Organisational abuse is the inability to provide a good level of care to an individual or group of people in a care setting. This can include 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 or inflexible routines or schedules for daily activities such as mealtimes, bed/awakening times, bathing/washing, going to the toilet
- withholding or refusing necessary medication.