Safeguarding vulnerable adults 

Who is a vulnerable adult?

Someone who is over 18, who may not be able to take care of themselves or protect themselves against significant harm.. They may already be receiving services because of disability, age or illness, or they may want to ask for services.  

What is abuse?

Abuse is a violation of an individuals human and civil rights by any other person or persons It may also be a criminal offence. Abuse hurts people in many ways : it can cause fear suffering, injury or even death. Abuse can take many forms It can be obvious but sometimes it is subtle.

Examples of abuse

• Physical: restraint, over medication, hitting or threatening to hurt someone. Recognisable by the presence of cuts, bruises, scalds, fractured bones .
• Financial: pressure to change a will, share a PIN number, taking or borrowing possessions without the owners consent, over charging, pressure selling. Recognisable by decreased standards of living, unpaid bills, no reliable account system.
• Psychological: name calling, discrimination, threats, humiliation, not listening to persons wishes.
• Sexual: touching, marriage or sexual acts without a persons consent, professionals involved in intimate relationships with their clients.
• Neglect and Acts of Omission: being denied access to friends, health care, facilities to enable independence and choice, Not being fed adequately, poor personal care. Recognisable by poor living environment, person being left dirty.

Everyone has the right to live in peace with no fear of abuse!

Who abuses?

Anyone can become an abuser. Most abusers are known by the vulnerable adult. The abuse can happen anywhere – in the home, in the community, in day or residential care, in hospital or at college. Abusers can be a:

• family member;
• friend;
• neighbour;
• a paid carer;
• a health or care professional;
• work colleague.

Sometimes people are easy targets, but whether abuse is deliberate or unintentional – it hurts!

 I suspect abuse - what shall I do?

• Always listen carefully
• Make a note of what has happened or what you are worried about
• If you are an adult who is being abused, or think you may be, talk to someone you trust or contact us
• If you are a person a vulnerable adult trusts to tell about abuse, ask their permission to contact us or the police if a criminal offence is suspected.
• If you are a paid carer or volunteer tell your manager or another manager in your agency

What happens next?

We will listen and take you seriously. We will help decide which the most appropriate agency to work with you is. We can visit you or the vulnerable person and find out what is happening. We will work with you to investigate and establish the facts. If necessary, we can help you to report the abuse to the police or other agencies who may be able to help with an investigation.

Together with other agencies we can make plans to help you feel safer, and improve your wellbeing. If necessary, we can help you to report the abuse to the police. We can help with any communication difficulties you may have because of your disability or illness.

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