A recent article in Care Home Professional highlighted the worrying statistics around financial abuse in care settings. A freedom of information request by Wedlake Bell found that the Care Quality Commission conducted over 12,000 investigations into potential financial abuse between 2013 and June 2017. We agree with the authors that the figures raise more questions than they answer, but the problem is not limited to care providers; in 2016/2017 the Office of the Public Guardian, which oversees Powers of Attorneys, received 5327 safeguarding referrals and conducted 1266 investigations, while nationally, financial abuse accounts for 16% of the abuse recorded, and is the third most common type of abuse (source: NHS Digital).
What is clear is that we all – care providers included – have a duty to be aware of potential safeguarding concerns, including financial abuse AND to act on those concerns: doing nothing is not an option.
Do you know how to check a Power of Attorney? What a Deputy Order means? How to work alongside attorneys? How to spot signs of potential financial abuse?
Sign up for our free training seminars, which cover these issues, safeguarding duties generally and broader issues such as Mental Capacity and Continuing Healthcare. To register your interest or to find out more contact EsmeH@moore-tibbits.co.uk or call 01926 491181.