The National Task Force in its report 'A Safer Place'states that:

Violence, threats and abuse to staff are unacceptable. This includes sexual and racial harassment, and to family and property. Violence and abuse are NOT part of the job.

Managing violence, threats and abuse is the responsibility of both the employer and employee. Organisations, managers, employees and service users working together provide the best means of safer practice.

(Source : National Task Force on Violence against Social Care Staff)

More to Follow.

Violence and abuse are common in the social care sector, and appear to be a greater problem for certain social and healthcare staff than for comparable professions. Social workers and probation officers in particular have been found to be eight times more likely than the average employee to experience physical attack. Violence and abuse take many different forms. Verbal abuse is much more common than physical abuse.

‘Every day, oh definitely every day.’

‘Well, working with young people all the time, yes it’s every day. You will get verbally abused. I’d say it’s on a weekly basis that there is some kind of physical abuse.’

Social care worker

‘Every day there’s something that happens, either verbally or physically. I mean it’s not necessarily someone getting beaten up, it can just be someone pushing you out of the way or somebody just being abusive to you when you go out to see them. You’re more likely to have it in the office than at their home.’

Office-based and reception staff