Identify sources of information and advice about own role in relation to:

1. Safeguarding concerns
2. Whistleblowing
3. Accountability for decision-making
4.  Information sharing

A health and social care worker may need access to information and advice about their own role in safeguarding and protecting individuals from abuse. Information can be sourced from their own organisation and many other outside organisations that provide information and offer advice on their websites.

• Safeguarding concerns

Information and advice about safeguarding concerns can be obtained from:

• internal policies, procedures and agreed ways of working
• line manager, safeguarding officer and human resources department
• government departments and local Adult Safeguarding Boards
• voluntary organisations
• Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE)
• Skills for Care
• Professional bodies, for example, the Royal College of Nursing
• Care Quality Commission (CQC)

• Whistleblowing

Whistleblowing involves a health and social care worker exposing information or any workplace activity that can be deemed as illegal, unsafe, abusive or unethical.  Whistleblowing is necessary if the correct reporting procedures have been used by the health and social care worker to share their concerns with management but no actions have been taken.

Support and advice about whistleblowing can be obtained from:

• the internal whistleblowing policy
• government departments and local Adult Safeguarding Boards
• voluntary organisations
• Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE)
• Skills for Care
• Professional bodies, for example, the Royal College of Nursing
• Care Quality Commission (CQC)

• Accountability for decision-making

Every health and social care worker has a duty of candour to be open and honest about any incidents or errors that have occurred so that the impact of these can be minimised for the individual receiving care.  This includes any decisions that they have taken which have put the individual at risk of harm and abuse.

Support and advice about accountability for decision-making can be obtained from:

• internal policies, procedures and agreed ways of working
• line manager, safeguarding officer and human resources department
• government departments and local Adult Safeguarding Boards
• voluntary organisations
• Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE)
• Skills for Care
• Professional bodies, for example, the Royal College of Nursing
• Care Quality Commission (CQC)

1. Information sharing

All suspicions and allegations of abuse need to be shared internally with any of the following employees:

• line manager
• human resources department
• safeguarding officer

A health and social care worker must be aware of their duty of care to safeguard individuals from harm and abuse which entails the need to share information including when the individual who has alleged abuse asks them to keep this private.