Protection Of Vulnerable Adults A Training Resource for Care Workers

What is POVA? The need for the protection of vulnerable adults was first identified in the Care Standards Act 2000. The POVA scheme was introduced in July 2004. The scheme aims to protect individuals aged 18 or over who need care services.

How does POVA work? A list of people, held by the Secretary of State, who are considered unsuitable to work with vulnerable adults in England and Wales. Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) checks must be carried out on anyone wishing to take a job in the care sector.

Employment requirements All new employees must provide two references before they can begin working in any care organisation. New employees are required to complete an induction which includes information on protection and abuse

CRB checks A form is completes and submitted to the criminal Records Bureau. A report is then provided to the care organisation. This report is called a ‘Disclosure’. Providers of care must not employ people in care positions until satisfactory results from CRB Disclosures and POVA checks have been issued.

Standards and Enhanced Disclosures There are currently two types of Disclosure - Standard and Enhanced - and a POVA check is available with either. A Standard Disclosure gives details of criminal convictions, cautions, reprimands and warnings held on the Police National Computer. An Enhanced Disclosure may also include relevant information held by local police forces.

What is abuse? Abuse can be the result of one serious incident or an accumulation of less serious incidents. Abuse is defined as the systematic pattern of behaviours in a relationship that are used to gain and/or maintain power and control over another.

Types of Abuse Sexual Psychological Emotional Institutional Financial Physical Neglect

Conclusions Checks must be made on all prospective care workers to ensure that they are fit to work with adults Care workers must be given training on what is abuse and how to recognise it Abuse takes on many forms All care workers have a duty to protect vulnerable adults.