the role and responsibilities of the health and social care practitioner in relation to safeguarding individuals.