Safeguarding Adults
We are committed to preventing the abuse of adults and responding promptly when abuse is suspected.
Who is a vulnerable adult?
A vulnerable adult is a person aged 18 years or over who may be unable to protect themselves from harm or from being exploited. This may be because they have a mental health problem, a disability, a sensory impairment, are old and frail, or have some form of illness.
What is abuse?
There are many ways that adults can be abused. Some of the main types of abuse are:
- physical abuse - such as assault, or physical restraint
- financial abuse - such as misuse of someone's money or property
- neglect - such as not providing food, clothing or medical care
- abandonment - such as desertion of people who are unable to care for themselves
- sexual abuse - such as harassment, teasing, touching people in a way they do not like, or having sex with someone against their will
- emotional abuse - such as threatening some or all of the above
Abuse may be unintentional - it could be that someone is having difficulty coping with a stressful situation, and needs help.
Abuse could be happening already, it may have only just started or been hinted at, or you might fear it is about to start soon.
Who might be at risk?
Some adults may be at greater risk of abuse than others, these include:
- older people who are dependent on others
- people with mental health needs
- people with learning disabilities
- people with sensory/physical disabilities
- people who are socially isolated
- people with dementia or confusion
Where could they be?
They may be:
- living on their own
- living with family or friends
- in a residential or nursing home
- in hospital
- or indeed anywhere in the borough - we also have a responsibility for residents we are supporting financially in residential homes outside the borough.
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, friend or neighbour
- another resident or service user
- an occasional visitor or someone who is providing a service
- people who deliberately exploit vulnerable people.