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Under the UK law, all health professionals working with adults at risk
(vulnerable adults) are required to pass a training course for the Safeguarding
Vulnerable Adults (POVA).
This course aims to provide you with some of the key knowledge and skills
necessary to recognise and respond to abuse.
This involves the ability to identify and report concerns of the abuse and neglect of
adults at risk, and to understand your role the investigation process.
Course Disclaimer
This course has been written to introduce its reader to the competencies required by
those who work with Adults at Risk/Vulnerable Adults in the Statutory, Voluntary, and
Private sectors, and staff who manage adult abuse cases.
This may include: qualified staff working with statutory healthcare agencies,
social/care workers, nurses, allied health professionals, ward sisters, GPs,
care and nursing home managers, team leaders, and police officers.
The aim of the course is to give you an awareness as to your role in Safeguarding
Adults at Risk (Vulnerable Adults).
It is not designed to act as a means by which competency in undertaking and
coordinating a safeguarding adult risk assessment and safeguarding adult protection
plan/action is assessed. (This will be covered in Safeguarding Vulnerable Adults
(POVA), Level 3 competencies.)
2012 Interactive Healthcare Training Ltd. Any copying in whole or in part of the text of this training
programme is strictly prohibited. Moral rights of the author under the Copyright Designs and Patents
Act 19COURSE AIMS & OBJECTIVES
Know different ways to minimise the risk of abuse, and identify why some
adults are more vulnerable
Inform the correct individuals, if you suspect abuse has occurred (recognise
and report unsafe practices)
Describe the dignity and respect that will become commonplace in individualcentred care
This session will enable you to achieve the Skills for Care Induction: Standard
Level 5 and recognise and respond to abuse and neglect.
The three parts to this course will together take no longer than 2 hours to complete.
You may find it helpful to make notes as you go. There will be multiple choice test
questions at the end of each section.
This module will cover:
Dignity in Care
The POVA scheme, as implemented in the Care Standards Act 2000 was introduced
from July 2004. At the heart of the POVA scheme is a list of care workers who have
harmed vulnerable adults in their care.
Since 26 July 2004, there has been a statutory requirement on care providers to
check if workers they wish to appoint to a care position (meaning a position that
would enable workers employed in care homes or by domiciliary care agencies to
have regular contact with vulnerable adults) are included on the POVA list.
If individuals are included on the POVA list, they are deemed ineligible for
employment in this area.
For a link to the POVA scheme official
government legislation please click below:
http://www.dh.gov.uk/prod_consum_dh/groups/dh_digitalassets/@dh/@en/document
s/digitalasset/dh_4090319.pdf
SAFEGUARDING VULNERABLE ADULTS (SOVA), LEVEL 2 - SECTION1
SAFEGUARDING VULNERABLE GROUPS ACT 2006
Employers should have vetting procedures in place, and carry out suitability
checks on a regular basis rather than as one-offs. Regular checks should help
Potential employers must carry out a pre-employment criminal record check with the
Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) for all potential new healthcare and social care staff,
including nursing and home care agency staff.
Employers can refer to The Independent Safeguarding Authoritys (ISA) for published
research materials, which can help them recognise and prevent abuse in the
workplace. For further information, please go to ISA's website:
http://www.isa.homeoffice.gov.uk/
For a link to the official government legislation please click this link:
http://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts2006/ukpga_20060047_en_1
The CQC
The CQC stands for the Care Quality Commission, and it is their role to check
whether hospitals, care homes and care services are meeting government standards
of quality and safety.
NO SECRETS GUIDANCE
The No Secrets (England) and In Safe Hands (Wales) document was initially
published in 2000 and then reviewed in 2009, by the Department of Health and
the Home Office, under section 7 of the Local Authority Social Services Act
1971.
If the authorities should choose not to follow this guidance, they might be
deemed to be acting unlawfully, and as a result they might be held in legal
case called judicial review.
However when an authority follows this guidance, the initial agency who will
need to be consulted in any allegation of abuse is the local Social Services
In some situations and certain areas, it may be advisable that a standing committee
is created, with defined remits and lines of accountability, and agreed objectives and
priorities for their work. This will typically be the case in larger areas such as Greater
London. Some responsibilities for these standing committees could be determining
policy, co-ordinating activity between agencies, facilitating training and monitoring
and reviewing progress.
NO SECRETS GUIDANCE
The No Secrets (England) and In Safe Hands (Wales) document was initially
published in 2000 and then reviewed in 2009, by the Department of Health and
the Home Office, under section 7 of the Local Authority Social Services Act
1971.
The documents full title is: No secrets: Guidance on developing and
implementing multi-agency policies and procedures to protect vulnerable
adults from abuse.
The guidance covers
different aspects of
safeguarding vulnerable
adults, including the
definition of vulnerable
adult, abuse and harm. It
also illustrates all types
of abuse. It ensures that
all cases of abuse are
reported as soon as possible.
Article 5.1 (of the DOH, 1999 No Secrets, p. 27) states:
"A key element and starting point for successfully dealing with concerns and
allegations of the abuse of vulnerable adults must be that agencies [care homes,
hospitals etc.] have an organisational environment and framework within which all
concerned feel able to come forward without fear of ridicule, victimisation or other
negative consequence. Without this the risk of abuse going unnoticed, unreported
and, thus continuing, will remain.
If the authorities should choose not to follow this guidance, they might be
deemed to be acting unlawfully, and as a result they might be held in legal
case called judicial review.
However when an authority follows this guidance, the initial agency who will
need to be consulted in any allegation of abuse is the local Social Services
Authority. Subsequently, representatives must be selected from the relevant
agencies below:
1. Commissioners of health and social care services
2. Providers of health and social care services
3. Providers of sheltered and supported housing
4. Regulators of services
5. The police and other relevant law enforcement agencies, including the
Crown Prosecution Service (CPS)
6. Voluntary and private sector services
7. Other local authority departments e.g. housing and education
8. Probation departments
9. DSS Benefit Agencies
10. Carer support groups
The Care Standards Act 2000 establishes a new, independent regulatory body
for social care and private and voluntary healthcare services (care services)
in England to be known as the National Care Standards Commission (NCSC).
It also establishes new, independent Councils to register social care workers, set
standards in social care work and regulate the education and training of social
workers in England and Wales.
From 1st April 2002, the National Care Standards Commission (NCSC) became
responsible for the registration and inspection of all Care Homes and private
healthcare facilities (now categorised as "Independent Hospitals") in England.
Facilities previously categorised as "Mental Nursing Homes" are now also referred to
as "Independent Hospitals".
responsible for
The Mental Capacity Act 2005 was fully implemented on 1 October 2007.
It provided a legal framework for people who lack capacity and those caring for them
by setting out key principles, procedures and safeguards.
According to the Mental Capacity Act Code of Practice, "whenever the term a
person who lacks capacity is used, it means a person who lacks capacity to make a
particular decision or take a particular action for themselves at the time the decision
or action needs to be taken."
"This reflects the fact that people may lack capacity to make some decisions for
themselves, but will have capacity to make other decisions. For example, they may
have capacity to make small decisions about everyday issues such as what to wear
or what to eat, but lack capacity to make more complex decisions about financial
matters."
The Mental Capacity Act 2005 indicates that even when a
person lacks capacity, they must still be encouraged to
participate in the decision making process, and their past
and present wishes should be into account.
Even though the persons wishes are not legally decisive
and may not be followed, they still carry significant legal
weight and should be taken into account.
For further reading please go to the Department of Healths website, section:
The Mental Capacity Act 2005,
http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/SocialCare/Deliveringsocialcare/MentalCapacity/MentalCap
acityAct2005/index.htm
You can download the Mental Capacity Act Code of Practice document HERE, or go
to the following website: http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/
+/http://www.dca.gov.uk/legal-policy/mental-capacity/mca-cp.pdf and download the
document directly from the source website.
THE HUMAN RIGHTS ACT 1998
The right to respect for private and family life, home and
correspondence (article 8)
The Equality Act 2010 provides a legislative framework to protect the rights of
individuals and provide equality of opportunity for all, especially vulnerable
people.
All organisations and individuals that provide a service to the public or a section of
the public are obliged to adhere to this legislation.
Disability
Gender reassignment
Race
Sex
Sexual orientation
Age
Follow the legal guidelines and company policies that apply to equality and
diversity regulations.
Involve people in decisions regarding their health and social care, and their
access to services.
The Equality Act 2010 defines such terms as harm, abuse, and other
behaviours categorized as harassment.
IMPORTANT TERMS RELATING TO SAFEGUARDING ADULTS AT RISK
action. The consent of the adult believed to be at risk should always be sought
before the safeguarding procedures are undertaken.
choices, in accordance with their human right to live a life that is free from abuse and
neglect. Safeguarding involves empowerment, protection and justice.