Safeguarding

1.1Analyse the differences between the concept of safeguarding and the concept of protection in relation to vulnerable adults
Safeguarding:
Safeguarding is the multi-disciplinary work we do to minimise and manage risk to adults who may be vulnerable. It employs a framework which brings together all aspects of an investigation into an allegation of abuse against a vulnerable adult. For any safeguarding issue, we aim to involve the vulnerable person and offer them as much choice as possible.
Vulnerable adult
A vulnerable adult is someone aged 18 or over:
  * Who is, or may be, in need of community services due to age, illness or a mental or physical disability
  * Who is, or may be, unable to take care of himself/herself, or unable to protect himself/herself against significant harm or exploitation
(Definition from the Department of Health 2002)
Abuse can affect any vulnerable adult, but particularly someone who is, or may be, unable to protect themselves against significant harm or exploitation, for example:
  * Older people
  * People with mental health problems
  * Disabled people
  * People with learning difficulties
  * People with acquired brain damage
  * People who misuse substances
Abuse
Abuse is a violation of an individual's human and civil rights. It may consist of a single act or repeated acts. It can be physical, verbal or psychological, it may be an act or omission to act, or it may occur when a vulnerable person is persuaded to enter into a financial or sexual transaction to which he or she has not consented, or cannot consent. Abuse can occur in any relationship
Types of abuse
  * Physical: including hitting, shaking, biting, grabbing, withholding food or drink, force-feeding, wrongly administering medicine, unnecessary restraint, failing to provide physical care and aids to living
  * Sexual: including sexual assault, rape, inappropriate touching/molesting, pressurising someone into sexual acts they don't understand or...