The safeguarding principle in health and social care is the fundamental practice that aims the protect the health, well-being, and human rights of vulnerable people. It ensures a living society that is free from harm, neglect, and abuse.
The principles of safeguarding in health and social care are empowerment, prevention, proportionality, protection, partnership, and accountability. These principles can contribute to ensuring the ultimate safeguard to the vulnerable society.
However, in today’s article, we will walk through a more comprehensive understanding of what the safeguarding principles are, their implementation, and what will be the outcome. Just read on till the end.
1. The Principle Of Safeguarding In Health And Social Care
When the matter is about safeguarding in health and social care, there are six critical principles to help in better protection. The Department of Health outlined the six principles in 2011 which it is now present in the Care Act 2014.
Although the six principles were originally produced for safeguarding adults, they can also be applied to safeguarding children.
Safeguarding principles for adults and children prevent harm by raising awareness and support to make informed decisions.
1.1 Empowerment [Encouraging to make own decisions]
Typically, as a health and social care worker, we need to safeguard vulnerable people. That is because they can’t make decisions about their health on their own.
For the empowerment of the elderly, the health and social care workers should support them. Also have to encourage them to make their own decisions. Moreover, they can be able to give informed consent.
The practitioners should work alongside them so they should be treated with respect and dignity. Additionally, they can ensure that vulnerable people can get quality and person-centered care ensuring their safety in their terms.
1.2 Prevention [Taking active steps to prevent harm]
Prevention is the key to safeguarding health and social care. The principle aims to shield vulnerable people from neglect and abuse. It applies to every safeguarded person; no matter what the situation is.
You can take preventative active steps so that the harm can’t even occur. Even if the people have been subjected to abuse or harm, you have to prevent future trauma and damage.
Establishing prevention involves multiple steps like training the staff, providing clear and informative resources to get access at any time.
1.3 Proportionality [Ensuring safeguarding intervention aligning the needs]
The principle of proportionality means using the least intrusive response that is based on the risk of the individuals. The principle protects the person from abuse and harm while maintaining their liberties and individuality.
With empowerment, proportionality works in hand to hand. The health and social care practitioner should create care plans based on the situation and needs of the vulnerable person.
1.4 Protection [Supporting and representing vulnerable people]
When someone experiences abuse or neglect, they feel that there is no support for them. As a health and social care worker, we need to know how to deal with this.
Also how to stop abuse and offer additional support. The principle of protection involves organising support and delivering it to people of greatest need, who are not able to do it by themselves.
1.5 Partnership [Partnering with the local authorities and care resources]
No wonder effective safeguarding can’t be delivered without the partners or systems that interact with the person. In health and social care, you can achieve the best safeguarding solutions by working with the communities, services, and professionals as a whole.
The partnership will avoid conflicting care responses and offer support from multiple providers. You can set up a joint care plan that caters to all the needs of the vulnerable people in society.
1.6 Accountability [Remaining responsible for safeguarding care]
The principle of accountability means the recognition of the importance of being open, clear, and honest while delivering safeguarding. It also includes that there are mechanisms in place that the practitioners, services, or systems can hold into account.
For instance, when you support vulnerable people, they also need to understand your roles and responsibilities as caregivers. You should provide important contact details so that they can get assistance when they require it the most.
Accountability also includes effective communication between care teams, services, and local authorities so that you can arrange further support and coordinate it.
2. What Will Be The Outcome of Safeguarding For Individuals And Agencies?
With the effective implementation of the safeguarding principles in health and social care, the outcome will be profound and life-enhancing for both individuals and agencies. For instance, the individuals will experience a collaborative effort that minimises the risks to their safety and well-being.
The care services will be offered in a manner that recognises the capabilities and needs of the vulnerable people. They can get the opportunity to be involved with the people they trust and the care environment they desire.
When the principles will be established, the care the individuals will receive will be the high quality, will be offered effective help, and responsive action.
As for the local agencies, they will experience the outcome which will enhance their ability in safeguarding the adults and children effectively. They can empower the care needs of people with information and support, ensure protection, and train the staff for effective protection.
Ultimately, the effective implementation of the safeguarding principles will offer a caring environment that people can trust, feel secure, and desire in health and social care settings.
3. Legislation Related To Safeguarding In Health And Social Care
Only effective regulation can prevent both personal damages and legal disputes. The legislation linked to the safeguarding of health and social care aims to prevent the neglect and abuse of vulnerable adults and children. Below are some of them, check it out.
The Care Act 2014
The Care Act 2014 has made a significant change in the health and social care assistance of adults. The legislation aims to offer vulnerable people more control and influence over how care is provided.
According to the law, the local officials are bound to make arrangements, for instance, services, resources, and facilities. It will help to avoid or lessen the care and support needed in emergencies.
The Children Act of 1989
According to the Children Act of 1989, we should ensure that healthy children, assist them when they are having a lonely time, and support them kids to their efforts to succeed. The law aims to make a big difference in the lives of the children and work to secure the financial future of the children.
The Children and Social Work Act 2017
The aim of the Children and Social Care Work Act is to improve decision-making and support for children.
The law helps to coordinate work at the local level to safeguard the children and facilitate the safeguarding of children. Also at the local and the national levels, the law aims to improve the learning practice in children protection.
The Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006
The Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006 makes a provision in connection with vulnerable adult and children protection. It offers a system to the employees by which they can check the suitability of the volunteers or the employees to work with the adults or the vulnerable adults.
4. FAQs
Still, many queries safeguarding conscious people are asked in the health and social care setting. Let’s check it out to know more.
4.1 Why are the 6 principles important in safeguarding?
When the matter is about safeguarding in health and social care, the 6 principles play a crucial role. By implementing these 6 principles in health and social care, one can make sure that one can do their best to protect the vulnerable from abuse.
4.2 What are the 5 R’s of safeguarding?
The 5 R’s of safeguarding are respond, recognise, report, record, and refer. They are crucial principles and actions. These 5 R’s of safeguarding offer an easy-to-remember process that can keep vulnerable people safe.
4.3 What are the 3 C’s of safeguarding?
Content, contact, and conduct are the 3 C’s of safeguarding. They are simple ways to remember many risks and issues that can occur online. It can help to protect your children ensuring a consistent approach to staying safe online.
4.4 What are the types of safeguarding methods?
There are two primary types of safeguarding methods. They are hard guards and safeguarding devices. Hard guards are the physical barriers between the moving parts and the worker. As for the safeguarding devices, they prevent accidental access to hazards.
4.5 What is the first stage of safeguarding?
The first stage of safeguarding is raising a concern. The concern for safeguarding can be made by anyone. It is the way one can report neglect or abuse that is identified or received by an agency.
5. Final Words
When the matter is about ensuring the well-being and the protection of vulnerable individuals, safeguarding principles in health and social care play a significant role.
Effective safeguarding requires the implementation of these principles through a collaborative approach among professionals, continuous training, and adherence to the laws and legislation.
By prioritising so, the health and social care worker can ensure a care environment of safety people can trust. Ultimately, it can contribute to the safeguarding most and thus enhance the safety of vulnerable individuals.