SAFEGUARDING: PART 1

Safeguarding is the action that is taken to promote the welfare of vulnerable persons and protect them from harm, abuse, exploitation.
Principles of safeguarding.
• Empowerment: Supporting and encouraging individuals to make their own decisions and informed consent.
• Prevention: It is better to take action before harm occurs.
• Proportionality: The least intrusive response appropriate to the risk presented.
• Protection: Support and representation for those in greatest need.
• Partnership: Providing local solutions through services working with their communities. Communities have a part to play in preventing, detecting and reporting neglect and abuse.
• Accountability: Accountability and transparency in safeguarding practice.
TYPES OF ABUSE
The types of abuse includes:
• physical,
• sexual,
• Emotional/Psychological,
• Financial,
• Neglect
• Discriminatory
• Institutional
• Verbal

• Physical: physical maltreatment of one person by another who may be in a position of power over the victim. This includes hitting, slapping, pinching, pushing, hair pulling, inappropriate restraint or sanctions, necessary aids and adaptations, including glasses and hearing aids, being withdrawn, physical intimidation, etc. Indicators of physical abuse includes:
• Unexplained injury or injury inconsistent with explanation
• Marks, bruises, burns, scalds
• Persistent pressure sores or ulcers
• Being excessively withdrawn or compliant
• Appearing frightened of/avoiding physical contact
• Injuries at different stages of healing
• Covering up parts of the body

• Sexual: This entails involvement in sexual activities or relationships which:
• individuals do not want or cannot understand and/or have not consented to.
• takes place within a family, care-giving or other power relationship i.e. involves an element of coercion.
• involves harassment, inappropriate teasing or innuendo, indecent exposure, touching, masturbation, penetration, intercourse and being forced to participate (actively or passively) in any activities which may be deemed to be pornographic.
Indicators of sexual abuse:
• Torn, stained or disarranged clothing.
• Bruises, pain bleeding or unexplained discharges
• Inappropriate sexual behaviour e.g., overly seductive
• Ill-health e.g., discharges and infections
• Vulnerable adult appears withdrawn.
• Pregnancy in a female who is unable to give consent to sexual relations.
• Reluctance of person to be alone with an individual known to them

• Neglect: This includes the use of threats, fear, or bribes to negate a person’s choices and independent wishes. It can include:
• Intimidation by shouting or screaming.
• Ignoring requests or conversation
• Humiliation
• Withholding of necessary assistance
• Denial of requests, choices and opinions or privacy
• Denial of access to friends and family
• Denial of religious or cultural needs
• Radicalisation/recruitment to violent extremism