What Are The Examples of Safeguarding In a Care Home

Healthcare professionals frequently encounter people in need of support. For example, some people need health or social care services because of an illness, an accident, or sometimes just because they have reached a crisis in their daily lives. For some people, this is the outcome of abuse or neglect by those who are supposed to be looking out for them.

It’s crucial to understand what safeguarding genuinely involves to spot and fix a problem. It covers everyone’s general wellbeing rather than only the safety of children and adults in danger. This includes preventing damage, abuse, maltreatment, and neglect for anyone. Read through the blog to understand how safeguarding works in a care home. And get all your answers to “what are the examples of safeguarding in a care home?” 

What is safeguarding?

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It involves educating individuals about their rights, defending them, and avoiding and halting abuse. Whether the alleged adult abuse occurred recently or not, we must urge people to report it. People who are elderly and vulnerable due to illness, handicap, or a condition such as dementia, or who have a learning disability, physical impairment, blindness, or deafness and require mental health services, must be protected.

What does safeguarding mean in a care home?

All care home providers must ensure that patients live in a safe, healthy, and humane environment free from harm, abuse, and neglect. The Care Quality Commission regulates several sectors, one of which is the protection of older individuals. This protection emphasises independence and choice. The following two CQC Fundamental Standards, which care providers, are required to follow: 

• Safety: You must not place people who utilise your service at unnecessary risk of harm or offer unsafe care or treatment.
• Protecting against mistreatment, abuse, or neglect.

What are the safeguarding issues?

Concern about someone’s safety is referred to as a safeguarding issue. These issues could be related to many forms of abuse or neglect concerning a family member, a neighbour, or a friend. Common safeguarding issues when commissioning care facilities: 

• Incorrect medicine administration.
• Pressure ulcers.
• Falls. 
• Rough handling. 
• Being hurried.
• Being yelled at.
• Being ignored.
• Inadequate dietary care.
• Insufficient social inclusion.

Examples of safeguarding in a care home

Suppose an older woman named Mrs X, who resides in a nursing facility, has some mental health and physical problems. She consequently needs ongoing care, yet she decides to maintain her independence. 

The caregivers are attentive and wise, and the woman receives excellent care there. However, they have noted a rise in her irritation and disorientation, which is unusual for her. Mrs X and one of her caregivers decide to sit down and talk about what she could be unhappy about. She said she frequently feels as though particular friends of hers are dropping by to visit and requesting money that isn’t returned or reminding her that she has already pledged to provide money for something, making her feel bad if she forgets. Mrs X is generally upset and feels taken advantage of by this.

In this case, the caregiver informs Mrs. X that she must document the conversation and notify her management. But Mrs X will have the final say in how things are handled. Giving vulnerable people the most influence over how things are handled is one of the most crucial components of safeguarding. They must be given as much freedom as is practical to make judgments, and everything must be disclosed.

Common Safeguarding Challenges & Solutions for Care Homes Safety and Safeguarding in the Care Home

In care homes, safety should come first. They house many elderly residents who may be fragile mentally or physically and require specialised care. Tragically, this can sometimes can result in abuse and neglect. However, to address any potential safeguarding issues, it is crucial to appropriately screen those who would be providing care or visiting vulnerable patients. 

Some of the common safeguarding challenges and solutions for care home safety are discussed below: 

Challenge- Untrained workers may unintentionally ignore patients in their charge. They generally wouldn’t abuse vulnerable adults on purpose, but they might unintentionally hurt a patient because they don’t know how to treat them properly. So, for instance, if a patient is suffering or in need of care or attention, they can neglect to feed them correctly or fail to pay attention. 

Solution- Abuse prevention begins with safeguarding training in nursing homes. Staff must receive comprehensive and extensive training to ensure no patients are overlooked. Although initial training is critical, nursing staff must continue receiving it throughout their careers. The Care Act of 2000 mandates that care home personnel complete three training days annually. This guarantees that their knowledge is accurate and current. Training benefits care home staff in all facets, from patient care to task prioritisation, with safeguarding in care homes naturally being the top priority.

Challenge- Verbal or psychological abuse, usually referred to as emotional abuse, is when a resident is insulted or threatened to exert control over them. It is the most common abuse in nursing homes. The WHO reported that more than 32% of nursing home staff members admitted emotionally abusing patients. Staff members who are nasty or malicious are more prone to exploiting weak patients. Through their work, people with malign intentions could aim to injure and mistreat their vulnerable patients. 

“A 24-year-old woman has been sentenced for ill-treating an 84-year-old resident at the Wirral care home where she worked. The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said that Valentina Baghiu, of Borough Road in Tranmere,  poked, threatened and grabbed the wrist of the victim, who was frail and suffered from dementia.” (CPS Gov UK) 

Solution- Staff who are rude and cruel to the patients should be kept away from the vulnerable patients. Call the local council of the person and ask to speak with the coordinator for adult safety. You can discuss the problem with the police as well. The authorities are likely interested because some forms of abuse constitute crimes. 

Conclusion

Care homes should ensure that the adults or children they care for are safe and sound. Staff at a care facility must give all residents and employees safe care. In addition, every care facility should have a designated safeguarding lead that any staff member can reach.

Along with understanding the responsibilities of the safeguarding lead, care home employees should also realise who is in charge of various parts of safeguarding within the home. The overall goal should be ensuring everyone taking care services feels safe and secure in care homes.