Unit 9 – Safeguarding and protection in care settings — Awarding Body for the Built Environment Occupational Qualification Health & Social Care Revision

    This unit provides essential knowledge on safeguarding adults in care settings, focusing on the maternity context. Learners explore principles, signs of ab

    Topic Synopsis

    This unit provides essential knowledge on safeguarding adults in care settings, focusing on the maternity context. Learners explore principles, signs of abuse, reporting procedures, and local/national frameworks to reduce harm and ensure safety. Practical application includes recognising unsafe practices and promoting online safety for vulnerable individuals.

    Key Concepts & Core Principles

    Exam Tips & Revision Strategies

    Common Misconceptions & Mistakes to Avoid

    Examiner Marking Points

    Unit 9 – Safeguarding and protection in care settings

    AWARDING BODY FOR THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT
    vocational

    This unit provides essential knowledge on safeguarding adults in care settings, focusing on the maternity context. Learners explore principles, signs of abuse, reporting procedures, and local/national frameworks to reduce harm and ensure safety. Practical application includes recognising unsafe practices and promoting online safety for vulnerable individuals.

    1
    Learning Outcomes
    5
    Assessment Guidance
    5
    Key Skills
    1
    Key Terms
    7
    Assessment Criteria

    Assessment criteria

    ABBE Level 3 Diploma in Healthcare Support (Maternity)

    Topic Overview

    The ABBE Level 3 Diploma in Healthcare Support (Maternity) is designed for healthcare assistants and support workers who wish to specialise in maternity care. This qualification covers the essential knowledge and skills needed to provide safe, compassionate, and effective support to women, their partners, and families during pregnancy, labour, and the postnatal period. It aligns with the NHS Career Framework and prepares learners for roles in maternity units, community midwifery teams, and antenatal/postnatal clinics.

    Key topics include the physiology of pregnancy, fetal development, common pregnancy complications, infection control, and the principles of safeguarding. Learners also develop practical competencies in monitoring vital signs, assisting with breastfeeding, and providing emotional support. Understanding the legal and ethical frameworks, such as informed consent and confidentiality, is critical. This diploma not only enhances employability but also builds a foundation for further study, such as the Nursing Associate or Midwifery degree.

    In the wider Health & Social Care context, maternity support workers play a vital role in reducing maternal and neonatal mortality, promoting positive birth experiences, and addressing health inequalities. The qualification emphasises person-centred care, multidisciplinary teamwork, and evidence-based practice, ensuring that learners contribute effectively to the maternity care team.

    Key Concepts

    Core ideas you must understand for this topic

    • →Physiology of pregnancy: Understanding the anatomical and hormonal changes across trimesters, including placental development and fetal circulation.
    • →Antenatal and postnatal care: Routine checks (e.g., blood pressure, urine testing), recognition of red flags (e.g., pre-eclampsia, postpartum haemorrhage), and support for infant feeding.
    • →Infection prevention and control: Standard precautions, hand hygiene, and management of healthcare-associated infections in maternity settings.
    • →Safeguarding vulnerable adults and children: Recognising signs of domestic abuse, FGM, and neglect; following local safeguarding policies.
    • →Communication and teamwork: Using SBAR (Situation, Background, Assessment, Recommendation) for handovers and maintaining confidentiality under GDPR and Caldicott Principles.

    Learning Objectives

    What you need to know and understand

    • 1. Understand principles of safeguarding adults2. Know how to recognise signs of abuse3. Know how to respond to suspected or alleged abuse4. Understand the national and local context of safeguarding and protection from abuse5. Understand ways to reduce the likelihood of abuse6. Know how to recognise and report unsafe practices7. Understand principles for online safety

    Assessment Criteria

    Key criteria assessors look for in your portfolio

    • Award credit for demonstrating a clear understanding of the six key principles of safeguarding (empowerment, prevention, proportionality, protection, partnership, accountability) and applying them to maternity scenarios.
    • Award credit for accurately identifying physical, psychological, financial, sexual, neglectful, and discriminatory signs of abuse, with specific examples relevant to pregnant women and new mothers.
    • Award credit for describing correct procedures for reporting suspected abuse, including internal policies, multi-agency protocols, and the role of the local safeguarding board.
    • Award credit for explaining how the Care Act 2014, Mental Capacity Act 2005, and local safeguarding partnerships shape practice.
    • Award credit for proposing practical strategies to reduce the likelihood of abuse, such as person-centred care plans, staff training, and effective supervision.
    • Award credit for recognising unsafe practices (e.g., medication errors, poor record-keeping, lack of risk assessments) and outlining reporting procedures to managers or regulatory bodies.
    • Award credit for evaluating risks and safeguards related to online activity, including social media use, data protection, and digital communication in a care setting.

    Assessment Guidance

    Guidance for achieving higher grades

    • 💡When writing assignments, use real-world case studies from maternity settings to illustrate safeguarding principles and demonstrate application of theory to practice.
    • 💡For exams, memorise key legislation dates and their main provisions; be prepared to explain how they influence day-to-day safeguarding procedures.
    • 💡In role-play scenarios, clearly articulate the steps of the reporting process, ensuring you highlight the importance of immediate safety, preservation of evidence, and accurate documentation.
    • 💡Demonstrate critical thinking by evaluating the effectiveness of multi-agency working and suggesting improvements based on serious case reviews or local protocols.
    • 💡Always link your answers back to the six safeguarding principles and show how they guide decision-making in complex situations.
    • 💡Use the NICE guidelines and local trust policies in your answers – examiners look for evidence-based practice. For example, when discussing induction of labour, reference NICE guideline [NG207].
    • 💡Link theory to practice: In written assessments, describe a scenario (e.g., a mother with gestational diabetes) and explain how you would monitor blood glucose, provide dietary advice, and escalate concerns.
    • 💡Remember the '6 Cs' of nursing (Care, Compassion, Competence, Communication, Courage, Commitment) – weave these into your answers to demonstrate professional values.

    Common Mistakes

    Common errors to avoid in your coursework

    • Confusing safeguarding with child protection only, overlooking the need to safeguard adults at risk, including those with physical or mental health conditions.
    • Assuming that abuse is always intentional; failing to recognise that neglect or organisational abuse can arise from poor practices or resource constraints.
    • Believing that reporting suspected abuse requires absolute proof, rather than acting on concern and allowing designated staff to investigate.
    • Overlooking the importance of consent and mental capacity when sharing information, potentially breaching confidentiality or failing to safeguard.
    • Thinking that online safety is not a priority in face-to-face care settings, ignoring risks like cyberbullying, identity theft, or inappropriate social media contact.
    • Misconception: Maternity support workers can perform vaginal examinations. Correction: Only qualified midwives or doctors can perform internal examinations; support workers assist with positioning and documentation only.
    • Misconception: Breastfeeding support is just about positioning. Correction: It also includes understanding milk supply physiology, tongue-tie assessment, and emotional support for mothers with low confidence.
    • Misconception: Postnatal depression is the only mental health concern. Correction: Anxiety, OCD, and PTSD are also common; support workers must recognise signs and refer appropriately.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Common questions students ask about this topic

    Before You Start

    Prior knowledge that will help with this topic

    • •Level 2 English and Maths (GCSE grade 4/C or equivalent).
    • •Basic understanding of human anatomy and physiology (e.g., from a Level 2 Health and Social Care qualification).
    • •Completion of mandatory training in basic life support and manual handling (often provided by employer).

    Key Terminology

    Essential terms to know

    • 1. Understand principles of safeguarding adults2. Know how to recognise signs of abuse3. Know how to respond to suspected or alleged abuse4. Understand the national and local context of safeguarding and protection from abuse5. Understand ways to reduce the likelihood of abuse6. Know how to recognise and report unsafe practices7. Understand principles for online safety

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