LO2; Understand factors which may lead to abusive situations Flashcards
LO2.1 - Adults, young people, and children most at risk from abuse
Why are some people more at risk of abuse?
LO2.1 - Adults, young people, and children most at risk from abuse
Some people are more at risk of abuse, as they don’t have the means (knowledge + power) to either, protect themselves or prevent it from happening in the first place
This makes them vulnerable to it
LO2.1 - Adults, young people, and children most at risk from abuse
What does the term ‘Lacking in mental capacity’ mean?
LO2.1 - Adults, young people, and children most at risk from abuse
Individuals are unable to make their own decision about their care or treatment
This may be due to having a mental health condition or being unconscious to due an accident
LO2.1 - Adults, young people, and children most at risk from abuse
What does the term ‘Looked after children’?
LO2.1 - Adults, young people, and children most at risk from abuse
These are children that are in the care of of the local authority
LO2.1 - Adults, young people, and children most at risk from abuse
How are individuals with a learning disability most at risk from abuse?
LO2.1 - Adults, young people, and children most at risk from abuse
- May not know or understand their rights
- Or may want to please others
LO2.1 - Adults, young people, and children most at risk from abuse
How are individuals with dementia most at risk from abuse?
LO2.1 - Adults, young people, and children most at risk from abuse
- May not recognise that abuse is happening
- May have difficulty remembering + communicating their needs to others
- Behaviours, e.g. withdrawn may be mistaken as part of their dementia
LO2.1 - Adults, young people, and children most at risk from abuse
How are individuals who are lacking in mental capacity most at risk from abuse?
LO2.1 - Adults, young people, and children most at risk from abuse
- May not be able to tell others what’s happening
- May have to depend on others to make decisions on their behalf
LO2.1 - Adults, young people, and children most at risk from abuse
How are individuals who have a sensory impairment most at risk from abuse?
LO2.1 - Adults, young people, and children most at risk from abuse
- May have limited experience of personal relationships
- May depend on others to meet their intimate care needs and are, therefore, less likely to report abuse
LO2.1 - Adults, young people, and children most at risk from abuse
How are individuals who have a physical disability most at risk from abuse?
LO2.1 - Adults, young people, and children most at risk from abuse
- May have to depend on others
- Therefore, may feel powerless to prevent abuse from happening
LO2.1 - Adults, young people, and children most at risk from abuse
How are looked after children most at risk from abuse?
LO2.1 - Adults, young people, and children most at risk from abuse
- May have had poor life experiences and may move in and out of different settings
- May be unlikely to form trusting relationships with adults and/or other children, and are, therefore, less likely to report abuse
LO2 - Factors that lead to abusive situations; Past Exam Questions
Define the term ‘lacking mental capacity’
[2]
LO2.1 - Adults, young people, and children most at risk from abuse
Individuals are unable to make their own decisions about their care or treatment. This may be due to having a mental health condition, or being unconscious due to an accident
LO2 - Factors that lead to abusive situations; Past Exam Questions
Explain how each of the following environmental factors can make abuse more likely
Care services with institutional practices
Homelessness
Adults with dementia in a nursing home
LO2 - Factors that lead to abusive situations; Past Exam Questions
Care services with institutional practices:
- a culture of turning a blind eye/covering it up
- mistrust
- stereotyping/discrimination
- canteen culture
- similarity of care systems causing distress to those in + out of care
- labelling
Homelessness;
- lack of access to support/protection services
- no fixed location (difficult to track)
- reasons for homelessness e.g. abuse in the past
- self-fulfilling prophecy
- lack of affordable housing
- limited support services/funding
- the risk of harm from others, e.g. especially at night
- stereotyping by public
Adults with dementia in a nursing home;
- lack of control over own choices
- disempowerment
- memory impairments
- dependency on others
- isolation
- less aware of being abused
LO2.1 - Adults, young people, and children most at risk from abuse
What are some additional factors that can make abuse more likely?
LO2.1 - Adults, young people, and children most at risk from abuse
Additional factors:
- situations where there’s an invasion of privacy
- relationships where there’s an imbalance of power
- situations where people are dependent on others
- social isolation
- staffing issues
LO2.1 - Adults, young people, and children most at risk from abuse
How do situations where there’s an invasion of privacy make abuse more likely?
LO2.1 - Adults, young people, and children most at risk from abuse
- dignity’s a big issue in health + social care and it’s important that an individual has adequate privacy. e.g. drawing curtains and closing doors when people are getting changed.
- failure to do this may result in an individual feeling embarrassed, exposed + vulnerable, making them targets for abuse
LO2.1 - Adults, young people, and children most at risk from abuse
How do relationships where there’s an imbalance of power make abuse more likely?
LO2.1 - Adults, young people, and children most at risk from abuse
- in some relationships (can be between people/ individual + service provider) the balance of power’s unequal, meaning that one has more power/control than the other.
E.g. child with severe physical + learning difficulties relies on their parents/carers to meet all of their needs, or an older person with mobility issues and/or dementia. - if the caregiver isn’t given support, may lead to difficulties in meeting needs + frustrations, leading to abuse. The power and control a person holds over the other are not just physical, can be financial and emotional.
- if a person lacks power, may not be able to access the support they need because they’re afraid or don’t have access to the communication methods they needed for support
- carers/teachers have power over the people they’re responsible for + this may then be abused. Often a person in this situation is too scared to get help, so they’re unable to escape the situation
LO2.1 - Adults, young people, and children most at risk from abuse
How do situations where people are dependent on others make abuse more likely?
LO2.1 - Adults, young people, and children most at risk from abuse
- caring for someone can cause stress + having someone who’s dependent on someone can be demanding. As a result of illness, disease, or disability, an individual can find themselves completely dependent on others for help with basic tasks
- informal carers may be too much to handle, especially if the person being cared for displays challenging behaviour, this may then lead to abuse. E.g. a mother caring for an autistic child who’s aggressive + violent towards her, and has begun to take her frustrations out on the child by calling them names and hitting them
LO2.1 - Adults, young people, and children most at risk from abuse
How does social isolation make abuse more likely?
LO2.1 - Adults, young people, and children most at risk from abuse
- a person has limited connections within society who can offer social support and prevent loneliness.
- a number of reasons why a person may become socially isolated, e.g. mental health conditions, issues relating to older age, such as mobility issues and dementia.
- can also occur due to physical and learning difficulties. May find themselves a victim of abuse for various reasons as it may be that they’re not able to access formal/informal support.
- may have lost contact with people who are able to provide support + feel scared to speak out about their abusers in the fear of being further isolated.
- may also be targeted by abusers because they’re vulnerable as the abuser will know that they don’t have support.
LO2.1 - Adults, young people, and children most at risk from abuse
How do staffing issues make abuse more likely?
LO2.1 - Adults, young people, and children most at risk from abuse
- It’s important that health + social care (includ. childcare settings) are adequately staffed + are trained to deal with all situations
- it’s important that there’s enough staff on shift to meet the needs of the individuals without it taking its toll on staff physically or emotionally.
- stress of inadequate staffing may result in abuse occurring if those providing care feel unable to cope. Could be, as a result of neglect, as they don’t have the time to meet the needs of all individuals
- training’s also crucial as they need to be aware of what abuse is + they’re clear of what constitutes abuse so that they don’t do it + also so they understand how it can be intentional/unintentional. Staff also need to know the signs + symptoms of abuse, so that they can follow procedures and report it.
LO2 - Factors that lead to abusive situations; Past Exam Questions
Analyse how the following situations may make abuse more likely
- social isolation
- relationships where there’s an imbalance of power
[6]
LO2 - Factors that lead to abusive situations; Past Exam Questions
Social isolation:
- user will have lost contact with friends + family over time
- family + friends can’t help user if unaware of abuse
- user is at risk of being targeted by abusers, due to them being vulnerable + having no one to turn to
- may feel frightened to speak up as they may not be believed
- due to user being isolated, may not be aware of support services who could help
Relationships where there’s an imbalance of power:
- user may be scared to leave their partner
- may be unable to seek help, as communication is restricted, e.g phone’s taken away
- abuser may have control of their finances, so user is unable to travel
- have a fear of physical violence + threats made by their partner
- abuser may make user feel frightened to report any abuse + use emotional blackmail, e.g. saying they could get prosecuted
- this imbalance of power can relate to carers + teachers
LO2 - Factors that lead to abusive situations; Past Exam Questions
Explain why adults who are deaf (a sensory impairment) are at risk of abuse
[5]
LO2 - Factors that lead to abusive situations; Past Exam Questions
Explanations why adults are at risk of abuse:
- may be dependent on others for communication needs/access to complaints/raising concerns
- lack of qualified staff/training in sign language; abuse not noticed/adult feels socially isolated
- imbalance of power; needs others to help meet needs/info not shared or explained
- invasion of privacy may not hear workers who are gossiping/disclosing personal info
- lack of resources to support needs (when using other services)
- not hearing dangers so more open to abuse/not hearing abuse
- face masks/PPE; barriers to communication
LO2 - Factors that lead to abusive situations; Past Exam Questions
An individual who lacks in mental capacity is unable to make their own decisions
Describe at least two situations where an individual’s mental capacity may return
[6]
LO2 - Factors that lead to abusive situations; Past Exam Questions
Situations:
Recovery from an illness/accident or treatment(s):
> a person may have had a stroke + this impacted upon their mental capacity
> over time + rehabilitation, their mental capacity will improve + will be able to communicate their needs and wants more coherently
Recovery from a mental health problem:
>
LO2.2 - Environmental factors that make abuse more likely
Why does abuse take place in care services with institutional practices?
LO2.2 - Environmental factors that make abuse more likely
- rigid routines, e.g. meal times
- invasive practices, e.g. dressing/bathing = privacy
cannot always be respected
LO2.2 - Environmental factors that make abuse more likely
Why does abuse take place in adult + child residential HSC settings?
LO2.2 - Environmental factors that make abuse more likely
- frightened to report abuse
- lose home = emotional blackmail
LO2.2 - Environmental factors that make abuse more likely
Why does abuse take place in health services?
LO2.2 - Environmental factors that make abuse more likely
- positions of trust
- understaffed
LO2.2 - Environmental factors that make abuse more likely
Why does abuse take place in independent living facilities?
LO2.2 - Environmental factors that make abuse more likely
- not staffed all the time
- might be targeted by staff, visitors, etc
- no control w/ friends + family
