People with Learning Disability Essay

To make sure that people with learning difficulties are able to live in their flats independently and not go through any abuse, there are various strategies to help them such as: Protection of Vulnerable Adults scheme (POVA) The Protection of Vulnerable Adults (POVA) scheme was July 2004 was introduced to protect vulnerable adults such as people with learning disability who are aged 18 years and over in care settings. Employers or managers are required to check the POVA list when employing workers, carers or volunteers who are in regular contact with vulnerable adults. They also have a responsibility to refer care workers to the POVA list if they have harmed vulnerable adults in their care. When an individual’s name is placed on the POVA list, that person is not able to work with vulnerable adults until his or her name is removed from the list. The POVA scheme is designed to give significantly greater protection to vulnerable adults. Employers have a duty to check that potential new care workers are not on the POVA list before allowing them to work in a care position. They will have to do it as part of the CRB Disclosure application process. Multi-agency working Multi-agency working means different services, agencies, teams of professionals and other staff working together to provide services that meet the needs of vulnerable adults. As multi-agency working supports vulnerable adults such as learning disabled people, it puts them at the centre of decision making in order to meet their needs and improve their lives. Multi agency working encourages problems to be identified early and can be intervened. They share and manage information and keep the information up to date. They keep in track any improvements the clients have made or any improvements that needs to be made. They co-operate with each other. So, if there is any suspicion of abuse, they use the same strategies to deal with the abuse and safeguard adults from any harm or danger. In this way, it helps to minimise the potential for abuse. Working practices needs assessment Service users needs must be assessed so that we are able to know their strengths. We can also find the areas where they need help and support and plan appropriate levels of support to improve the service users’ lives. Their needs are assessed to monitor if they are improving or getting worse. If the service user’s needs are not considered or met properly then abuse such as physical, financial, psychological abuse, etc can occur intentionally or unintentionally, which can deteriorate the health of the service user. When assessing the needs of the service users, it is important to identify the vulnerability of the service user so that further steps can be taken to avoid any risk of potential abuse. In this way, needs assessment is vital when care planning for service users. Oral/Written/Electronic communication Communication is an important way of minimising any potential abuse. Effective communication with service users and others involved in their care is essential. We are able to find out their needs and problems if we are able to communicate with them effectively. The information of the service user must only be given to people who need to know about the service user. It should be kept safe and confidential from other people and prevent any risk of harm or danger. For example, keeping information in computers with passwords, etc. Working in partnership with service users It is important that care professionals work in partnership with service users so that they can gain trust from them and feel more empowered. This way they are able to feel more confident when talking about their problems and worries. From this, we are able to find out if they are being abused. They wouldn’t hesitate when talking about the abuse. Partnership with service users also means care professionals helping service users to recognise when a relationship is abusive. Care workers can help them to know more about how to protect themselves by knowing their rights and how to complain. Thus, potential abuse can be minimised by working in partnership with service users. Strategies between professionals and within organisations It is vital to have effective communication between professionals and organisations so that service user is protected. When there are any changes such as improvement in service users or degrading in their health conditions or if there is a suspicion of abuse, information must be shared by communication. By communicating, they are able to monitor the service user’s well being and they can be up to date with information of service users. They are able to take action and ensure that service user’s needs are met.