Abuse and Vulnerable Adults Essays

The main issues of public concern are centred on the abuse and neglect of vulnerable adults - whether they are elderly, people with disabilities, those suffering from dementia or other mental health problems.

There are numerous national policies and local systems that relate to safeguarding and to protect against abuse, Safeguarding vulnerable adults Act 2006 was set up to protect adult's right to live in safety and free from abuse and neglect which replaced the Residential Home Act 1984 and the Residential Home amendment act 1991. The Care Standards Act 2000 has set up new structure of national minimum standards for services and has created a main consistency structure for social care. This is to guarantee high standards of care and to improve the protection of vulnerable people. The application of the act led to the creation of the independent National Care Standards Commission ( NCSC). The independent safeguarding authority {ISA} the role of

(The broad definition of a ‘vulnerable adult’ is; a vulnerable adult is a person over the age of eighteen who is, or maybe, in need of community care services by reason of mental or other disability, age or illness. And who is or may be unable to take care of him or herself, or unable to protect him or herself against significant harm or

Mrs Durant would be considered a vulnerable adult based on the guidance outlined in ‘No Secrets’ (Department of health (DH) 2000) due to her age, disability and her inability to take care of herself. Within safeguarding adults, no specific Law is currently implemented, which means each Local Authority (LA) will have their own policies that need to be adhered too.

The safeguarding of vulnerable adults is high priority. All citizens and organisations have a role to play in protecting vulnerable adults from abuse, wherever and whenever it occurs.

I have chosen to research the Care Standards Act 2000. This Act came into effect in April 2000 and set up a new system of national minimum standards for services such as private and voluntary sector residential and nursing homes. Its primary function is to promote improvement in social care.

Establish whether lessons can be learned from the case in which local professionals and agencies work together to safeguard vulnerable adults

An Adult Protection Expert Margaret Flynn was appointed to chair the serious case review, commissioned by South Gloucestershire Safeguarding Adults Board. Margaret Flynn is leading the examination into what lessons are to be learnt from the agencies failures to protect vulnerable adults from abuse. She had chaired an investigation of the murder of disabled man Steve Hoskin in 2006, which made far reaching recommendations to reform adult protection, including raising awareness and tightening up multi-agency working. She is also the chair for Lancashire Safeguarding Adults Board and joint editor of the Journal of Adult Protection.

“The number of older people who are at risk of mistreatment and abuse is likely to grow as the proportion of older people in the population continues to increase (HSE, 2012.pp.1-1).” Safeguarding adults is acknowledged as a critical issue for society. Abuse is become a common phenomenon in every society regardless of status, age, culture, race. It is one of the worldwide problems. Elder abuse is the most invisible social problems of society because it exists within the family and professionals may not recognise the abused person (Kosberg1998).Abuse is a hidden and often ignored problem (Department of Health, 2010). An elder abuse includes passive and active neglect, physical (including sexual) mistreatment, psychological abuse, theft or misappropriation

It is important to safeguard because no one deserves to be abused whether it is physical, sexual or emotional abuse. No child deserves to be neglected and as a society we have a duty to protect them from harm. Children and young people are more likely to suffer abuse or neglect from those who are supposed to be looking after them. Children are unable to look after themselves and as a result are vulnerable and open to abuse at the hands of others. Children and young people do not have the knowledge to protect themselves and so as adults we have a duty to do this for them. In our setting, we are aware that many children and young people are victims of different kinds of abuse. We are also aware that many families experience hardship and various

Wales follow ‘interim policies and procedures for the protection of vulnerable adults from abuse’. It is intended to guide professionals who are concerned about the welfare of vulnerable adults. It is based on some of the principles set out in the Human Rights Act 1998 that focuses on the importance of rights. There is a specific section on managing risk and the importance of involving individuals in the process

Human rights act 1998 protects adults by having the right to live by law. It safeguards that each individual has the right to their privacy and respect, and has the right to freedom of their own views, beliefs and religion. This legislation also protects the individual form being discriminated against and any form of abuse and gives them the authority to challenge discrimination from anyone. It influences empowers people that use different services and encourages better trust, this will make the service users feel more confident to speak with an open mind about anything including abuse. Confidence and self esteem levels should be increased so that they do not accept the abusive situations as being ‘normal’. Carers and families should make

Elder abuse has been present in society from past times. Evidence of elder abuse can be found in Shakespeare writings and literature, and also in Greek mythology. Despite its’ constant presence throughout time, it is only recently that serious attention has been given to elderly violence. The main reason for the new recognition of this old problem is the increasing number of aging Americans. (National Center for Victims of Crime). Elderly abuse in modern times is more prevalent that in ancient times, because of the few that were tasked with the duties. In past generations, the duties of caring for the elderly were shared among the members of large extended families. However, due to the emergence of a strained economy, and smaller

Protection is high on social work agenda as, not only does it comply with the Human Rights Act (1998) which protects individual’s rights, like being guarded from torture and mistreatment, but social work promotes well-being and safeguarding measures as the debilitating effects of abuse significantly damages overall health. Abuse can be experienced by anyone as it occurs in various forms, either separately or in conjunction with others, including verbal, physical, mental, emotional or financial. Yet abuse tends to be against those most vulnerable within society as their dependency makes them powerless to prevent ill-treatment. Due to frailty elder abuse is prevalent, however the actual numbers are unknown as, for various reasons, cases go unreported, for instance an older individual may be too frightened or incapable of telling anyone. According to The House of Lords (2004) social work, as public figures, are legally obliged to ensure the human right of protection so it attempts to eradicate abuse and neglect as it deprives people of dignity and self-worth as they are denied the right to exercise control in basic decisions which affects their wellbeing, whilst both abuse and neglect inflicts pain or suffering, whether emotional or physical (ADASS, 2005).

Most sexually abused children develop issues later in life that affect their everyday lives physically and psychologically. Abuse victims feel depression, anger, and anxiety. Additionally, victims also experience chronic pain around their pelvic area even as adults (Adult). However, abuse doesn’t just stay in one generation. Its effects are passed on as the abused become the abusers. In relationships, those affected by abuse tend to sexually, physically, and even verbally harass their partners. Due to a warped understanding of relationships because of their abuser, victims generally have a difficult time developing meaningful, lasting relationships. They are often more receiving to abuse, feeling that it’s their fault they endure the pain inflicted on them. According to The