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While there are visible signs of abuse for physical and sexual abuse, there might not be clear signs or symptoms when faced with emotional abuse or cyber abuse. Practitioners must protect service users to ensure that high-quality care is provided to them. It also ensures that they are safeguarded, promoting their wellbeing and safety.

A measure which can be taken immediately to safeguard children in an formal setting is to wear an ID (identification badge) to let others know that you are meant to be there.

Practitioners should first identify those in the community that are at risk of abuse. Children are vulnerable to abuse as they rely on their parent/carer to house them. It is important that practitioners access the safety of children in their care.

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Safeguarding

Actively ensuring that the wellbeing and safety of individuals, primarily children, is optimal.

Protection from abuse and neglect is especially relevant when we discuss safeguarding an individual. The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC, 2024) found that "at least one child is killed a week in the UK". This is a rough estimate because most children and young people are afraid to come forwards about it. Shame or not realising they're being abused or neglected by their carer.

Protection

Protection is the action of ensuring the safety and wellbeing of an individual. The protection of young people and children are taken into account in pieces of legislation

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Put into action in March of 2014, the Children and Families Act looks after the safety of children and young people with and without special educational needs. Protecting this demographic of individuals is particularly important because convicts can take advantage of them.

Provision of support in in and outside of educational settings are made available to them up until the age of 21. Partnership between services is encouraged to carry out this support.

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The act introduced the use of Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks for individuals who work with young people on a daily basis. Putting this in place protects children and young people from unsavoury characters such as sexual offenders. Depending on the results of the DBS check, work is decided to be carried out supervised or unsupervised. If unsupervised, the individual must fully disclose their criminal record and provide a barred list.

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Explain the importance of protection in relation to safeguarding.

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Explain the importance of protection in relation to safeguarding.

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Protection and safeguarding go hand-in-hand in many cases, this is because protection is a vital aspect of safeguarding. Wyatt et.al wrote that protection is “the detection and prevention of harm and abuse” Wyatt et.al (2017), similarly, safeguarding also aims to do this.

Protection guarantees trust between the patient and practitioner. Without this trust, the service user would feel unable to come forwards about home issues they’re having.

If the individual is experiencing domestic abuse the threat to their life is significant. Feeling unsafe about coming forwards about the abuse could have disastrous affects to their health. If left undelt with, the individual might end up in hospital. Safeguarding the individual means that they are.

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Clear lines of accountability are established in this act. For instance, practitioners should be reporting safeguarding concerns, no matter how small. A persisting bruise or a regular at the Accident and Emergency Department (A&E) could point to abuse at home.

Accountability is made relevant in procedures such as the 'whistleblowing' policy, shadowing and information sharing.

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The Children Act of 1989 set the framework of ensuring children’s welfare. The 1989 Act was amended in 2004 with extra steps to effectively safeguard individuals. Provision of the welfare principle applies to young people until the age of 18 whereby you become an adult in the eyes of the law.

The ‘Paramountcy’ principle refers to the welfare of the child and how it should be the driving force behind decision making in courts etc. It is a term that is used in court when the child’s welfare is an issue.

The act from 2004 build off this, encouraging partnership between bodies such as social services, police to protect young people.

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Put into place in 2003, the Sexual Offences Act details how to protect children and young adults from different types of sexual offences. For example, an unsolicited picture sent through a social media app would qualify as sexual harassment. Practitioners have the duty to protect this individual from further harassment.

Sex offenders must adhere to the standards that the act lays out. This details how they must give their location upon request to ensure safety of individuals. Monitoring offenders will reduce the risk they are to the public.

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Wyatt, L et.al. (2017). Extended Diploma in Health and Social Care. 10th ed. London: Hodder Edu. p.234.

National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children. (2024). Child deaths due to abuse or neglect: statistics briefing. [Online]. NSPCC Learning. Last Updated: April 2024. Available at: https://learning.nspcc.org.uk/research-resources/statistics-briefings/child-deaths-abuse-neglect#:~: [Accessed 20 September 2024].