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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
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elder abuse: some implications for health professionals Jill Manthorpe King’s College London RSM june 19 2009
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 • Useful resources RSM june 19 2009
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’, MailOnline, 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 RSM june 19 2009
The implications are • Fear – huge under-reporting • Anxious relatives • Mistrust • Staff shortages? • ‘Managing’ with reduced quality of life RSM june 19 2009
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 RSM june 19 2009
The implications for health • Employment and human resources work • The importance of records • Not stopping at checks • Interface with professional regulation RSM june 19 2009
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 RSM june 19 2009
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 RSM june 19 2009
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 RSM june 19 2009
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. RSM june 19 2009
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) RSM june 19 2009