Department of Care, Social Science and Education
Assessment Outcomes 1,2 and 3
Assessment Instructions
Outcomes 1 to 3
1. Identify and explain two significant developments resulting from the welfare state.
2. Describe and evaluate two priority frameworks related to health inequalities.
3. Identify and describe two pieces of current legislation related to health wellbeing and safeguarding.
4. Evaluate two current policy initiatives and two preventative health measures designed to promote health and manage risk.
5. Define and explain the role of early intervention in one area of practice.
6. Explain the purpose of the codes of practice and describe three duties and responsibilities related to safeguarding individuals.
7. Identify and describe three sings of neglect harm and abuse that are related to vulnerability factors.
8. Describe and evaluate two examples of risk enablement which promote individual rights.
Work must be submitted throughout Turnitin on the assigned date, along with a clear referencing page and bibliography
Word count 2,500 words + or -10%
The welfare state is a political idea to help those in need via government methods. It was envisioned by the Labour Party, designed and implemented to have a society that would be free from the fear of poverty and ill health by providing social security. Fragmented approaches and means tested was replaced by one system, the national insurance scheme.
After the wars, Great Britain wanted to move forward. Prior to the wars, the old poor law was subject to widespread abuse and even promoted idleness, squalor and criminality for its recipients. During WW2 the government was very involved in the lives of all in society, organising rationing for example and providing family allowances. People wanted this to go further, so Sir William Beveridge began the reform of the current liberal welfare state at the time.
Sir William Beveridge was a senior civil servant and identified the five “giant evils” that plagued society. He has social security in mind and proposed the first concept of national insurance contribution, but did not want to damage people’s sense of independence and responsibility.
The five giant evils that were identified as affecting the current society at the time were; Idleness from unemployment, squalor from poor housing, want from poverty and need, ignorance from poor education and disease from lack of healthcare.
This changed however, when the creation of the National Health Service changed the lives of the population forever in 1948. Post-war consensus had a priority; the welfare of the country’s people, that directly involved the NHS as there were many recovering from wartime injuries. From the 1950s onwards the scale and quality of the treatment provided by the National Health Service improved, and between 1948 and 1973 the number of doctors doubled. The NHS has always continued to develop from then to this current day as technology advances, including preventative action to adjust lifestyle in favour of better health.
Alongside the development of the NHS, the pension scheme also changed. After WW2 in 1946 via the National Insurance Act, a state pension was implemented for everyone on a contributory basis taking effect in 1948. This modified slightly again in 1978 where employers and employees were to contribute to the State Earnings Related Pension, in an aim to provide a pension related to earnings in addition to basic state pension. In 1980 the Social Security act removed the link between a person’s average earnings and increases in state pension to attempt to bridge the significant gap between the rich and the poor. Pensions since then to now have evolved in many ways due to different political influence, currently to receive your state pension, both men and women have to be 66 years old. Pensions were initially developed to provide a source of finance when you’re unable to, or no longer have to work out of choice.
Health inequalities show a strong correlation to socio-economic situations. Health inequalities are avoidable, unfair differences in health between different social groups within a population. They arise due to the situation a person is born into, how they grow, live, work and age. These then influence opportunities for good health, how a person thinks, feels and act; which in turn shape the wellbeing of a person, mental and physical health. Prior frameworks were created to improve the lives of these people by prioritising the factor or situation that is the greatest risk to safety, physical and psychological wellbeing of that person/group of people, and dealing with that situation in the fastest and most efficient way possible.
Frameworks themselves can influence these factors by their structure and outcome, such as Programme Budgeting and Marginal Analysis (PBMA) or the Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA). Due to the analytical qualities, where the costs and budget are played against the benefits or risks that could incur; they can greatly help provide a better quality of life for the majority by influencing what activities can be done and afforded. A downside to this, is that the minority can be affected should an activity be cancelled or removed due to costs and cons outweighing the benefits that it can provide an individual.
Legislation has also progressed to help protect those most at risk from harm or neglect. The Adult Support and Protection (Scotland) Act 2007 was designed with this in mind, the following quotation is supportive and describes the Act further “It places a duty on local councils to inquire and investigate cases where harm is known or suspected. They have powers to visit and interview people, arrange medical examinations, examine records, and issue protection orders. They must also consider if there is any need for advocacy and other services, such as help with medication or support services (Scotland, 2020)”. Another piece of legislation in favour of protecting the vulnerable is the Children & Young People (Scotland) Act 2014 that holds the vision of providing the best possible upbringing for all children in Scotland.
he following quote describes the values and principles held by the Scottish Government, “This approach aims to achieve secure, nurturing, positive, childhoods, from which all children and young people can develop into successful learners, confident individuals, responsible citizens and effective contributors. This is underpinned by the Scottish Government’s commitment to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) 1989 (Government, 2016)”. This Act also led to the Getting it right for every child policy.
Policies and initiatives have been created and developed to further encourage the wellbeing of targeted areas of the population. Getting it right for every child (GIRFEC) is one such policy and has implemented measures such as the Baby Box. All children born on or after 15 August 2017 can obtain one, with the hope to give every child an equal start in life. These boxes contain many items new parents will utilise when having a new-born, inclusive of the baby being able to sleep within the box. This is a pioneering Scottish initiative that has been incredibly successful throughout the Scottish population and truly helps parents that may be struggling on a financial front. Maternal and infant nutrition framework, parenting strategy, play strategy are all initiatives that impact on socio-economic deprivation and give all within the care sector, the opportunity to consider the wider implications for life. The effects of starting life with low socio-economic status and its impact on poor nutritional status during pregnancy which can lead to low birth weight and the nutritional development of the baby and through childhood.
Another key policy is the “No Knives Better Lives” which is an innovative partnership between the Scottish Government, police, voluntary sector and local authorities, aimed at educating young people about the consequences of carrying knives and providing healthy alternatives. This is utilised across 10 local authority areas within Scotland that have a high level of knife crime. The collaborative working of all bodies is the measure to reduce carrying of knives as a whole, which in turn benefits the entire community as well as the individual themselves, by managing the risk posed with armed individuals. These policies and measures are proactive rather than reactive.
Young children, children and youths are susceptible to becoming vulnerable and are therefore at risk of neglect and/or harm that has many influencing factors outside of their control. In the sector of children, low socio-economic status of a family can impact on how their children are raised and the opportunities that can be presented are also hindered due to finances. The pressure of day-to-day life for parents can also lead to substance abuse, for example, that in turn can lead to abuse and neglect of their children that are also subjected to that environment. Through “Getting Our Priorities Right” The Scottish Government is reviewing its current guidance for those working with vulnerable children and families where alcohol/drug use is a factor. Grounded in the core values held by the Scottish government, it is clear that early intervention is critical to ensure that problems in vulnerable families do not become more damaging and more difficult to address later down the line. This outlook works hand in hand with the GIRFEC approach to services by placing the child and family involved at the centre of all service design and delivery; supporting the wider recovery agenda for families facing substance use issues. A collaborative working of services then ensures a coordinated approach to giving children, young people and families the best support possible. The wellbeing and mental health of a child or young person supports positive outcomes in other areas, such as performance at school or behaviour at home.
Early intervention can help to build up the social and emotional skills which are so essential for learning and life, support future good mental health, and discourage risky behaviour such as smoking and substance abuse. This is why early intervention is essential, to break the cycle of risky behaviour and improve their wellbeing.
The Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) Codes of Practice are an important part of controlling and improving the quality of care for people who are service users in the care practice. These guidelines promote positive practice across social care sector and to empower workers to ensure that they are encouraged to adhere to these guidelines by carrying out procedures and training opportunities to combat discrimination or unfair treatment.
The codes of practice will let the service users know what to expect from social service workers and the criteria that is to be met every day. The codes of practice are intended to reflect existing good practice and it is expected that workers and employers will recognise that the codes standards are met. Three codes of practice of the SSSC are as follows, “As a social service worker, I must protect and promote the rights and interests of people who use services and carers (Council, 2021)”. This code ensures a carer treats each person as an individual, working in a way that promotes diversity, respecting and safeguarding different cultures or values. “As a social service worker, I must create and maintain the trust and confidence of people who use services and carers (Council, 2021)”. This code ensures confidential information is respected and safeguarded. It also promotes the carer to be open, honest and trustworthy.
The third is “As a social service worker, I must promote the independence of people who use services while protecting them, as far as possible, from danger and harm (Council, 2021)”. This code encourages the use of established processes and procedures to report allegations of harm and challenge and report exploitation and any dangerous, abusive or discriminatory behaviour or practice; an essential part of safeguarding.
Safeguarding is required to combat abuse. Abuse comes in many forms, physical, mental, emotional, sexual, financial and neglect. Unfortunately, some people are more prone to experience abuse due to already being vulnerable. Factors such as lacking mental capacity can make that individual more prone to being exposed to abuse from someone that has mental capacity.
Those who are hindered due to severe forms of autism and therefore lack mental capacity in some individuals, can experience physical abuse from those who are “caring” for them and not realise that they are being subjected to such treatment. Signs of physical abuse can be unexplained bruising across the body, or areas that are normally hidden by clothing and can be seen when helping the individual tend to personal hygiene. Another sign can be broken or fractured bones that are not explained or unaccounted for, or put across as an “accident” that seems highly unlikely.
The behaviour of an individual can also be a sign of physical abuse, when the abuser is in the vicinity, the individuals demeanour can change and they can display fear, becoming withdrawn and reluctant to be left alone with the person responsible for their pain.
References
Council, T. S. S. S., 2021. Scottish Social Services Council PDF file. [Online]
Available at: https://www.sssc.uk.com/knowledgebase/article/KA-02412/en-us
Government, S., 2016. Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014. [Online]
Available at: https://www.gov.scot/publications/children-young-people-scotland-act-2014-national-guidance-part-12/
[Accessed 14th December 2016].
Scotland, C. I., 2020. Care Information Scotland. [Online]
Available at: https://careinfoscotland.scot/topics/your-rights/legislation-protecting-people-in-care/adult-support-and-protection-scotland-act-2007/
[Accessed 27th August 2020].
