In the U.K, the Government has introduced a “No Secrets” guidance
to protect the vulnerable from abuse. Under
this programme, local authorities including health and social care
professionals work with the police and criminal justice agencies to reduce the
risk of abuse and step in promptly when abuses occur.
Singapore should introduce a similar programme to safeguard the interests of
those who are vulnerable. It can be a
troubled student, as in this case, or an elderly resident who may be abused in
a nursing home.
First, under this “No Secrets” guidance programme, service users
should be encouraged to identify what they would like to see happen, if at any
point while making use of a service, they are at risks of being abused.
Second, service users should not be isolated and at higher risk of
abuse.
Third, social care professionals must act upon abuse and report it
as a crime and not simply write it off as an internal incident.
Advocacy plays an important role in protecting the vulnerable from
abuse. Family members or the victims of abuse themselves should be able to
report any incident and be assured that it will be handled professionally.
RAYMOND ANTHONY FERNANDO
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