Organisational abuse

Organisational abuse is the inability to provide a good level of care to an individual or group of people in a care setting such as a hospital or care home, or in a person’s own home if they receive care assistance there. It may be a one-off incident, repeated incidents or on-going ill-treatment. It could be due to neglect or poor care because of the arrangements, processes and practices in an organisation.

This could include:

• a lack of dignity or respect in a care setting
• rigid routines or processes organised to meet staff needs rather than the individuals
• disrespectful attitudes towards individuals receiving care
• a culture of abusive behaviour or tolerance of abusive behaviour
• repeated failure to prevent abuse, or neglect within a service; including incorrect use of restraint, isolation, or unauthorised deprivations of liberty

These may include:

• treating adults like children
• strict, regimented or inflexible routines or schedules for daily activities such as meal times, bed / awakening times, bathing / washing, going to the toilet
• withholding or refusing necessary medication

Quality of Care

Safeguarding is not a substitute for:

• provider’s responsibilities to provide safe and high quality care and support
• commissioners regularly assuring themselves of the safety and effectiveness of commissioned services
• the Care Quality Commission (CQC) ensuring that regulated providers comply with the fundamental standards of care or by taking enforcement action
• the core duties of the police to prevent and detect crime and protect life and property

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