You can reduce the likelihood of abuse by managing risk, focusing on prevention and encouraging risk enablement. We have already discussed risk enablement in length in a previous section. It plays a natural part in self-directed care and support and empowers the individual to take control over their own care, similar to active participation.
This helps the individual feel more confident and increases the chances of them reporting anything they are unhappy about, including harm and abuse. These are some of the things that an organisation that is active and positive about safeguarding adults should do:
- be open and clear about how you look out for each individual’s well-being
- be open and clear about how you put into practice the CQC Fundamental Standards and the Code of Conduct for Healthcare Support Workers and Adult Social Care Workers in England
- show how workers should look out for abuse and neglect by publicising signs and indicators on posters or leaflets
- be responsible for providing learning and development for workers on safeguarding adults
- treat all allegations of abuse or neglect seriously
- promote the values of person-centred care
Through managing risk, you can greatly reduce the likelihood of abuse and improve the quality of the care you provide to individuals.