Assignment 1- P3
Key
Website references
M2
Introduction
When in a health and social care setting, as professionals we need to be aware of the types of abuse
that we may witness whilst working and how to deal with them. Unfortunately, although it is rare,
abuse is something that we have to deal with and therefore, understanding how to deal with it
appropriately is vital.
Neglect and acts of Omission and signs that this may be happening.
Neglect is a form of abuse whereby an individual’s basic needs are not being met meaning they
are not being provided for correctly, it can have both physical and emotional impacts on people
who experience it and has an overall negative effect on their health and wellbeing. Physically, it
doesn’t just have to be the service provider who can neglect a patient, it can also involve a patient
neglecting themselves by not being able to provide for their physical care needs. For example, poor
cleanliness and lack of nutrition means that an individual may not be washing themselves properly
or eating properly meaning they aren’t meeting their own basic needs for survival. Therefore, as a
professional it is important that we ensure that we are feeding our patients the correct amount of
meals a day and supervising them whilst they are eating to ensure that they are eating properly.
Also, we must ensure that we are washing themselves correctly otherwise this may not only lead to
them not having good hygiene, but also heightens their chances of them picking up bacterial
infections such as stomach bugs that cause sickness and diarrhoea. If we don’t make sure that our
service users are taking care of their basic needs properly then this could mean that we are
neglecting them as if they are struggling to keep up with basic hygiene for example and need our
help as a result, then we won’t be there to support and guide them. However, if we do decide to
help the patients but do not supply them with dignity and privacy then this can also be viewed as
neglect as we are putting them in a vulnerable position and when the patient is already vulnerable
due to a disability for example, then they have no way of helping themselves when they are being
neglected meaning they are left to deal with it in silence. Getting undressed in front of someone
else for example, can be an embarrassing situation especially if an individual’s self-esteem is low
anyway meaning that if we do not give them that dignity privacy such as closing the door whilst we
are washing them and ensuring that the process is more enjoyable by not commenting on their
bodies appearance and getting the job done quickly then this may make it worse for them.
Therefore, if we do ensure to maintain their privacy and dignity this will also improve their mental
health and prevent them from emotional harm.
Another way we could neglect a patient is by failing to provide for their medical needs. If a patient
suffers with a medical condition such as diabetes then they may need to take medication or eat a
special diet in order to be able to deal with their condition. Therefore, if a service provider chooses
not to allow their patients to have what they require medically then this is seen as neglect as you are
essentially risking that service user’s life. As a result, we must make sure that our patients receive
what they need in order to help maintain their medical condition as it can cause serious further
harm to the patients if not. In some cases, there may be some physical signs of neglect such as an
unkempt appearance, unexplained weight loss, bed sores and ulcers if they have been bed ridden
,for a long period of time without any care. However, sometimes people show more that they are
being neglected through their behaviour. For example, flinching when someone unfamiliar to them
comes near, threatening behaviour due to the feeling that they need to protect themselves from
violence and anxiety or extreme shyness around other people. It is important that we watch out for
these signs when working in health and social care to ensure that they are not being neglected.
At Cherry Tree’s Children’s centre, it is clear that neglect has been occurring within the setting as
the children during the play session were left to use the equipment unsupervised meaning that the
appropriate safety measures were not taken, and children were put at serious risk and harm. We
know that Lisa ended up becoming injured because of the fact the equipment was not safe and
because she wasn’t being supervised meaning her physical health and wellbeing was impacted
negatively.
Physical abuse and the signs that this may be happening.
According to the website Study.com (nd), physical abuse is where a person uses their body in order
to cause intentional harm or injury to another person and can sometimes be seen in a health and
social care setting. Physical abuse can include many aggressive actions such as pushing, burning,
and hitting as well as force-feeding, slapping or intentionally breaking bones by inappropriate
movement. An inappropriate movement can include things such as forcing a patients arm into their
sleeve awkwardly whilst dressing them meaning that a bone is fractured or broken as a
consequence. Misusing medication can also be considered physical abuse if it hasn’t been
prescribed as service providers may use this as a way to calm or control a patient. If continued to be
used in the wrong way, medication can cause harm to a patient and produce further health
complications meaning it can be abusive when used incorrectly. Sometimes acts such as pinching,
slapping and poking may be considered as a game at first but in some cases it can inflict pain and
harm on a patient and cause them to become distressed but often service users are too anxious to
complain as they are not sure if it is serious enough for them to do so. Therefore, abuse can
sometimes be ignored, and this may make it worse as the professional may feel as if they are able to
get away with it.
As a service provider, if you feel as if you are witnessing a patient being abused then you have a role
as part of your duty of care to report the concerns that you have to ensure that they are thoroughly
investigated. Some signs of physical abuse include unexplained injuries, bruising, burn marks and
visible malnutrition as sometimes a service user can be too nervous to speak up about them being
abused through fear that the person causing them harm will do worse to them if they do so.
Therefore, it is vital that if you notice any of these that you report them immediately.
Again, at the Cherry Tree’s Children’s Centre, what happened to Lisa could be considered physical
abuse as she ended up with a broken bone because of the staff at the setting not taking appropriate
safety measures. Although, no one intentionally tried to hurt the child, the fact that they were
willingly leaving the children at risk of danger, knowing the condition of the equipment as well could
mean that it could be categorised as physical abuse.
Psychological abuse and the signs that this may be happening.
Psychological abuse is often far more difficult to notice than physical abuse as it is the act of inflicting
emotional abuse, verbal abuse or humiliation that causes psychological trauma on an individual.
Emotional abuse means that it is your mental health and wellbeing that is affected rather than your
physical, and an example of this is threats of punishment and withdrawing a service user from any
type of affection which will reduce their self-esteem and self-worth as a result. Verbal abuse
, according to the website MedicalNewsToday (2019) verbal abuse is a form of emotional abuse
whereby a person uses words or threats to gain or maintain power and control over someone and
one thing that could be considered verbal abuse is shouting at or threatening a service user in a way
that criticises them and makes them feel insecure about themselves. Humiliation can include
someone belittling a service user and deliberately mocking and undermining in order to make them
feel worthless and embarrassed about themselves. Humiliation can often have major impacts on an
individual’s mental health as it will decrease their self-esteem and self-image. Just like other forms of
abuse, it is seen very rarely within a health and social care setting however, it has major mental
implications and therefore, has an overall negative affect on their health and wellbeing.
If you notice any of these signs as a service user then you must report them immediately as it may
mean that a service user is being psychologically abused but is too afraid to speak up about it. These
sings include unexplained changes in behaviour such as suddenly becoming easily distressed when
they normally wouldn’t, anxiety meaning they may get worried with you in their presence or when
meeting unfamiliar people and depression due to a decrease in self-concept.
Sexual abuse and signs that this may be happening.
Sexual abuse is where an individual forces you to take part in sexual activities against your will
meaning you have no desire to do so, it also includes sexual activity whereby someone does not
give consent. Sexual abuse can sometimes happen within a health and social care setting although it
is extremely rare and can be split into two categories, touching and non-touching meaning it does
not just involve touching of the genitalia. Touching sexual abuse can involve genitals, penetration of
the mouth, vagina, or anus, or forcing another to touch genitals when they do not wish to do so.
Non-touching sexual abuse can include forcing someone to watch pornography or take sexually
explicit pictures in sexual poses and exposing genitalia to someone when they do not wish to see
them. Sometimes, sexual harassment may be considered a joke initially, but can very quickly turn
into behaviour that is not professional and harmful towards the victim’s emotional health and
wellbeing.
Some signs and symptoms of sexual abuse include bruising or bleeding in rectal or genital areas,
sexually transmitted diseases and in some cases pregnancy. Therefore, it is important as a health and
social care professional in order to stick to your duty of care that if you notice any of these when
caring for a service user that you instantly report them to prevent any further damage to their body
and overall wellbeing. Direct physical signs of sexual abuse have been said by the website Darkness
to Light (nd) to not be common. Therefore, it is important that we can spot the signs wherever we
are able to.
Financial abuse and signs that this may be happening.
Financial abuse is where a vulnerable service user is having money or possessions stolen from them
and is usually done by people who they consider ‘friends’ of theirs, there are many ways in which
financial abuse can take place such as misuse or theft of money, fraud and exploitation of property
or inheritance. If a victim of financial abuse has a power of attorney, the person committing the
action may simply steal bank details or property from them in order to give themselves access
however, in most cases of financial abuse you may notice that small items of high value go missing
such as jewellery. As a care worker, we are considered vulnerable to accusations of financial abuse
as some service users may ask us to take money out of their wallet for example, so we can buy
Key
Website references
M2
Introduction
When in a health and social care setting, as professionals we need to be aware of the types of abuse
that we may witness whilst working and how to deal with them. Unfortunately, although it is rare,
abuse is something that we have to deal with and therefore, understanding how to deal with it
appropriately is vital.
Neglect and acts of Omission and signs that this may be happening.
Neglect is a form of abuse whereby an individual’s basic needs are not being met meaning they
are not being provided for correctly, it can have both physical and emotional impacts on people
who experience it and has an overall negative effect on their health and wellbeing. Physically, it
doesn’t just have to be the service provider who can neglect a patient, it can also involve a patient
neglecting themselves by not being able to provide for their physical care needs. For example, poor
cleanliness and lack of nutrition means that an individual may not be washing themselves properly
or eating properly meaning they aren’t meeting their own basic needs for survival. Therefore, as a
professional it is important that we ensure that we are feeding our patients the correct amount of
meals a day and supervising them whilst they are eating to ensure that they are eating properly.
Also, we must ensure that we are washing themselves correctly otherwise this may not only lead to
them not having good hygiene, but also heightens their chances of them picking up bacterial
infections such as stomach bugs that cause sickness and diarrhoea. If we don’t make sure that our
service users are taking care of their basic needs properly then this could mean that we are
neglecting them as if they are struggling to keep up with basic hygiene for example and need our
help as a result, then we won’t be there to support and guide them. However, if we do decide to
help the patients but do not supply them with dignity and privacy then this can also be viewed as
neglect as we are putting them in a vulnerable position and when the patient is already vulnerable
due to a disability for example, then they have no way of helping themselves when they are being
neglected meaning they are left to deal with it in silence. Getting undressed in front of someone
else for example, can be an embarrassing situation especially if an individual’s self-esteem is low
anyway meaning that if we do not give them that dignity privacy such as closing the door whilst we
are washing them and ensuring that the process is more enjoyable by not commenting on their
bodies appearance and getting the job done quickly then this may make it worse for them.
Therefore, if we do ensure to maintain their privacy and dignity this will also improve their mental
health and prevent them from emotional harm.
Another way we could neglect a patient is by failing to provide for their medical needs. If a patient
suffers with a medical condition such as diabetes then they may need to take medication or eat a
special diet in order to be able to deal with their condition. Therefore, if a service provider chooses
not to allow their patients to have what they require medically then this is seen as neglect as you are
essentially risking that service user’s life. As a result, we must make sure that our patients receive
what they need in order to help maintain their medical condition as it can cause serious further
harm to the patients if not. In some cases, there may be some physical signs of neglect such as an
unkempt appearance, unexplained weight loss, bed sores and ulcers if they have been bed ridden
,for a long period of time without any care. However, sometimes people show more that they are
being neglected through their behaviour. For example, flinching when someone unfamiliar to them
comes near, threatening behaviour due to the feeling that they need to protect themselves from
violence and anxiety or extreme shyness around other people. It is important that we watch out for
these signs when working in health and social care to ensure that they are not being neglected.
At Cherry Tree’s Children’s centre, it is clear that neglect has been occurring within the setting as
the children during the play session were left to use the equipment unsupervised meaning that the
appropriate safety measures were not taken, and children were put at serious risk and harm. We
know that Lisa ended up becoming injured because of the fact the equipment was not safe and
because she wasn’t being supervised meaning her physical health and wellbeing was impacted
negatively.
Physical abuse and the signs that this may be happening.
According to the website Study.com (nd), physical abuse is where a person uses their body in order
to cause intentional harm or injury to another person and can sometimes be seen in a health and
social care setting. Physical abuse can include many aggressive actions such as pushing, burning,
and hitting as well as force-feeding, slapping or intentionally breaking bones by inappropriate
movement. An inappropriate movement can include things such as forcing a patients arm into their
sleeve awkwardly whilst dressing them meaning that a bone is fractured or broken as a
consequence. Misusing medication can also be considered physical abuse if it hasn’t been
prescribed as service providers may use this as a way to calm or control a patient. If continued to be
used in the wrong way, medication can cause harm to a patient and produce further health
complications meaning it can be abusive when used incorrectly. Sometimes acts such as pinching,
slapping and poking may be considered as a game at first but in some cases it can inflict pain and
harm on a patient and cause them to become distressed but often service users are too anxious to
complain as they are not sure if it is serious enough for them to do so. Therefore, abuse can
sometimes be ignored, and this may make it worse as the professional may feel as if they are able to
get away with it.
As a service provider, if you feel as if you are witnessing a patient being abused then you have a role
as part of your duty of care to report the concerns that you have to ensure that they are thoroughly
investigated. Some signs of physical abuse include unexplained injuries, bruising, burn marks and
visible malnutrition as sometimes a service user can be too nervous to speak up about them being
abused through fear that the person causing them harm will do worse to them if they do so.
Therefore, it is vital that if you notice any of these that you report them immediately.
Again, at the Cherry Tree’s Children’s Centre, what happened to Lisa could be considered physical
abuse as she ended up with a broken bone because of the staff at the setting not taking appropriate
safety measures. Although, no one intentionally tried to hurt the child, the fact that they were
willingly leaving the children at risk of danger, knowing the condition of the equipment as well could
mean that it could be categorised as physical abuse.
Psychological abuse and the signs that this may be happening.
Psychological abuse is often far more difficult to notice than physical abuse as it is the act of inflicting
emotional abuse, verbal abuse or humiliation that causes psychological trauma on an individual.
Emotional abuse means that it is your mental health and wellbeing that is affected rather than your
physical, and an example of this is threats of punishment and withdrawing a service user from any
type of affection which will reduce their self-esteem and self-worth as a result. Verbal abuse
, according to the website MedicalNewsToday (2019) verbal abuse is a form of emotional abuse
whereby a person uses words or threats to gain or maintain power and control over someone and
one thing that could be considered verbal abuse is shouting at or threatening a service user in a way
that criticises them and makes them feel insecure about themselves. Humiliation can include
someone belittling a service user and deliberately mocking and undermining in order to make them
feel worthless and embarrassed about themselves. Humiliation can often have major impacts on an
individual’s mental health as it will decrease their self-esteem and self-image. Just like other forms of
abuse, it is seen very rarely within a health and social care setting however, it has major mental
implications and therefore, has an overall negative affect on their health and wellbeing.
If you notice any of these signs as a service user then you must report them immediately as it may
mean that a service user is being psychologically abused but is too afraid to speak up about it. These
sings include unexplained changes in behaviour such as suddenly becoming easily distressed when
they normally wouldn’t, anxiety meaning they may get worried with you in their presence or when
meeting unfamiliar people and depression due to a decrease in self-concept.
Sexual abuse and signs that this may be happening.
Sexual abuse is where an individual forces you to take part in sexual activities against your will
meaning you have no desire to do so, it also includes sexual activity whereby someone does not
give consent. Sexual abuse can sometimes happen within a health and social care setting although it
is extremely rare and can be split into two categories, touching and non-touching meaning it does
not just involve touching of the genitalia. Touching sexual abuse can involve genitals, penetration of
the mouth, vagina, or anus, or forcing another to touch genitals when they do not wish to do so.
Non-touching sexual abuse can include forcing someone to watch pornography or take sexually
explicit pictures in sexual poses and exposing genitalia to someone when they do not wish to see
them. Sometimes, sexual harassment may be considered a joke initially, but can very quickly turn
into behaviour that is not professional and harmful towards the victim’s emotional health and
wellbeing.
Some signs and symptoms of sexual abuse include bruising or bleeding in rectal or genital areas,
sexually transmitted diseases and in some cases pregnancy. Therefore, it is important as a health and
social care professional in order to stick to your duty of care that if you notice any of these when
caring for a service user that you instantly report them to prevent any further damage to their body
and overall wellbeing. Direct physical signs of sexual abuse have been said by the website Darkness
to Light (nd) to not be common. Therefore, it is important that we can spot the signs wherever we
are able to.
Financial abuse and signs that this may be happening.
Financial abuse is where a vulnerable service user is having money or possessions stolen from them
and is usually done by people who they consider ‘friends’ of theirs, there are many ways in which
financial abuse can take place such as misuse or theft of money, fraud and exploitation of property
or inheritance. If a victim of financial abuse has a power of attorney, the person committing the
action may simply steal bank details or property from them in order to give themselves access
however, in most cases of financial abuse you may notice that small items of high value go missing
such as jewellery. As a care worker, we are considered vulnerable to accusations of financial abuse
as some service users may ask us to take money out of their wallet for example, so we can buy
