1.1 Explain what is meant by ‘safeguarding’.
The term “safeguarding” refers to any measure done to ensure the safety of minors and the elderly and disabled. The term “child safeguarding” refers to the practice of preventing harm to children from a variety of sources, including but not limited to physical, sexual, and emotional abuse, as well as ensuring that children have access to a healthy and enriching setting in which to develop and thrive. Safeguarding in health and social care is keeping people safe from violence, abuse, and neglect so that they may focus on getting better. It’s a crucial part of the healthcare system that needs to be maintained. The safety of everyone, including kids and adults, is everyone’s duty.
Children’s and adults’ safeguarding processes are distinct and require careful consideration when implementing either. Since various communities have varying requirements, they are free to adopt contrasting policies. However, the general idea of safeguarding and the objectives it should achieve is applicable to either. Protecting children, teenagers, and the elderly, who are especially susceptible to exploitation, maltreatment, and other forms of harm, is of paramount importance. Since they are less able to defend themselves, it becomes the obligation of everyone around them to prevent this from happening. Therefore, it is important for anyone who deals with or is accountable for such communities to have a basic understanding of safeguarding and ways that they can make a positive contribution to the process.
In the health and social care sectors, safeguarding is a legal obligation for both public and private institutions. A number of laws and local regulations, procedures, and legal precedents provide direction in this area. Workers in the health and social care sectors need to be familiar with four major pieces of legislation: the Children and Social Work Act 2017, the Care Act 2014, the Children Act 1989, and the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006.
The Care Act of 2014 has six guiding principles aimed at safeguarding older adults:
▪ Empowerment: People who are particularly vulnerable should be encouraged to decide for themselves with the support of their loved ones. They should have some say in the care they receive.
▪ Prevention: Preventing instances of abuse, damage, or neglect is always the most practical and ideal course of action for vulnerable people.
▪ Proportionality: Protective measures shouldn’t intrude too much on the private life of vulnerable people or their loved ones. The level of precaution taken should match the degree of danger.
▪ Protection: Protection for the vulnerable should be provided in whatever form it is needed, whether it be physiological, emotional, or any other kind of harm.
▪ Partnership: Businesses, localities, and all those with a stake in health and social services in the community have a duty to cooperate in the fight against neglect and abuse.
▪ Accountability: Maintaining a high standard of accountability is essential in the realm of security; this includes ensuring that all involved parties understand their roles and are held to high standards of transparency throughout the process.
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.