Watchdog: How care providers must proactively prevent abuse after woman convicted for humiliating photos
Care providers must actively encourage staff to speak up when they see abuse of vulnerable adults – and proactively create a culture of accountability and early intervention, a watchdog has said after a high profile conviction.
The Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority (RQIA) was speaking after an Armagh woman was convicted of sharing humiliating photos of dementia patients.
Ciara Corvan, who worked at Craigavon Area Hospital, was this week handed a probation order and given 100 hours of community service at Craigavon Crown Court for the offence.
The RQIA is an independent body that inspects health and social care services and promotes improvements in them.
Speaking to the News Letter, an RQIA spokesman said: "This case underlines why it is so important that staff working across health and social care services feel able, and are actively encouraged, to speak up when they see poor practice, inappropriate behaviour or potential abuse.
"Anyone who suspects abuse of a patient/service user across any health and social care setting should report the matter immediately to the person in charge of the care setting."
An alternative channel for complaints are Adult Protection Gateway Teams which operate in all Health and Social Care Trusts, details of which are on each trust’s website.
"If you are concerned that someone is being abused, exploited or neglected or you yourself are an adult at risk of harm and in need of protection, you can contact these Adult Protection teams directly."
He added: "Service providers also play a key role in preventing abuse before it occurs. A proactive approach focuses on creating a culture of safety, accountability, and early intervention. Service providers should develop and maintain clear safeguarding policies, recruit safely, raise awareness of what constitutes abuse, ensure staff attend mandatory safeguarding training, promote a positive culture, encourage reporting, and learn from incidents."
Inspection reports from care settings can be accessed at www.rqia.org.uk, he said.
Alternatively, families can ask the relevant provider to share a copy of their latest reports.
Service providers are required to have robust complaints procedures and must maintain a complaints register, investigating concerns raised by service users and families, and produce annual reports that identify themes, learning and service improvements arising from complaints.
While it is appropriate to publish individual complaints and responses, providers should be open about how complaints are handled and the improvements that result from them, he added.