Protection Of Vulnerable Adults

Aims and Objectives  This session looks at schemes aimed to protect vulnerable people who need care services  By the end of the session you will have an awareness of –Why protection is needed –Underpinning legislation for safeguarding –The processes involved

Introduction  Abuse of vulnerable people is a violation of human rights  People working in health and social care have duties and responsibilities underpinned by legislation  They work in an area that needs specific protection of the people they care for

What is Abuse?  Abuse can be the result of one serious incident or an accumulation of less serious incidents  Abuse is defined as:  “The systematic pattern of behaviours in a relationship that are used to gain and/or maintain power and control over another”

Types of Abuse  Physical  Sexual  Psychological  Emotional  Neglect  Institutional  Financial

Safeguarding  The need for the protection of vulnerable adults was first identified in the Care Standards Act 2000  The first scheme (POVA) was introduced in July 2004  The scheme aimed to protect individuals aged 18 or over who need care services

POVA  A list of people considered unsuitable to work with vulnerable adults in England and Wales was held by the Secretary of State –From 26 July 2004, in certain circumstances, registered providers of care could be added to the list  Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) checks were (and still are) carried out on anyone wishing to take a job in the care sector

Progression since POVA  The Care Standards Act (2000) brought into being the Protection of Vulnerable Adults (POVA) List and was implemented in 2004  The Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act (2006) brought about the Independent Safeguarding Authority (from 2009)

Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act (2006)  Placed new duties and responsibilities on employers and employees –Integrated existing protection lists – POCA (children), POVA (adult social care), List 99 (teachers) and Disqualification Orders –Introduced pre-employment vetting –Introduced the Independent Safeguarding Authority 2009 –Introduced an online checking system

Vetting and Barring Scheme  The VBS was created to help safeguard children and vulnerable adults following the Bichard Inquiry  It was designed to check the records of those who wanted to work with vulnerable groups

Vetting and Barring Scheme  People who wanted to work or volunteer with children or vulnerable adults would undergo a process before starting work  Any information held on them would be assessed –If assessed to pose a risk of harm to vulnerable groups they would be barred from working or volunteering with these groups

Protection of Freedoms Act 2012  Became law on 1 May 2012  Brings in the abolition of the Vetting and Barring Scheme and creates a new Disclosure and Barring Service –To oversee a ‘scaled-back barring regime’ focused only on roles working most closely with vulnerable groups

Protection of Freedoms Act 2012  On commencement of the relevant parts of the Protection of Freedoms Act the CRB and ISA will merge  Changes will take place during 2012 –Nov Creation of new barring regime –Nov Introduction of continuous criminal records updating – New disclosure and vetting service begins work

Employment Requirements  All new employees must provide two references before they can begin working in any care organisation  New employees are required to complete an induction which includes information on protection and abuse

CRB Checks  A form is completed and submitted to the Criminal Records Bureau –A report is then provided to the care organisation –This report is called a ‘disclosure’  Providers of care must not employ people in care positions until satisfactory results from CRB Disclosures and POVA checks have been issued (superceded by SOVA)

Disclosures  There are two types of disclosure: –Standard and Enhanced  A Standard Disclosure gives details of criminal convictions, cautions, reprimands and warnings held on the Police National Computer  An Enhanced Disclosure may also include relevant information held by local police forces

Summary Abuse takes on many forms and all care workers have a duty to protect vulnerable adults Checks must be made on all prospective care workers to ensure that they are fit to work with vulnerable people

References Care Standards Act 2000 Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006 Protection of Freedoms Act 2012 Legislation available at:

References Nolan, Y. (2005) – Health & Social Care (Adults). Heinemann. Oxford. Richards, J. (2003)) – The Complete A – Z Health & Social Care Handbook. 2 nd Ed. Hodder and Stoughton. London. (Department of Health) (Care Quality Commission) (Directgov – government information)