Safeguarding in support work is the cornerstone of ethical and responsible practice.
At Vetro Recruitment, it’s the essence of everything we do as we understand that protecting vulnerable individuals is paramount. According to a report by NHS England, there were an estimated 615,530 concerns of abuse raised during 2023-24 - an increase of 5% on the previous year.
At Vetro Recruitment, we witness daily the powerful and positive impact of good safeguarding policies and practices and how they enable vulnerable individuals to thrive and live fulfilling lives.
Why Safeguarding in Social Care Matters
Vulnerable individuals - children, older adults, and those with disabilities - rely on social care and support workers to help them in their daily activities. Social care safeguarding is the process of preventing and responding to abuse, neglect, and exploitation.
It’s important because:
- Protects the Vulnerable: Social care safeguarding creates a safety net and minimises risk.
- Building Trust: Strong safeguarding in social care practices fosters trust between services and providers.
- Ethical Responsibility: Upholding social care safeguarding aligns with professional ethics and legal requirements.
- Legal Compliance: Adhering to safeguarding in social care regulations avoids legal repercussions.
Your Safeguarding Role in Social Care
Every social care professional and organisation plays an important role in upholding social care safeguarding. It’s not just a policy on paper; it’s a living, breathing commitment to protecting vulnerable individuals. Here’s how you can contribute:
- Understand and Apply Policies and Procedures: Ask questions if anything is unclear, apply the procedures consistently in your daily practice, be aware of your organisation's whistleblowing policy, and know how to report concerns confidentially.
- Recognise and Respond to Signs of Abuse and Neglect: Familiarise yourself with the different types of abuse - physical, financial, emotional, sexual, and neglect. Document any concerns thoroughly and accurately, know the reporting procedures and act promptly when you have concerns.
- Maintain Accurate and Timely Records: Detailed records provide a clear picture of the individual’s situation and any potential risks. Ensure records are factual and up-to-date, and understand the importance of data protection and confidentiality.
- Promote a Culture of Openness and Transparency: There needs to be an environment where individuals feel safe to raise concerns and challenge any practices that might compromise safeguarding.
- Engage in Continuous Learning and Development: Stay informed about current legislation, best practices, and emerging issues in safeguarding. Attend training sessions and workshops to enhance your knowledge and skills.
By actively engaging in these practices, you can contribute to an effective safeguarding system that protects vulnerable individuals and promotes their well-being.
Vetro Recruitment’s Commitment to Social Care Safeguarding
We prioritise safeguarding in social care through:
- Rigorous Vetting: Once an individual is onboarded, they go through a lengthy process, including extensive background checks, an enhanced DBS, referencing checks, mandatory training modules, BILD-accredited practical training and a face-to-face interview.
- Comprehensive Training: We ensure that individuals fully understand all social care safeguarding policies and procedures before they are sent out to work.
- Promoting Vigilance: Encouraging reporting of concerns is vital for effective social care safeguarding. This can be done anonymously under whistleblowing, as laws protect them from retaliation for reporting legitimate concerns. Whistleblowing involves reporting concerns about issues like poor care standards, inadequate staffing, unsafe working conditions, or suspected abuse of service users.
- Elite Standards: Receiving the Priory Elite audited status shows our dedication to quality, ensuring that health and social care providers receive the highest quality staff possible who will deliver the highest standards of care to those they support.
- Ongoing Support: At Vetro Recruitment, our dedicated recruitment consultants provide guidance and resources to help our workers maintain high social care safeguarding standards.
At Vetro Recruitment, we don’t just fill positions; we ensure that every individual we send out to work through us is thoroughly vetted and trained to uphold the highest safeguarding standards.
Whether you’re a social care professional looking for your next role or an organisation seeking reliable, compliant staff - we’re here to help.