Answers to some questions you may have about adult abuse.
- Who is a vulnerable adult?
- What do we mean by abuse?
- What are the different forms of abuse?
- Who might be causing the abuse?
- What if the abuse is also a crime?
- What can you do if you suspect abuse?
- What is "No Secrets"?
- Who is most at risk?
- Should I try to stop the person who I think is causing the problem?
- What if the person is confused or not able to make a decision for any reason?
- Will the person be removed from their home?
- What will happen after abuse is reported?
- What is a Safeguarding Adults Board?
1. Who is a vulnerable adult?
Vulnerable adults are people aged 18 years or over, who may be unable to take care of themselves, or protect themselves from harm or from being exploited. This may be because they have a mental health problem, a sensory impairment, are disabled, are old and frail, or have some form of illness.
return to the list
2. What do we mean by abuse?
Abuse is mistreatment by any other person or persons that takes away someone's human and civil rights. The abuse can vary from treating someone with disrespect in a way which significantly affects the person's quality of life, to causing actual physical suffering.
return to the list
3. What are the different forms of abuse?
Abuse may be physical or sexual. It may involve people taking money without permission. It may include bullying or not allowing contact with friends and family. It may involve withholding food or medication.
Forms of abuse include:
- Physical Abuse such as hitting, pushing, pinching, shaking, misusing medication, scalding, restraint, hair pulling.
- Sexual Abuse such as rape, sexual assault, or sexual acts to which the vulnerable adult has not or could not have consented, or to which they were made to agree to.
- Psychological or Emotional Abuse such as threats of harm or abandonment, being deprived of social or any other form of contact, humiliation, blaming, controlling, intimidation, coercion, harassment, verbal abuse, being prevented from receiving services or support.
- Financial or Material Abuse such as theft, fraud or exploitation, pressure in connection with wills, property, or inheritance, misuse of property, possessions or benefits.
- Neglect such as ignoring medical or physical care needs and preventing access to health, social care or educational services or withholding the necessities of life such as food, drink and heating.
- Discriminatory Abuse such as that based on race or sexuality or a person's disability and other forms of harassment or slurs.
- Institutional abuse can sometimes happen in residential homes, nursing homes or hospitals when people are mistreated because of poor or inadequate care, neglect and poor practice that affect the whole of that service.
Any of these forms of abuse can be either deliberate or be the result of ignorance, or lack of training, knowledge or understanding. Often if a person is being abused in one way, they are also being abused in other ways.
return to the list
4. Who might be causing the abuse?
The person who is responsible for the abuse is very often well known to the person abused and could be:
- A paid carer or volunteer
- A health worker, social care or other worker
- A relative, partner, friend or neighbour
- Another resident or service user
- An occasional visitor or someone who is providing a service
- People who deliberately exploit vulnerable people
return to the list
5. What if the abuse is also a crime?
If the abuse is also a crime such as assault, racial harassment, rape or theft, you should involve the police to prevent someone else from being abused. If the police are involved, we will work with them and yourself to support you.
If you are worried about contacting the police, you can always contact Adult Social Care to talk things over first. If immediate action is needed the Emergency Services should be contacted by dialling 999.
return to the list
6. What can you do if you suspect abuse?
If you have concerns about a vulnerable adult you should contact Adult Social Care or the Police. Adult Social Care have a responsibility to take concerns about adult abuse seriously. They will listen to you and help to stop abuse.
You could share your concerns with a doctor, nurse or health worker, housing officer or advice centre (Citizens Advice Bureau), and ask them to contact Adult Social Care for you.
return to the list
7. What is "No Secrets"?
This is government guidance issued in 2000, encouraging Adult Social Care to work with other agencies to develop and implement policies and procedures to ensure the protection of vulnerable adults.
return to the list
8. Who is most at risk?
People who are isolated, live alone, have health problems or are dependent on others for aspects of their personal care and daily life.
return to the list
9. Should I try to stop the person who I think is causing the problem?
Do not talk to anyone other than the person you think is at risk and the professional to whom you raise your concerns.
Do not talk to the person you think is responsible for the harm as this may put you at risk too and might warn them that others are aware of what they are doing and give them the opportunity to hide evidence.
return to the list
10. What if the person is confused or not able to make a decision for any reason?
The social worker and health professionals involved will consider the person's capacity to make decisions. This will involve assessing their emotional, physical, intellectual and mental capacity.
return to the list
11. Will the person be removed from their home?
People often worry about this but Social Services do not have the power to remove people from their homes. People have the right to refuse help that is offered to them even if others believe that this puts them at risk.
return to the list
12. What will happen after abuse is reported?
When the Intake Team accept a safeguarding referral, they then send this to the most appropriate Adults Team. The Team Manager then makes a decision as to whether it needs to go to a strategy meeting or not.
return to the list
13. What is a Safeguarding Adults Board?
The board is made up of representatives from the partner organisations in Darlington and County Durham who are working together to protect adults.
Their aim is to:
- Safeguard and promote the welfare of adults at risk and to co-ordinate safeguarding activity undertaken by each organisation represented on the board
- Ensuring human rights are balanced with protecting the public from harm
- Give direction to partner agencies and organisations across Darlington and County Durham in relation to Safeguarding Adults
return to the list