Safeguarding and Protection in Care Settings

This mandatory unit for both the Level 2 Diploma in Care and Level 3 Diploma in Adult Care considers a care worker’s duty to safeguard and protect vulnerable individuals.

It explores the types of abuse and how suspicions of abuse should be managed. Also covered are local and national frameworks, how to reduce the likelihood of abuse occurring, unsafe practices and online safety.

There are seven learning outcomes consisting of several assessment criteria:

1. Understand principles of safeguarding adults
   1. Explain the term safeguarding
   2. Explain own role and responsibilities in safeguarding individuals
   3. Define the following terms: physical abuse, domestic abuse, sexual abuse, emotional/psychological abuse, financial/material abuse, modern slavery, discriminatory abuse, institutional/organisational abuse, self neglect, neglect by others
   4. Describe harm
   5. Describe restrictive practices
2. Know how to recognise signs of abuse
   1. Identify the signs and/ or symptoms associated with each of the following types of abuse: physical abuse, domestic abuse, sexual abuse, emotional/psychological abuse, financial/material abuse, modern slavery, discriminatory abuse, institutional/organisational abuse, self neglect, neglect by others
   2. Describe factors that may contribute to an individual being more vulnerable to abuse
3. Know how to respond to suspected or alleged abuse
   1. Explain the actions to take if there are suspicions that an individual is being abused
   2. Explain the actions to take if an individual alleges that they are being abused
   3. Identify ways to ensure that evidence of abuse is preserved
4. Understand the national and local context of safeguarding and protection from abuse
   1. Identify relevant legislation, national policies and local systems that relate to safeguarding and protection from abuse
   2. Explain the roles of different agencies in safeguarding and protecting individuals from abuse
   3. Identify factors which have featured in reports into serious cases of abuse and neglect
   4. Identify sources of information and advice about own role in safeguarding and protecting individuals from abuse, including whistle blowing
   5. Identify when to seek support in situations beyond your experience and expertise
5. Understand ways to reduce the likelihood of abuse
   1. Explain how the likelihood of abuse may be reduced by: working with person centred values, encouraging active participation, promoting choice and rights, supporting individuals with awareness of personal safety
   2. Explain the importance of an accessible complaints procedure for reducing the likelihood of abuse
   3. Outline how the likelihood of abuse can be reduced by managing risk and focusing on prevention
6. Know how to recognise and report unsafe practices
   1. Describe unsafe practices that may affect the well-being of individuals
   2. Explain the actions to take if unsafe practices have been identified
   3. Describe the actions to take if suspected abuse or unsafe practices have been reported but nothing has been done in response
7. Understand principles for online safety
   1. Describe the potential risks presented by: the use of electronic communication devices, the use of the internet, the use of social networking sites, carrying out financial transactions online
   2. Explain ways of reducing the risks presented by each of these types of activity
   3. Explain the importance of balancing measures for online safety against the benefits to individuals of using electronic systems and devices