Organisational abuse
Organisational abuse includes neglect and poor care practice within an institution or specific care setting such as a hospital or care home, for example, or in relation to care provided in one’s own home.
This may range from one off incidents to on-going ill-treatment.
It can be through neglect or poor professional practice as a result of the structure, policies, processes and practices within an organisation.
Examples of organisational abuse include:
- discouraging visits or the involvement of relatives or friends
- run-down or overcrowded establishment, authoritarian management or rigid regimes
- insufficient staff or high turnover resulting in poor quality care
- abusive and disrespectful attitudes towards people using the service
- inappropriate use of restraints
- lack of respect for dignity and privacy
- failure to manage residents with abusive behaviour
- not providing adequate food and drink, or assistance with eating
- not offering choice or promoting independence
- misuse of medication
- failure to provide care with dentures, glasses or hearing aids
- not taking account of individuals’ cultural, religious or ethnic needs
- failure to respond to abuse appropriately
- interference with personal correspondence or communication
- failure to respond to complaints
Contact the Care Quality Commission (CQC) on 03000 616 161 if you are concerned about potential abuse or neglect in a professional care setting, in addition to raising a safeguarding concern.