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Safeguarding Unit 5

Decent Essays

Principles of Safeguarding and Protection in Health and Social Care, Unit 5.

There are many forms of abuse but are usually classified under five main headings, physical, sexual, psychological, financial and institutional. Signs of possible abuse can come in physical forms, such as bruises, cuts, burn marks, etc; emotional signs like flinching, crying and any other changes in the normal behaviour of the client. Although these are signs of abuse it is in no way conclusive evidence of such.

Warning signs are NOT evidence of abuse but possible indicators of such.

Physical abuse can take many forms but is usually where some form of bodily harm is committed.
For example: hitting, slapping, scalding, burning, pinching, force feeding, …show more content…

not washing them properly, toileting, feeding or personal care.

Indicators are weight loss, lack of personal hygiene e.g. not bathing or washing regularly, dehydration, signs of self harm, depression, withdrawn or submissive behaviour.

Discriminatory abuse can include racist or sexist abuse, abuse based on disability, age, gender, sexual orientation or religion; harassment or slander.

Again: Warning signs are NOT evidence of abuse but possible indicators of such.

Factors contributing to risk of abuse are age e.g. elderly or young children; poor communication between care giver and service user (this could be because of a medical problem or social/relationship issue); care giver having an addiction such as alcohol or drugs; challenging behaviour by the service user; care giver believing service user is being deliberately difficult, care role forced not taken on willingly, major changes to lifestyle because of giving care, multiple care responsibilities, carer or service user having lack of sleep, being socially isolated, care giver or service user being young or immature, financial or housing issues, illness or injury, culture or religion discrimination or prejudice, refugee or asylum-seekers, environmental/economic factors such as financial situation, mental health difficulties, physical disabilities such as sensory impairment, cognitive ability, level of education, intellectual understanding, learning difficulties and many

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