Free Nursing Dissertations - In Keeping With The Human Rights Act, 1989, The First Priority Of The Health
In keeping with the Human Rights Act, 1989, the first priority of the Health Department is to protect adults who are at risk of abuse. The DoH reiterates that the need for immediate action is to ensure that vulnerable adults, who are at risk of abuse, receive protection and support (DoH, 2000). In order to create a framework for action, the Health Department has encouraged responsible agencies to work together to ensure a coherent policy of protection for individuals who are at risk of abuse and are especially vulnerable. The government has developed policies against abuse at a national as well as local levels and have repeatedly emphasized that statutory agencies should work together in partnership, as specified by the Health Act of 1999 and ensure that appropriate policies, procedures and practices are in place and implemented locally by the local authorities (DoH, 2004). The local authorities thus should collaborate with private and public agencies to help in coordinating local policies to protect vulnerable individuals from abuse and provide them with support and community care (DoH circular, 1993). For these purposes, inter-agency policies, procedures and joint protocols and coherent strategies are expected to be developed by the Health Department and private agencies.
The type of community care provided to alcohol and drug misusers is dependent on several factors. These factors are determined by considering the following questions that the DoH considers -
which adults are ‘vulnerable’?
what actions or omissions constitute abuse?
who may be the abuser(s)?
in what circumstances may abuse occur?
patterns of abuse; and
what degree of abuse justifies intervention? (DoH report, 2000)
The term ‘abuse’ can refer to a violation of civil or human rights by the person concerned or any other associated person. In certain cases, individuals are forced to enter into drug or alcohol habits against their intentions due to coercion or fear (see Ruston, 1991; DoH, 2000). The Health report against abuse reemphasizes the fact that agencies not only have a responsibility to provide social support to abusers but also have a duty to do identify perpetrators of abuse.
Before providing community care, however several factors are considered to assess the needs of an abused individual and these include determining
whether the person is suffering harm or exploitation?
Does the person suffering or causing harm/exploitation meet the NHS and Community Care Act (1990) eligibility criteria?
Is the intervention in the best interests of the vulnerable adult fitting the criteria and/or in the public interest?
Does the assessment account for the depth and conviction of the feelings of the person alleging the abuse?
Dissertations - Free Nursing Dissertations
