UNIT 10 Safe Guarding in Health and Social Care
UNIT 10 Safe Guarding in Health and Social Care
Unit code:
L/601/1600
QCF level: 4
Credit
value:
15
Aim
The aim of this unit is to enable learners to develop an understanding of the factors of abuse, and
study the working practices and strategies to reduce and prevent its occurrence.
Unit abstract
The unit enables learners to understand the different types of abuse that can occur within the
community. Learners will study the signs of abuse and factors that can contribute towards individuals
being vulnerable. This will be followed by identifying legislation and policies that are in place and how
professionals work within the guidelines and professional standards to safeguard both practitioners
and users of health and social care services.
Learners will consider the multi-agency approach and look at the strategies that are in place for all
health and social care professionals to work together to minimise occurrences of abuse in health and
social care contexts. Finally learners will consider the effectiveness of these working practices and
strategies.
Learning outcomes
On successful completion of this unit a learner will:
1 Understand the factors that contribute to the incidence of abuse and harm to self and others
2 Understand current legislation, policy and professional involvement regarding abuse in health and
social care contexts
3 Understand working practice and strategies used to minimise abuse in health and social care
contexts.
1 Understand the factors that contribute to the incidence of abuse and harm to self and others
Different types of abuse: physical, emotional, sexual, neglect, financial
Different types of self-harm: self-inflicted wounds, drugs and alcohol
Signs of abuse and self-harm: inappropriate bruising, burns, scalding, malnourishment, lowselfesteem, emotional withdrawal, neglect, other risk factors
Individuals vulnerable to abuse: children, young people, people with learning disabilities, people with
mental health issues, elderly people, people with dementia
Individual factors: self-esteem, identity, gender, previous abuse, relationships, drug and alcohol
abuse, type of family background, mental health issues, psychological basis of abuse
Contexts and relationships where abuse may occur: home, community, residential care, institutional
care, relationships involving power, caring relationships, within the family, domestic violence
Social factors: health, housing, education, poverty, social exclusion and disadvantage, networks of
support
Cultural factors: ethnicity, discrimination, religion
2 Understand current legislation, policy and professional involvement regarding abuse in health
contexts
Working practices: written and oral communication, use of ICT in sharing information between
professionals, anti-oppressive practice, anti-discriminatory practice, thresholds, risk factors, risk
predictions, framework of assessment, identifying children in need
Strategies: working in partnership with users of health and social care services, between
professionals and within organisations, decision-making processes and forums, safeguarding children
boards, the at risk register, area child protection committee, organisational policies and training
On successful completion of
this unit a learner will:
Guidance
Links
This unit has links with, for example:
Essential requirements
This unit requires formal classroom delivery incorporating theoretical concepts, research findings,
evidence from documentation, policy and legislation. Learners will need to work with a wide range of
case studies that illustrate abuse scenarios. Consideration will need to be given to the concepts of
risk, harm, abuse and intervention strategies.
Due to the sensitive subject matter in this unit, tutors must ensure learners have access to support
systems outside of the classroom.