Safeguarding is an element of Duty of Care and created to uphold its rights and principles. Recognised training courses are available all over the UK and Ireland, sometimes run by local councils and at times offered free of charge at the basic level. The aim is to ensure a high and even standard of safeguarding within social care and anywhere an employee may relate directly to vulnerable children or adults.
Safeguarding is part of Duty of Care. Making referrals and keeping good case notes are elements of Safeguarding.
We are not legally required to be trained in safeguarding and for many, the idea will only come up if starting work in areas where DBS checks are necessary. The EFTMRA Code of Ethics already covers the issues of confidentiality, permissions and referrals but does not stipulate the exact authorities you would need to turn to in any given situation. This is something that will vary depending on the legal jurisdiction you live under and may be clarified by a local safeguarding course.
DBS stands for Disclosure and Barring Service and is the UK government body that checks potential employees for criminal records.
The basic Safeguarding principles are:
Any client may unexpectedly disclose information that puts you in the realm of safeguarding and it is just as likely that they will not be personally vulnerable but will disclose another situation that affects a third party, which still makes you responsible to act on what you have heard. As covered elsewhere, breaches of confidentiality should be done with your client's knowledge and approval where possible. They should also be done as acts of handing over authority. It is for the expert person or care service that you reported to, to decide what the truth of the situation may be and what the right course of action or outcome should be, even if you think they are getting it wrong. If you find yourself dealing with a disclosure, at all costs avoid making any assumptions about the outcome.
One good example: Spousal abuse typically escalates when the abused partner tries to leave. Between 50% and 75% of domestic violence homicides happen at the point of separation or after the victim has left. It is so important to simply report what you have heard and leave the support systems and timings to the experts and do not lead your client to believe, for example, that they will be out and safe with a new roof over their heads in the immediate future. That simply puts them on a tightrope between trauma if it doesn't happen, and increased danger if it happens imperfectly. Not your call to make.
The editable contract format coming soon includes a small clause that confidentiality will be breached in case of a disclosure concerning acts of terrorism, vulnerable adult or child protection issues, or drug trafficking.
See also: Case Notes, Client Contract, Referrals and Permissions, EFTMRA Code.
Safeguarding is part of Duty of Care. Making referrals and keeping good case notes are elements of Safeguarding.
We are not legally required to be trained in safeguarding and for many, the idea will only come up if starting work in areas where DBS checks are necessary. The EFTMRA Code of Ethics already covers the issues of confidentiality, permissions and referrals but does not stipulate the exact authorities you would need to turn to in any given situation. This is something that will vary depending on the legal jurisdiction you live under and may be clarified by a local safeguarding course.
DBS stands for Disclosure and Barring Service and is the UK government body that checks potential employees for criminal records.
The basic Safeguarding principles are:
- Empowerment - empowering the individual to make their own decisions and choices eg about their care
- Prevention – taking action where possible before harm occurs
- Proportionality – being unobtrusive, taking action discreetly to support their needs and dignity
- Protection – taking action to rapidly remove the individual from the situation, and to support and represent
- Partnership – connecting to the right local services
- Accountability – accepting responsibility for your actions or failure to act.
Any client may unexpectedly disclose information that puts you in the realm of safeguarding and it is just as likely that they will not be personally vulnerable but will disclose another situation that affects a third party, which still makes you responsible to act on what you have heard. As covered elsewhere, breaches of confidentiality should be done with your client's knowledge and approval where possible. They should also be done as acts of handing over authority. It is for the expert person or care service that you reported to, to decide what the truth of the situation may be and what the right course of action or outcome should be, even if you think they are getting it wrong. If you find yourself dealing with a disclosure, at all costs avoid making any assumptions about the outcome.
One good example: Spousal abuse typically escalates when the abused partner tries to leave. Between 50% and 75% of domestic violence homicides happen at the point of separation or after the victim has left. It is so important to simply report what you have heard and leave the support systems and timings to the experts and do not lead your client to believe, for example, that they will be out and safe with a new roof over their heads in the immediate future. That simply puts them on a tightrope between trauma if it doesn't happen, and increased danger if it happens imperfectly. Not your call to make.
The editable contract format coming soon includes a small clause that confidentiality will be breached in case of a disclosure concerning acts of terrorism, vulnerable adult or child protection issues, or drug trafficking.
See also: Case Notes, Client Contract, Referrals and Permissions, EFTMRA Code.