Unit 7 - Safeguarding - LO2 - Factors which may lead to abusive situations

Question 1

What are the 3 factors for why abuse happens?

Answer 1

Individual factors
Environmental factors
Other factors

Question 2

What are the individual factors for why abuse happens?

Answer 2

Individuals:

• Who have a learning disability
• Have dementia
• Lack mental capacity
• Have a sensory impairment
• Have physical disabilities
• Are looked-after children

Question 3

Why are people with learning disabilities at higher risk of abuse?

Answer 3

They may not know or understand their rights or may want to please others.

Question 4

Why are people with dementia at higher risk of abuse?

Answer 4

They may not recognise that abuse is happening.
They may have difficulty remembering and communicating their experiences to others.
Behaviours such as withdrawal may be mistaken as part of their dementia.

Question 5

Why are people who lack mental capacity at higher risk of abuse?

Answer 5

They may not be able to tell others what is happening and they may have to depend on others to make decisions on their behalf.

Question 6

Why are people with sensory impairments at higher risk of abuse?

Answer 6

They may have limited experience of personal relationships and may depend on others to meet their intimate care needs and are therefore less likely to report abuse.

Question 7

Why are people with physical disabilities at higher risk of abuse?

Answer 7

They may have to depend on others and therefore may feel powerless to prevent abuse from happening.

Question 8

Why are looked-after children at higher risk of abuse?

Answer 8

They may have had poor life experiences, may move in and out of different settings and may be unlikely to form trusting relationships with adults and/or other children and are therefore less likely to report abuse.

Question 9

What are the environmental factors for why abuse happens?

Answer 9

• Care services with institutional practices
• Adults and children residing in health and social care settings
• Health services
• Independent living facilities
• Homelessness

Question 10

Why are care services with institutional practices a factor to make abuse more likely?

Answer 10

Practices that do not respect individuals’ privacy, comfort and unique needs.
These practices could form part of day-to-day working and therefore may be more acceptable to those who work and live there.
It then becomes more difficult for individuals to report or speak about these institutional practices if they are in the minority.

Question 11

Why are adults and children residing in health and social care settings a factor to make abuse more likely?

Answer 11

People in health and social care settings usually perceive these settings as safe. They may be afraid to speak out about abuse that is happening as they may fear that they could lose their home or be responsible for a professional losing their job or going to prison.

Question 12

Why are health services a factor to make abuse more likely?

Answer 12

Practitioners are usually viewed as being in positions of trust and power. If staff are not trained well, or do not have the necessary skills to communicate and problem solve effectively, individuals may not receive safe and effective care.
Settings may also be understaffed and this may mean that staff will be under a lot of pressure and have less time to carry out their responsibilities safely.

Question 13

Why are independent living facilities a factor to make abuse more likely?

Answer 13

Independent living facilities are not staffed all the time so individuals who live there may become targeted by other individuals who live there.
They may also be perceived as needing less care and support than other vulnerable groups and therefore may be at risk of abuse because they may not be visited as frequently or may lose contact with their family.

Question 14

Why is homelessness a factor to make abuse more likely?

Answer 14

A homeless individual may become isolated and don’t have much contact with family and friends. This can make them targets of abuse.
They may move from one place to another and could stay in unsafe public areas or with individuals who abuse them.

Question 15

What are the other factors that make abuse more likely?

Answer 15

• Situations where people are dependent on others
• Relationships where there is an imbalance of power
• Social isolation
• Situations where there is an invasion of privacy
• Staffing issues

Question 16

Why are situations where people are dependent on others a factor that may make abuse more likely?

Answer 16

People may be dependent on others for personal care and management of money.
Care givers may experience high levels of stress particularly if the individual displays challenging needs such as verbal or physical aggressive, and that can lead to abuse.

Question 17

Why are relationships where there is an imbalance of power a factor that may make abuse more likely?

Answer 17

The caregiver may not be receiving practical or emotional support from others and may also have other family and work commitments; these factors may cause the child’s needs to not be met or to be ignored.

Question 18

Why is social isolation a factor that may make abuse more likely?

Answer 18

An individual may have mental health needs and live independently with no care and support and they may show signs of a mental illness and may become a target for abuse, particularly if the abuser knows that the individual lives alone.

Question 19

Why are situations where there is an invasion of privacy a factor that may make abuse more likely?

Answer 19

A health or social care setting may not have individuals’ doors and/or curtains kept shut whilst they are getting dressed or undressed. Individuals may become the targets of abuse as they may be feeling vulnerable and embarrassed at having to depend on others for their personal, intimate care.

Question 20

Why are staffing issues a factor that may make abuse more likely?

Answer 20

Lack of staff or lack of staff training may lead to the abuse of individuals as unsafe or abusive practices may result. Staffing issues may also remain unchallenged by staff, management and/or individuals and make it even more difficult to speak out.