Safeguarding in adult social care practice
HSC604 Safeguarding and Duty of Care · University of Leeds · Harvard referencing · 2,500 words
Stage 4: Academic Writing
Academic writing workspace
Write in your own voice using the material you supplied. The coach checks the writing against the brief as you go; it does not add facts you have not given it.
Your material
Only these sources of information are used.
Raising a safeguarding concern about unexplained bruising
- Situation
- During personal care support I noticed unexplained bruising on the forearm of a person I support who has limited verbal communication.
- Action
- I paused the task, asked open questions, recorded the marks on a body map, informed the registered manager the same shift and completed a safeguarding alert.
- Reasoning
- The service safeguarding policy requires same-day reporting of any unexplained injury, and I judged that delaying to gather more information would risk further harm.
- Outcome
- The local authority safeguarding team completed an enquiry. A moving and handling review identified a transfer technique that was causing the marks, and the support plan was updated.
- Reflection
- I learned that acting on uncertainty is appropriate; I had hesitated for around ten minutes deciding whether the bruising was significant, and I would now report immediately.
- Legislation or policy
- Care Act 2014; local multi-agency safeguarding adults procedures; service safeguarding policy
Your notes
I want to use the March 2025 bruising incident as the main example.