Sheffield Health and Social Care Trust (SHSC) (2007) is committed to ensuring that people who are or may be in need of support from our services are protected from abuse. This SHSC Trust policy will support the South Yorkshire multi-agency policies and procedures to ensure that people are protected from abuse and if there are any cases to be reported. Yet the policy does not suggest any guidelines for nurses in a situation where there should be one in place to protect nurses in the eyes of court. The policy has lacked to trigger the issue of a strategy to protect nurses if any decision to be made and the family or relative are in dispute of the decision.
Department of health held policies and procedures that defines the term safe guarding adult. Department of health (2011) has stated “Safeguarding adults is about the safety and wellbeing of all patients but providing additional measures for those least able to protect themselves from harm or abuse (DOH 2011). The purpose is not the term abuse but also violating the individual rights and civil rights that can cause harm or take independency and the freedom of making choice or informed decision. The aim of the policy is to support agencies in use of and make future measures to improve the care delivered. The Department of health (2006) has state ‘service users are given the right information at the right time to be able to make an informed choice about how and on what terms they want to be involved’. Involvement of the service users can occur by providing patient with information and the right to choose, and the participation of the decision making.
Safeguarding Adults [ADSS 2005] identifies a duty of care to all adults ‘whose independence and wellbeing is at risk due to abuse or neglect’. (Safeguarding policy 2008.p, 4.). In latest months there has been debate in the media about safeguarding and vulnerable adult, BBC news has published factually article in November 2011 entitles ‘vulnerable adults 96,000 alleged abuse cases report’: Just over a third of cases involve claims of physical abuse, others involve allegations of neglect, financial corruption, emotional and sexual abuse. Care workers and family members were most often blamed. The statistics are provisional and the final version will be published in March next year.
Furthermore on the report it has identifies the vital information that have been shining the light on what is clear and also information is for councils and health care professionals to get the people involve. On the report it has stated that ‘out of the 96,000 cases, investigations were completed on 75,000 allegations in 2010-2011. The Department of health (2011) has stated ‘Safeguarding adults is a fundamental part of patient safety and wellbeing and the outcomes expected of the NHS. Safeguarding adults is also integral to complying with legislation, regulations and delivering cost effective care. Adult Protection has developed under the NHS and Community Care Act (1990) which introduced changes to the way health and social care was delivered, with the Local Authority identified as having the lead responsibility to co-ordinate services through care management. According to the Northern Health and Social Services Board (2006) the protection of vulnerable adults from abuse should always receive high priority from all agencies involved.
Department of health has described that ‘A person’s capacity to consent may be temporarily affected by factors such as confusion, panic, shock, fatigue, pain or medication. However, the existence of such factors should not lead to an automatic assumption that the person does not have the capacity to consent (DH 2009, .P10).
Department of health, reference guide to consent for examination or treatment (2009) has specified ''to be valid, consent must be given voluntarily and freely, without pressure or undue influence being exerted on the person either to accept or refuse treatment. Such pressure can come from