Institutional abuse seems to be quite popular in the news these days. Many people across the globe are coming forth and speaking out against that ugly scourge that has been plaguing them and keeping them quiet over the years.
Apart from abuse that occurs in the home, there are many institutional settings where abuse takes place such as in Schools, Colleges, Universities, Places of Worship, Daycare Facilities, Hospitals, Care Homes and Workplaces to name a few. Peer bullying may occur in schools. Date rape and other forms of sexual assault may occur on college campuses and in other educational settings, abuse of the elderly can occur in care facilities, abuse can occur in places of worship, and sexual harassment and bullying can occur in workplaces.
Hence the time has come for all of us to join in the fight to help eradicate abuse wherever it may be found. Abuse in any form, be it verbal, sexual, financial, physical or psychological, should never be taken lightly or be tolerated in any institutions in any society.
Abuse is a violation of an individual’s human and civil rights by any other person or persons. Abuse may consist of a single act or repeated acts. It may be physical, verbal or psychological. It may be an act of neglect or an omission to act; or it may occur when a vulnerable person is persuaded to enter into a financial or sexual transaction to which he or she has not consented, or cannot consent. Abuse can occur in any relationship and may result in significant harm to, or exploitation of, the person subjected to it.
Institutional abuse is the maltreatment of a person from a system of power. It is brought about by inadequately trained personnel, poor supervision, poor communication skills and inappropriate use of power. It refers to those incidents of abuse that derive, to a significant extent, inadvertently or otherwise, from an organization’s practice, culture, policies and/or procedures. This can range from acts similar to home-based child abuse, such as neglect, physical and sexual abuse, and hunger, to the effects of assistance programmes working below acceptable service standards, or relying on harsh or unfair ways to modify behaviour.
Institutional abuse occurs where the routines and regimes deny people rights, choices and opportunities. Abuse can be caused by weak or oppressive management, inadequate staffing (numbers, competence), inadequate supervision or support, “closed” communication, lack of knowledge of whistleblowing policies and lack of training. Irrespective of whether the abuse was intended or not, the impact on individuals can be particularly powerful.
When institutional abuse is evident, people may be reluctant to say anything out of fear that the situation may worsen. For example, the abuser may retaliate or persons may experience negative consequences such as the employee being singled out for unjustified criticism or blame, the employee being excluded from company activities or having his or her work or contributions purposefully ignored, the employee being passed over for any kind of promotion or victims receiving unjust or unfair treatment.
Therefore, in light of the negative consequences that can be experienced by the victims, institutional abuse should never be ignored or tolerated. What affects one person today has the capacity to affect all of us tomorrow. Far too often institutions are complicit in the abuse. Institutions that should be safe havens should be called into question for their role in condoning such behaviour. The failure of those in authority to report abuse or take action to stop it, when they knew it was occurring should be held accountable. This constitutes not only conspiring to conceal but also abetting criminal misconduct or abusive behaviour. By failing to take reasonable steps to provide a safe environment and screening and supervising employees, or turning the other way when allegations are made, these entities are just as guilty as the abusers.
All institutions must to be called into question and held accountable for their role in abuse of any kind. Perhaps the only effective way to stop this abuse is through the deterrent effect – and economic consequences of – the civil justice system.
The legal protection for reporting recognizes the importance of addressing the harm early, and helps to encourage people to raise their concerns without fear of retaliation.
It is worthy to note that institutional abuse can only take place when there are flaws in the systems. It occurs when the systems, processes and / or management of these are failing to safeguard workers, leaving them at risk of, or causing them, harm. Institutional abuse can also occur when the routines, systems and norms of an organisation override the needs of those it is there to support, or fail to provide those individuals with an appropriate quality of care. This can be the product of both ineffective and/or punitive management styles, creating an environment within which abuse can take place, intentional or otherwise.
If you are in an institution and notice or experience abuse, do not feel hopeless – there are things you can do, and there are ways in which it can be dealt with, namely:
1. Prevention and education (training staff to identify and recognize abuse; training staff so they have proper skills to avoid becoming abusive).
2. Intervention (steps to deal with the problem).
Some policies, legislations and professional practices can lead to colluding with perpetrators by not holding them accountable for their actions, and can lead to blaming the victims. Managers and staff of such services have a responsibility to ensure that the operation of the service is focused on the needs of service users, not on those of the institution. Managers should ensure they have mechanisms in place that both maintain and review the appropriateness, quality and impact of the service for which they are responsible.
If any institution is suspected of abuse in any form, an investigation should be conducted. During the process of investigation, if a person is suspected of abuse, he or she should be asked to go home or may be suspended (with or without pay). In serious cases, that person should be dismissed. If you have been a victim of institutional abuse or any other crime, or know of someone who has, please speak out and help to eradicate it.
Remember: You don’t have to wait for people to treat you badly repeatedly. All it takes is once, and if they get away with it that once, if they know they can treat you like that, then it sets the pattern for the future. People can delegate authority, but they cannot delegate responsibility. The key to successful leadership today is influence, not authority.
About the Author: Mrs. Marilyn Hodge owns and operates the Wellness Centre in the Farrington, Anguilla. The Centre offers Counselling Services by Appointment Only. Contact information: 476-3517 or email: marilynb@anguillanet.com. Referrals can also be made directly through the Atlantic Star Center of Medical Excellence, South Hill, Anguilla. By Appointment Only: Tel 497-0765.
