Everyone should live free from abuse, neglect, and harm. For vulnerable people, it’s often the duty of others to ensure that they can. In health and social care, safeguarding is one of the key principles guiding the help and support provided by carers.
But safeguarding and duty of care are more than just a job responsibility: they’re a legal requirement. If you’re interested in care work, learn more about the necessity of safeguarding with this blog.
Safeguarding is a term used to describe protecting a person from abuse and neglect. Safeguarding protects against threats to a person’s health, wellbeing, and their human rights.
Ultimately, safeguarding in health and social care is about performing your job to the best of your ability, so those in your care are protected.
The specific practices regarding safeguarding are set by various local authorities and public or private organisations. Safeguarding standards are also covered by four laws: The Children Act 1989, the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006, the Care Act 2014, and the Children and Social Work Act 2017
Carers are involved with those most in need of protection from harm. These are children and young people, and adults with physical, mental, and sensory impairments. People in these categories have reduced means to protect themselves, and so it’s the responsibility of others to keep them safe.
Safeguarding is a mandatory part of training for those working in health and social care. If you’re interested in a career as a carer, this training will ensure you understand safeguarding, and how to adhere to the practices.
Duty of care is the legal obligation of a health and social care worker to protect and keep safe those within your care. The duty of care involves always acting in the best interests of those you support, and always performing within your abilities - by not taking on anything that can’t be performed safely. Duty of care also means not failing to act, when doing so can result in harm.
The duty of care isn’t just about those you support. It extends to yourself and your co-workers.
Everyone deserves a life free from harm and neglect. Whistleblowing is the process of raising a concern about a wrongdoing which is harming, or risks harming, those using a health and social care service, the employees, or the wider community.
Whistleblowing is done to protect the safety of those in health and social care, and is an essential component of safeguarding. Whistleblowers themselves are protected by the Public Interest Disclosure Act 1998.
Health and social care careers require people with a passion to help. Supportive workers allow vulnerable members of society to enjoy a life free from neglect, harm, or abuse. Find your career in care with Kent Care Professionals.
As part of the development of recruitment around the care sector in Kent - Kent Care Professionals have a number of roles live and readily available now. Please click here to search for those roles and apply for your next step in social care in Kent.
