elder abuse: some implications for health professionals

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RSM june 19 2009 elder abuse: some implications for health professionals Jill Manthorpe King’s College London

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elder abuse: some implications for health professionals. Jill Manthorpe King’s College London. Elder abuse, neglect and mistreatment and loss of dignity. Concern is unlikely to dissipate Professional regulation – extensions Legal developments Review of No Secrets Self-audit - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Transcript of elder abuse: some implications for health professionals

Page 1: elder abuse: some implications for health professionals

RSM june 19 2009

elder abuse: some implications for health professionals

Jill Manthorpe

King’s College London

Page 2: elder abuse: some implications for health professionals

RSM june 19 2009

Elder abuse, neglect and mistreatment and loss of dignity

1. Concern is unlikely to dissipate

2. Professional regulation – extensions

3. Legal developments

4. Review of No Secrets

5. Self-audit

6. Useful resources

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Concerns abounding

• ‘Care home worker stole £20k from residents’ Caring Times, April 2008.

• ‘Conmen who earn a fortune by preying on the old’, Daily Telegraph, 29 October 2002

• ‘Family of elderly woman who was robbed on her deathbed face red tape nightmare to see crime investigated’, Mail Online 26 June 2008

• ‘Daughter’s pleas over mother’s care home death’, Mail Online, 14 July 2008

• ‘Half a million ‘forgotten’ elderly victims of crime’, Mail Online, 7 November 2007

• ‘Police probe six deaths of care home residents’, Daily Telegraph, 24 September 2008

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The implications are

• Fear – huge under-reporting

• Anxious relatives

• Mistrust

• Staff shortages?

• ‘Managing’ with reduced quality of life

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2. Professional regulation

• Lessons from POVA List (vetting and barring)

• Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006 extending to Health

• Changes to social care through personalisation – registration of some but not all – fears about transferring of risk

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The implications for health

• Employment and human resources work

• The importance of records

• Not stopping at checks

• Interface with professional regulation

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3 Legal developments

• New offences under Mental Capacity Act 2005 of mistreatment and wilful neglect

• Role of IMCA and Mental Health Advocates

• Use of Lasting Powers of Attorney and Advance Decisions to refuse treatment

• DOLS - Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards

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The implications for health

• Finding sources of support, information and advice

• Personal and professional indemnity

• Constructing thresholds

• Providing, seeking & challenging experts

• Working with colleagues

• Casting the law as obstructive or empowering

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4. Review of No Secrets

• Key questions around organisational relationships and funding

• What are the interfaces with NHS systems?

• NB Review of law and adult social care

• Development of agreed outcomes

• Ministerial view awaited

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Self-audit

• I know where the policies are on elder abuse in my organisation

• I know who to contact if I have a query

• I know what to do if I have suspicions

• I know how to support staff who are uncertain, distressed, under pressure

• I know how to communicate with an older person who is fearful.

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resources

• Review of No Secrets DH

• Action on Elder Abuse

• Ministry of Justice (MCA & Code of Practice)

• DH DOLS Code of Practice

• Home Office (SVG, hate crime, distraction burglary, victim support)