Health and Social Care Training
Health and Social Care training courses
Everyone working in social care needs to understand their own responsibilities for the safety of the people they support. We provide training and development to support professionals working in this field.
HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE TRAINING – THE BASICS
Care Training Services was established in 2011 with the aim of providing outstanding Health and Social Care training. We offer training, consultancy and resources to help all organisations who work with adults and children who are considered ‘at risk’.
THE MENTAL CAPACITY ACT 2005
The Mental Capacity Act 2005 is a legal framework which protects people who may lack capacity to make decisions for themselves. It also sets out how decisions should be made on their behalf. The act covers all sorts of decisions, from life-changing events to everyday matters. All safeguarding decisions OPG takes must be in accordance with the act. The act says that:
… a person lacks capacity in relation to a matter if at the material time he is unable to make a decision for himself in relation to the matter because of an impairment of, or disturbance in the functioning of the mind or brain.
NEW LEGISLATION IN ENGLAND AND WALES
The Care Act 2014 came into force in England on 1 April 2015. The Social Services and Wellbeing Act 2014 came into force in Wales on 1 April 2016. The acts introduce new duties and responsibilities on local authority adult social services as the lead agencies in protecting adults at risk. This gives public services and government clear responsibility to make sure that people in the most vulnerable situations are safe from abuse or neglect.
What is Safeguarding?
Safeguarding is a term used to describe how we protect adults and children from abuse or neglect. It is an important shared priority of many public services, and a key responsibility of local authorities.
Safeguarding is about protecting certain people who may be in vulnerable circumstances. These people may be at risk of abuse or neglect due to the actions (or lack of action) of another person. In these cases, it is vital that public services work together to identify people at risk, and put steps in place to help prevent abuse or neglect.
What is Abuse?
Abuse and neglect take many forms. Abuse can lead to a violation of someone’s human and civil rights by another person or persons. Abuse can be physical, financial, verbal or psychological. It can be the result of an act or a failure to act.
It can happen when an adult at risk is persuaded into a financial or sexual exchange they have not consented to, or can’t consent to. Abuse can occur in any relationship and may result in significant harm or exploitation.
Some types of abuse are illegal, and in these cases adults who lack capacity are protected by law the same as everyone else. If OPG (Office of the Public Guardian) suspects that a crime against a client has been committed, they refer the matter to the police. Sometimes, an urgent referral is made for the safety of the adult at risk and/or to preserve evidence.
Abuse is a misuse of power and control that one person has over another. Where someone is dependent on another, there is the possibility of abuse or neglect unless enough safeguards are put in place.
Abuse can fall into the following categories:
This includes assault, hitting, slapping, pushing, giving the wrong (or no) medication, restraining someone or only letting them do certain things at certain times.
This includes psychological, physical, sexual, financial or emotional abuse. It also covers so-called ‘honour’ based violence.
This includes rape, indecent exposure, sexual harassment, inappropriate looking or touching, sexual teasing or innuendo, taking sexual photographs, making someone look at pornography or watch sexual acts, sexual assault or sexual acts the adult didn’t consent to or was pressured into consenting.
This includes emotional abuse, threats of harm or abandonment, depriving someone of contact with someone else, humiliation, blaming, controlling, intimidation, putting pressure on someone to do something, harassment, verbal abuse, cyber bullying, isolation or unreasonable and unjustified withdrawal of services or support networks.
This includes theft, fraud, internet scamming, putting pressure on someone about their financial arrangements (including wills, property, inheritance or financial transactions) or the misuse or stealing of property, possessions or benefits.
This covers slavery (including domestic slavery), human trafficking and forced labour. Traffickers and slave masters use whatever they can to pressurise, deceive and force individuals into a life of abuse and inhumane treatment.
This includes types of harassment or insults because of someone’s race, gender or gender identity, age, disability, sexual orientation or religion.
This includes neglect and poor care in an institution or care setting such as a hospital or care home, or if an organisation provides care in someone’s home. The abuse can be a one-off incident or repeated, on-going ill-treatment. The abuse can be through neglect or poor professional practice, which might be because of structure, policies, processes and practices within an organisation.
This includes ignoring medical, emotional or physical care needs, failure to provide access to educational services, or not giving someone what they need to help them live, such as medication, enough nutrition and heating.
This covers a wide range of behaviour which shows that someone isn’t caring for their own personal hygiene, health or surroundings. It includes behaviour such as hoarding.
Safeguarding Children
The Children Act 2004, the Education Act 2002, the Education and Skills Act 2008 and the Children Act 1989 all place important legislation to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. Care Training Services can help you understand and implement your responsibilities if you are working with children and young people, whether in the public or private sector.
Safeguarding Adults
OFSTED state that Safeguarding vulnerable adults is defined in the Care and support statutory guidance issued under the Care Act 2014 as:
‘Protecting an adult’s right to live in safety, free from abuse and neglect. It is about people and organisations working together to prevent and stop both the risks and experience of abuse or neglect, while at the same time making sure that the adult’s wellbeing is promoted including, where appropriate, having regard to their views, wishes, feelings and beliefs in deciding on any action. This must recognise that adults sometimes have complex interpersonal relationships and may be ambivalent, unclear or unrealistic about their personal circumstances.’
Mental Capacity & Deprivation of Liberty
The Mental Capacity Act (MCA) and Deprivation of Liberties Safeguards (DOLS) were introduced with the aim of reinforcing the protection of vulnerable adults? They, therefore, form the guidelines of care for all professionals involved in the health and social care sector.
According to CQC :
The Act directly affects the lives of two million disabled people, older people and their carer’s. It affects the way people are supported wherever they live. Everyone working with and/or caring for an adult who may lack capacity to make particular decisions must comply with this Act and its Codes of Practice. It is important that registered persons and other professionals promote awareness of the Act and are aware of their own responsibilities under it.
Medication Awareness
The Care Standards Act 2000 all residential care workers must be qualified and deemed capable of meeting all of their children and young people’s health needs including their medication.
Also, the Care Quality Commission (CQC) expects all adult social care providers to induct staff in line with the standards set out in the Care Certificate.
Expert Social Care Training
Care Training Services provides expert safeguarding training and consultancy to ensure your organisation and employees are working within the law and are able to conduct their role for the benefit of your clients. Our courses include:
