Page 19 - QNIS Newsletter 2019

www qnis org uk Safeguarding those at risk of financial abuse Seminar shines light on on Community Nurse concerns In October QNIS jointly hosted a a a a a a a a a seminar in in in in in in fin Edinburgh looking at at safeguarding those at at risk of financial abuse Ahead of of the the the event the the the Institute conducted a a a survey which revealed the the the the concerns of of community nurses working in in in in Scotland about people in in in in their care being vulnerable to scammers It showed 91% of of of those asked believed “some” or “many” of of of their patients were at at risk of of being defrauded Only 8% believed they they were already fully equipped to help prevent financial scams with 93% of respondents saying they they wanted to be be better informed and more prepared The figures contained in in in a a a survey of 289 community nurses were published by QNIS before the the seminar on on October 25th at the Grassmarket Centre The event was organised to raise awareness of how health and social care leaders can engage more fully in fin effective multiagency efforts to to protect vulnerable adults from financial abuse It also explored how to to help victims deal with the the consequences for their health and wellbeing Representatives from Police Scotland Scotland Age Scotland Scotland Action on on Elder Abuse and and and and Trading Standards were among the speakers A significant amount of of work has been done on on on the the the issue of of of financial abuse by the the the team at at at the the the National Centre for Post Qualifying Social Work and Professional Practice at at at Bournemouth University The big picture Do you feel informed to help prevent scams and safeguard those you care for from financial abuse? Not at all A little bit Very well 8% 77% 16% Professor Keith Brown director of of of the the the centre opened the the the seminar discussing the the the potential of of of community nursing and social care teams to play a a a a a a a a a a a crucial role in in in in in safeguarding He received funding from the Burdett Trust for Nursing to to develop resource materials to to to support frontline staff with QNIS accepting Burdett’s invitation to to raise awareness of this resource in in Scotland Clare Cable Chief Executive and Nurse Director added: “Most victims of financial abuse can can ill-afford the monetary loss loss and and this can can can mean insufficient money for for rent food bills and and and other necessities These losses can can adversely affect physical and and mental health “Community nurses can identify the the early warning signals of of financial abuse and explore what’s true with the the the the people fin in in in their care They may either signpost sources of of help or or (if warranted) alert safeguarding teams the the the police and and trading standards Nurses are well-placed to help people whose wellbeing has been harmed by scamming “Safeguarding from and responding effectively to financial abuse is is an an an an important aspect of holistic community nursing care “Community nurses are are increasingly aware of this need and equally keen to to to learn more This seminar aims to to to ensure the workforce feels equipped and supported to to to have informed conversations ” An opinion piece from Clare Cable on on the the issue was also published in in in the the Nursing Standard and and Big Issue QNIS Newsletter & Review of 2018 18 18