Safeguarding In Care Homes: Ensuring Safety And Dignity!

Safeguarding is a critical aspect in care homes, an urge to protect vulnerable elderly loved ones and ensure their overall well-being. It is all about creating a safe environment where the residents are free from neglect or abuse, and get their rights preserved. 

According to The Care Act 2014, all care organizations must have safeguarding policies and procedures that reflect the local safeguarding arrangements. This arrangement ensures that the care homes are prepared to protect and support the vulnerable elderly effectively at any time. 

However, in today’s blog, we will explore every pinpoint of safeguarding in care homes including practical steps and best practices for the implementation of safety measures. All you just to read the article till the end. 

 

1. What Is Safeguarding In Care Homes?

As defined in section 14 of the Care and Support statutory guidance, safeguarding is protecting the right of adults to live safely, free from neglect and abuse in the care homes. It is all about the people or organisations who will work together to prevent as well as stop the risk of abuse or neglect. 

At the same time, it is also about ensuring the well-being of the adult is promoted. For instance, safeguarding includes having regard for their feelings, points of view, and beliefs about any action or decision.

The people and the organisation must recognise that the adults living in the care homes have complicated relationships.

Sometimes they may feel unsure or confused about their situation. That is why it is important that their voice is heard and respected. It is a part of safeguarding action.

2. What Does Good Adult Safeguarding Practice Look Like?

Safeguarding In Care Homes

Good adult safeguarding in the care home setting is where the adults are being listened to actively. Their choices and views are respected, or their safety is ensured while protecting their rights. All in all, a good adult care home safeguarding includes these 6 principles. 

2.1 Empowerment 

It means that the elderly in adult homes are being supported. The care home worker encourages them to make their own decision and give informed consent. 

Moreover, here the elderly are always treated with respect and dignity while the practitioners are there to ensure the vulnerable people receive quality care and are safe on their own terms.

2.2 Prevention 

Next principle of adult safeguarding is prevention. In a good adult safeguarding practice in the care home, the importance of taking action before the harm occurs is early recognised. Here the care home setting seek to put mechanisms to ensure the harm never happens. 

2.3 Proportionality 

Proportionality means the least intrusive response that an individual chooses to match to the risk they have faced. 

For the safeguarding of elderly in the care homes, the wishes and circumstances of the elderly are also taken into consideration, not only just their appearance, condition, or behaviour. It ensures that the response is balanced are fair. 

2.4 Protection 

Here the care home service organises and delivers support and representation to the elderly who need it the most for their well-being and living. 

2.5 Partnership 

Effective safeguarding of the elderly will never be possible to deliver with the isolation of the other partner. The local solutions will have to work with their communities. Here the communities have a part to play in the prevention, detection, and reporting of negligence of the abuse. 

2.6 Accountability 

In the safeguarding practice for the elderly in the care home, there should be transparency and accountability. The care homes should be honest and have clear safety mechanisms that practitioners, services, or systems hold into account. 

Safeguarding In Care Home

3. Types Of Abuse And Safeguarding Measures

Types Of Abuse And Safeguarding Measures

Safeguarding in vulnerable adult care homes encompasses a range of abuse. The care homes have to commit to address each of them. 

 

3.1 Physical Abuse

Powerful staff training and clear reporting mechanisms to respond as well as to prevent elderly physical abuse incidents. 

For instance, 

  • Slapping, punching, kicking, assaulting, hitting, hair-pulling, biting, pushing
  • Physical punishments
  • Scalding and burning
  • Rough handling
  • Unlawful or inappropriate use
  • Misuse of medication and so on. 
  • Withholding food or Forcible feeding 
  • Restricting movement 
  • Involuntary isolation

3.2 Emotional Abuse

The care homes promote emotional well-being through practitioner training, open communication, and nurturing of an environment that prioritises emotional needs. 

Some types of emotional abuse are 

  • Preventional in choice and opinion expression
  • Failure to respect privacy
  • Threats of harm or abandonment
  • Removal of the communication aids or mobility. Leaving someone unattended intentionally when they need it the most. 
  • Prevention of stimulation, activities, or occupations that are meaningful to them
  • Harassment, use of threats, Intimidation, coercion, swearing or verbal abuse, humiliation, bullying.

3.3 Financial Abuse

To ensure the prevention of financial abuse in care homes all it needs is to educate the practitioners about the potential scams, regular monitoring system of the financial activities, and take action immediately when there are any suspicions.

  • Fraud, scamming
  • Money or possessions theft 
  • Misuse of personal allowance
  • Prevention of the elderly to access their own money 
  • False representation and using the bank account, cards, or documents of the other person
  • Misuse of the power of attorney of the other legal authorities 

3.4 Neglect And Acts Of Omission

To establish the ultimate safeguarding, the care homes ensure that the needs of the residents are met optimally. 

They regularly assess and have attentive staff to prevent neglect and the act of omission. Some of the types of neglect are. 

  • Failure to provide food, shelter, clothing, personal or medical care, stimulation and activity, heating, or not allowing access to it. 
  • Offering care in a way that vulnerable people do not like or prefer 
  • Failure of the medication administration as prescribed 
  • Ignoring or isolating the person
  • Failure to ensure privacy and dignity

4. Legislation relating to safeguarding adults in care homes

Now let’s get to know the legislation relating to safeguarding adults. These are the laws that aims to promote dignity in social care.

The Care Act 2014

The Care Act 2014 outlines the general duty of the local authorities and social care practitioners for safeguarding adults. The legislation aims to promote the well-being of the elderly by supporting them. Actually, safeguarding adults falls under The Care Act 2014 legislation. 

Sexual Offences Act 2003

The Sexual Offences Act of 2003 is the law that has banned any sexual activity between the care worker and the residents with mental disorders. While the relationship of care continues, the act protects the right of dignity of the people with mental disorders. 

Public Interest Disclosure Act 1998

The public interest disclosure act 1998 protects all those you raise their voice against any wrong at work. When the elderly report something that is harmful or serious, the law ensures that they won’t face any trouble for it. 

5. What Are The Risks Of Safeguarding At Care Home?

It is nothing new sometimes care homes underestimate the consequences of neglecting safeguarding measures. But it is a mistake that can lead to many severe outcomes.

Neglecting the safeguarding measure not only affect the physical health of the vulnerable elderly but also their mental health and overall well-being. These consequences are of course deeply troubling. 

Moreover, it is not only the residents but the care home itself. Neglecting or failing to implement the safeguarding measures leads to the loss of trust in the care home. 

Ultimately it impacts the credibility and reputation of the institution. Moreover, sometimes neglecting safety measures results in legal implications. 

6. How To Create A Safeguarding Culture In Care Homes?

As a care practitioner, creating a safeguarding culture in the care home is a must to ensure the safety and well-being of the residents. 

It is all about promoting an environment where everyone knows their responsibility and is deeply accountable in everyday practices. Here is how you can do so. 

6.1 Establishing The Safeguarding Policy 

to promote a safeguarding culture in the care home, first, you need to ensure that the safeguarding policies are well established. 

Write them clearly and place them in a place where everyone can read them. Explain to everyone how to report the suspect of abuse and establish the principle of working together. 

6.2 System And Procedures 

Next is to place the system and procedures. You have to establish the system and procedure so to preserve the reported concerns, record and share information about the concerns, and track and monitor the incidents. 

6.3 Raising Concerns 

you have to raise concerns about everything that can harm those who live in the care homes or work there. 

You have to promote an environment where your staff and the residents feel able to report any concerns and more importantly understand how to do so through others when by chance they are unable to do so. 

6.4 Acknowledgment Of Role And Responsibilities 

Next, you have to ensure that each and every person in the care home setting is well aware of their roles and responsibilities and bound to perform them. They have to understand how they are accountable in the different parts of safeguarding. 

6.5 Promoting A Positive Culture 

Additionally, take action to promote a positive culture in the care home setting where open conversation about safeguarding is encouraged. 

For instance, ensure support is available for anyone to raise concerns and feel secure that their concerns will be heard and actions will be taken. 

Encourage staff to have a close observation of any change in the behavior and mood of the residents as it can be a potential indication of abuse or neglect. Take action and let the other people know what action you have taken.

6.6 Management And Supervision 

Management and supervision play a crucial role in establishing a positive culture in the care home setting. 

You have to appoint an accountable person as manager or supervisor who will challenge the poor practice and will raise concerns for the potential abuse or neglect. 

7. FAQs

Now here we have covered some queries that are mostly asked about care home safeguarding. Let’s check it out to know more about the matter. 

7.1 How to write a safeguarding plan?

When writing a safeguarding plan for the care homes, you should write down the roles and responsibilities of each individual and agency involved here. Moreover, you should identify the lead professionals who will monitor and review the plan. 

7.2 What are safeguarding duties?

Safeguarding duties are the legal obligation of the organisation. Here their responsibility is to prevent is to protect the elderly or vulnerable people from harm and promote their well-being. Safeguarding can also be applied to children but in different settings. 

7.3 What is section 42 safeguarding?

Section 42 of the safeguarding relates to the duty of the local authority. Here the section outlines how to make enquiries or have others do so when an adult is probably at risk of abuse or neglect. 

8. Final Words

All in all, safeguarding in care homes is essential to ensure the safety and protect our elderly loved ones and promote an environment where they are well cared for. 

With all just establishing safeguarding procedures and policies and legal aspects, care homes can be a respectful and safe environment for all the residents living there. 

When we can establish the main focus of safeguarding, we can ensure the elderly get treated with the care and respect they deserve and allow them to live their later life with ultimate peace and dignity.

Health and Social Care Level 3 Diploma

Our Health and Social Care Level 3 Diploma course offers comprehensive training in Health and Social Care, accredited by CPD.
July 29, 2024