The document outlines the safeguarding standards for vulnerable adults in health and social care, focusing on recognizing, preventing, and responding to abuse. It describes various types of abuse, their signs, and symptoms, emphasizing the duty of care required to protect individuals. Additionally, it details procedures for reporting suspected abuse and reinforces the importance of following legal frameworks and organizational policies.

1. Safeguarding Adults
Health Care Training

2. Induction Standard 10
Principles of safeguarding in health
and social care

3. Contents
1. Recognising signs of harm or abuse
2. Ways to reduce likelihood of abuse
3. Responding to suspected or disclosed abuse
4. National and local context of protection from
harm and abuse
5. Questions

4. Safeguarding in health and social care
A vulnerable adult is anyone over the age of 18 who is
in need of or in receipt of social care and support
services.
You will also be in a position of trust and the individuals
you are supporting may see you as more powerful than
they are. All of the individuals you support are
vulnerable adults.
Any betrayal of trust and power, would make you an
abuser

5. ABUSE
• Abuse is about a person inappropriately using their
power over another individual
• Abuse is treating someone with disrespect in a way
which significantly affects the individual's quality of
life.
• Abuse is the mistreatment by any person that
violates an individual's human and civil rights.
• Abuse is a single or repeated act or lack of
appropriate action occurring in any relationship
where there is an expectation of trust which causes
harm or distress to a vulnerable individual.

6. Types of Abuse
• Physical abuse
• Sexual abuse
• Emotional or Psychological abuse
• Financial or material abuse
• Institutional Abuse
• Neglect and acts of omission
• Self neglect
• Domestic violence
• Human trafficking
• Discrimination
Remember, any one of these could be:
• Deliberate or unintentional / Through negligence / Ignorance

7. Types of Abuse
• Physical – Hitting, slapping, pushing or kicking, forcing
people to eat or take medication, leaving people to sit in
urine or faeces.
• Sexual – Unwanted advances, indecent exposure or
harassment, rough washing or touching of the genital
area, rape, being forced to watch or participate in sexual
acts.
• Emotional / psychological – Intimidation, not being
included, being ignored, threats, bullying, humiliating
and blaming. These include discrimination that relates to
age, race, gender, sexuality, culture, religion etc.

8. Types of Abuse
• Financial – Using an individual’s money without their
permission or on items they have not requested, not giving
correct change, taking store card points, taking the free item
of “buy one get one free”. Not giving individuals enough
money for food and essential items.
• Institutional – Poor care to people in group environments, for
example, in a residential care home or in a day centre. Food
choices not provided for individuals with different dietary
needs or requirements. Rooms and clothing not being kept
clean.

9. Types of Abuse
• Self neglect – Individual not eating, washing,
dressing properly. Not looking after themselves.
• Neglect by others – Inadequate care or denial of an
individual’s basic rights.
It is your duty of care to safeguard
individuals from harm

10. 1.2 Recognise the signs and symptoms associated with
each type of abuse
Physical – Unexplained bruises, scratches, cuts, fractures, broken
bones, broken teeth.
Sexual –Bruises around genital area. Individual becomes
particular about washing genital area or wanting to hide
themselves.
Emotional / psychological – Abnormal behaviour or moods.
Talking a lot and very fast or being unusually quiet. Appearing
afraid or worried. Being concerned that care and support may
not continue.

11. 1.2 Recognise the signs and symptoms associated with
each type of abuse
Financial – Shortage of money, reluctance to pay for
things, complaining about price increases, unusual
interest or lack of interest in their personal finances.
Institutional – Individuals not eating properly, not
dressing properly, not participating, staying in their
rooms, not getting required attention and support,
complaints from residents or family members. Dirty
rooms and communal areas. Health and safety being
ignored.

12. 1.2 Recognise the signs and symptoms associated with
each type of abuse
Self neglect –Individual gaining or losing weight, looking dirty
or dishevelled. Not washing and smelling. Not caring about
themselves. Medical issues not being taken care of. Lack of
confidence and self esteem. Lack of social network, family and
friends. Staying at home when they could get out and about.
Neglect by others – Any of the above symptoms could be
neglect or lead to neglect by others if left and not resolved. If
you do not take action to report or resolve a situation where
you believe abuse is taking or has taken place, you could be
accused of neglect yourself.

13. 1.3 Be aware of factors that may contribute to an
individual being more vulnerable to harm or abuse
• Individuals with a sensory impairment, for example, poor or
no hearing or sight that might lead to communication
difficulties.
• Individuals may lack the capacity to understand what is
happening or that it is wrong. Lack of capacity could be for a
number of different reasons and could be long term or short
term.
• Individuals may be severely disabled.
• Individuals may be physically or emotionally weak and rely
on others for care.
• Individuals may have suffered brain injury and may not be
able to communicate.
• Individuals may be unconscious.

14. Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DOLS)
The Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DOLS), implemented April
2009, provide a legal protection for those vulnerable people who
are, or may become, deprived of their liberty.
These safeguards can apply to people who have a mental
disorder and lack capacity to consent to the arrangements made
for their care or treatment, but for whom receiving care or
treatment in circumstances that amount to a deprivation of
liberty may be necessary to protect them from harm and
appears to be in their best interests.

15. 2. Ways to reduce likelihood of abuse
Be aware of how the likelihood of abuse can be reduced by:
• Working with person-centred values
• Promoting empowerment
• Managing risk
• Prevention
Managing risk is a way of working that supports individuals to
exercise choices and rights, recognising the balance between
managing risk and enabling independence, choice and control

16. Responding to suspected or disclosed abuse
Know the actions you must take and who to contact if you
suspect an individual is being harmed or abuse
The Local Authority’s multi agency policy and procedures for the
protection of vulnerable adults from abuse should contain a
flowchart showing what you should do if you suspect someone is
being or has been abused
If you are unsure, check with your supervisor / manager

17. Know the actions you must take if an individual
discloses that they are being harmed or abused
The key things you MUST do if an individual discloses abuse to you:
• Assume the individual is telling the truth. Speak to them in a calm
and sensitive way.
• Listen carefully and make sure you record what was said including
date, time and place.
• Reassure the individual and tell them that you have to pass this
information on. Always follow your policies and procedures.
• If the individual needs medical attention, call the emergency
services. If this is a criminal matter, for example, an alleged assault,
rape or indecent exposure, you will need to call the police.

18. Key things you must NOT do if an individual discloses abuse
• Never think or assume the individual is lying.
• Never ask the individual leading questions such as “are you sure that really
• happened?”
• Do not wait until you next see your manager or supervisor, you must act
immediately. Do not discuss this matter in a public place.
• Do not confront the alleged abuser. This will be done as part of the
investigation by an independent and fully trained person.
• Do not include your opinions of any aspect, stick to the facts. Do not judge
the individual by what they have told you or what you know about them.
• Never question the individual further than the basic information they give
you. You could jeopardise evidence needed for use in Court. This will be
done as part of the investigation by an independent and fully trained
person.

19. Reporting
• All staff have a duty to report any allegations or suspicions of
abuse or potential abuse of a vulnerable person to their
Manager immediately. If no Manager is available, the staff can
contact the immediate senior or supervisor directly.
• Once the manager becomes aware of the alleged issue either
directly through the care staff or through any other route,
he/she will have to inform relevant agencies within 24 hours
of receiving any safeguarding concern

20. Ensuring Immediate Safety
• If the victim is in immediate danger, or in need
of urgent medical attention, action should be
taken to ensure their safety and well being.
This could include calling the appropriate
emergency services.
• Staff should be mindful of their own and
other’s safety and not alert or confront the
alleged abuser.

21. National and local context of protection from
harm and abuse
• The Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) acts as a ‘one-stop-shop’
for organisations, checking police records and, in relevant
cases, checking information held by the Independent
Safeguarding Authority
• There are two levels of CRB check currently available; called
Standard and Enhanced Disclosures. They are available where
an employer is entitled to ask exempted questions under the
Exceptions Order to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (ROA)
1974.

22. The Independent Safeguarding Authority’s (ISA)
• A person who is barred from working with children or
vulnerable adults will be breaking the law if they work or
volunteer, or try to work or volunteer with those groups.
• An organisation which knowingly employs someone who is
barred to work with those groups will also be breaking the
law.
• If your organisation works with children or vulnerable adults
and you dismiss a member of staff or a volunteer because
they have harmed a child or vulnerable adult, or you would
have done so if they had not left, you must tell the
Independent Safeguarding Authority.

23. Care Quality Commission (CQC)
They have a role to play in safeguarding. If you have
followed policies and procedures and reported a
situation of abuse and you are not getting reasonable
feedback about what action is being taken and you do
not believe your complaint has been acted upon, or
you suspect that your supervisor / manager is involved,
and there is no-one else internally in your organisation
you can talk to, you should contact CQC

24. You must never assume that somebody else will
recognise and report what you have seen or heard.
These are some examples of abuse you may come across in your
role:
• An individual neglecting themselves resulting in their living
environment becoming unsafe and inadequate.
• A friend or relative denying an individual their medication.
• Forcing an individual to eat quicker than they can physically
manage.
• A family member seems to intimidate the individual into
making decisions.
• An individual is confused about missing funds in their bank
account.

25. Be aware of reports into serious failure to
protect individuals from harm and abuse
In cases where suspected abuse or neglect has
resulted in death, or abuse or neglect is known
or suspected to be a factor in the death
(including death by suspected suicide), or for
cases of serious and significant harm, a Serious
Case Review (SCR) will be undertaken. You may
have heard of some cases being reported by the
press.

26. For the individuals you support and care for,
your role as a care or support worker is to
• Protect
• Speak up
• Observe
• Record
• Monitor
• Refer again to your
employer’s policies and
procedures for
safeguarding both adults
and children from abuse.
• Make sure you are clear
about your role and
responsibilities

27. Safeguarding Vulnerable Adults
It is your duty of care to
safeguard individuals
from harm