204 Abuse Booklet
PRINCIPLES OF SAFEGUARDING & PROTECTION
IN HEALTH & SOCIAL CARE
As a Social Care Worker you are going to be the eyes, ears and sometimes the voice of the individuals you are employed to care for. This isn’t always going to be pleasant or easy for you, especially if one of your ‘Ladies or Gents’ show signs or tells you of a form of abuse that they have been subjected to.
Abuse comes in many forms and is not always obvious to you or anyone else that visits as it isn’t always about cuts or bruises, as you will see when you read through this booklet.
Physical Abuse
Physical abuse can be carried out at any time and by anyone and is not through the fault of the person that is being abused. No one has the right to hurt another person, they will know exactly what they are doing and also that it is wrong.
There are many signs of physical abuse which can sometimes leave you with obvious markings such as:
Punching
Slapping
Pinching
Kicking
Biting
Burning
Strangling
Other type of physical abuse can include:
Spitting
Hair pulling
Dragging by arms or legs
Shaking
Suffocating
Drowning
Being left in wet pads, wet bedding etc.
Being tied up or to an object – bed, chair etc.
Being denied food, fluids and medication
Swallowing of items against your will – medication, food etc.
Any form of forceful behaviour and bullying
At times, there may be objects used to physically abuse others:
Stick/Cane
Rope
Water
Iron
Any object that can be thrown or used to cause fear or harm
A person being subjected to physical abuse may
Become fretful and/or fearful when a particular person appears
Not want to be left on their own and get upset when you are due to leave
React to actions and/or sounds - someone being noisy or waving their arms about when talking, loud bangs, shouting etc.
Hide themselves away from others until cuts, bruises etc. have healed
Make excuses about how they received the cuts, bruises etc.
Contract skin breakdown from being left in wet pads, bedding etc.
Become
IN HEALTH & SOCIAL CARE
As a Social Care Worker you are going to be the eyes, ears and sometimes the voice of the individuals you are employed to care for. This isn’t always going to be pleasant or easy for you, especially if one of your ‘Ladies or Gents’ show signs or tells you of a form of abuse that they have been subjected to.
Abuse comes in many forms and is not always obvious to you or anyone else that visits as it isn’t always about cuts or bruises, as you will see when you read through this booklet.
Physical Abuse
Physical abuse can be carried out at any time and by anyone and is not through the fault of the person that is being abused. No one has the right to hurt another person, they will know exactly what they are doing and also that it is wrong.
There are many signs of physical abuse which can sometimes leave you with obvious markings such as:
Punching
Slapping
Pinching
Kicking
Biting
Burning
Strangling
Other type of physical abuse can include:
Spitting
Hair pulling
Dragging by arms or legs
Shaking
Suffocating
Drowning
Being left in wet pads, wet bedding etc.
Being tied up or to an object – bed, chair etc.
Being denied food, fluids and medication
Swallowing of items against your will – medication, food etc.
Any form of forceful behaviour and bullying
At times, there may be objects used to physically abuse others:
Stick/Cane
Rope
Water
Iron
Any object that can be thrown or used to cause fear or harm
A person being subjected to physical abuse may
Become fretful and/or fearful when a particular person appears
Not want to be left on their own and get upset when you are due to leave
React to actions and/or sounds - someone being noisy or waving their arms about when talking, loud bangs, shouting etc.
Hide themselves away from others until cuts, bruises etc. have healed
Make excuses about how they received the cuts, bruises etc.
Contract skin breakdown from being left in wet pads, bedding etc.
Become