Racial_Discrimination

UNIT 35 PROMOTE CHOICE , WELL BEING AND THE PROTECTION OF ALL INDIVIDUALS Explain how your service users may be vulnerable to danger, abuse and exploitation' • The service users at the day centre where I work are very vulnerable to abuse or exploitation due to them having a mental illness. • They could be open to abuse or exploitation from other services users due to them also suffering a mental illness. • Suffering from a mental illness they could potentially been seen as easy targets by outsiders and open to abuse from the public, neighbours, family or even carers. Explain how you form a supportive relationship with your service user' • I form supportive relationships with my service users by treating them in a dignified way, always showing them respect. • I always offer help in any way I can to meet their needs • I never cross boundaries with a service user. • I treat them as individual and always help them to maintain their independence. • I try to be there for them when they need me (with the boundaries of my professional guidelines). Why would it be necessary to end a relationship with a service user' • Sometimes it is necessary to end a relationship with a service user, this could be if they are becoming to attached to me in an inappropriate way. • They service user may start to show a physical attraction to me or behave in a physical or mentally abusive way. This could be seen as a boundary violation. How would you do this' • If I feel the need to end a relationship with a service user, I will first discuss the situation with my manager and ask for support. • I would ensure that the service user had other support in place (besides me). I would ensure all other key people are at hand to support them. • I would ask my manager to be present while I explain to the service user the situation. I would explain my reasons, within their ability to understand using their preferred method of communication, as to why I can no longer be part of their support team. • I would speak kindly, showing them respect at all times. • I would advise them of all the support options that are still available to them. How do you feel when you hear about abuse' • I would feel upset and very sad for the person, but would be professional in my approach and offer them support and professional advice. I would inform them of the options available to them to report the abuse. How would you deal with your feelings' • I would get support from my manager and ask for a debriefing or extra supervision session to discuss my thoughts and feelings. How does legislation, policies, procedures, codes of practice, standards and guidance apply to the following:' • Information sharing and storage of information in relation to protection of vulnerable adults:- The department of health defines abuse of a vulnerable adult as a breach of an individual’s human and civil rights. In March 2000 the government issued a guidance document entitled ‘no secrets’. This provides guidance and procedures to protect vulnerable adults from abuse. Under the ‘no secrets’ act all staff in the care profession must report all known or suspected abuse of a vulnerable adult. The social authority social services act of 1970 means that guidance must be implemented unless local authority services justify it to be untrue. Our organisations whistle blowing policy states that we must share information with relevant organisations if a service user is being or suspected of being abused or exploited. The human rights act 1998 says that everyone is entitled to be treated with respect in a dignified way. Government legislation and my companies policies all state that information must be shared with key people about suspected abuse, i.e. the local authority social services. All information must be stored correctly and locked away at all times. • Risk assessment My organisations risk assessment policies and procedures are necessary to help our staff recognise vulnerable service users who may be vulnerable to abuse. I use risk assessments daily and get them regularly updated so we can identify vulnerable services users. • Health and Safety My organisations health and safety at work policy is guided by management of the health and safety at work regulations act 1999 and by the ‘no secrets’ act. By reporting any abuse I am aware that I have helped to stop the abuse. Also I help look out for potential abuse and abusers and by looking out for vulnerable adults. • Protection from danger, harm and abuse By working to the ‘no secrets’ guidelines I am helping to protect service users from danger and abuse. My organisations health and safety policy states all staff are responsible to help protect service users from abuse from others. All reported and suspected abuse must be reported to the relevant persons. All staff must always be vigilant to help protect all services users from any abuse and danger. We must follow rules from the mental health act 2000 to protect our service users. Describe how you would feel about the following situation' • A service user discloses abuse to you I would stay calm and ensure them that they have made the right decision by report the abuse. I would inform them that I need to pass on the information to the relevant parties. I would inform them that I can not keep it a confidential matter between me and them. I would show empathy when listening and allow them to speak freely, without asking any leading questions. I would ascertain the services users wishes, taking into account their views and preference of what they would like to happen next. I would them inform them clearly, of what will happen when I pass on the information they have given me – to the relevant persons. If the person was in immediate danger I would call the police, or an ambulance.if the person had been physically hurt. I would provide protection for the service user by immediately calling the relevant organisations to input POVA immediately. I would record any immediate signs or symptoms of the abuse. I would try to develop a relationship with the service user, so they could confide in me, expressing their fears and anxieties without me judging them. I would respond appropriately ensuring that I do not do or say anything to affect any evidence that may be required at a later date. My responsibility is to pass on the information about actual danger or likely harm, abuse. I would support others to do the same. I would report and record all details accurately with times and dates and include all details of disclosure using only the facts and no speculation and guided by my companies POVA policy. I would not write or say any statements that could affect the use of evidence. Our companies POVA policy gives an easy guide to remember, what to do in this situation.. It is PPRR P – Protect the individual P – Preserve the evidence R – Report the situation R – Record the facts. A person makes a racist joke' • I would remove the person from the environment and ask them to explain the reasons behind what they have said. I would explain that this behaviour in unacceptable and will not be tolerated in our day centre. I would advise them that there comment could be perceived as abusive to others. If their comment was directed at an individual – I would ensure that the person was okay and not too upset. I would speak to them in a sensitive manner using their preferred form of communication. I would suggest to the person who made the joke to apologise to the other person/s. If they refuse to do so, I would kindly ask them to leave. • A person is verbally or physically aggressive to you, a colleague or another service user' I would help in any way possible by providing protection to the individual being abused or in danger, by removing them from the situation (if possible). I would take them into another room, taking in to consideration their rights and preferences. If the abuse was physical – I would immediately call the police. It may be necessary for the abuser to be physically removed/pulled off the person as quickly as possible. I would ensure that I use our companies behaviour management physical interventions training. I would take the persons rights into account and ensure that I do not harm them in any way. I would take in to account my restrictions and training as a care worker. I would ensure that I use policies and procedure rules to report and record the incident. I would record the exact facts, dates, times using confidentiality rules and signing each page. • Record the facts of the suspected abuse in the incident file stating only the facts with dates, times and signatures. I would report the information to my manager and seek their advice. • Once all the facts were fully recorded – I would file them away in a locked secure environment to preserve the evidence, so they remain confidential, can not been seen by unauthorised personnel or be altered by anyone else to contaminate the evidence. • If the evidence records and reports are not factual, or if they have been accessed or altered in any way they become tainted/invalid and cannot be used in a court of law. • I can get information from my organisations safeguarding vulnerable adults policy. This document gives advice on taking in to account the services views, respecting the individual and how to protect vulnerable adults from abuse. • Supervision is very important to POVA legislation. It is a platform to discuss and issues or concerns I may have or suspicions of abuse. • Six types of abuse are:- Financial abuse – Also identified as theft, fraud and embezzlement. Signs and symptoms are:- Unexplained sudden withdrawals from accounts. Unusual interest by others to pay bills or be in charge of financial issues. Sudden inability to pay bills. • Institutional abuse – When an institution or hospital forces residents to sacrifice their own lifestyle to fit in with the establishment needs. Signs and symptoms are:- Lack of care plans Contact with outsiders – not encouraged Rigid or fixed bedtimes or mealtimes Staff not following procedures • Emotional abuse – threatening, bullying, isolation, shouting or blackmailing Signs and symptoms are:- Disturbed sleep Anxiety Behavioural changes Loss of confidence Self harming • Physical abuse – Injury or harm to an individual. Over or under medicating. Signs and symptoms are:- Bruising Cowering or flinching Unexplained bruises or burns Unusually sleepy Bed sores • Sexual abuse – A sexual act carried out without the persons consent. Signs and symptoms are:- Difference in behaviour Self harm Excessive washing Disturbed sleep Urinary infections Bruising, or bleeding in the genital area