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Information for people who work with vulnerable adults
Vulnerable adults are people who
- are aged 18 years or over
- are in receipt of, or eligible for community care services because of illness, disability
or age - may be unable to take care of themselves
- may be unable to protect themselves from significant harm or exploitation.
Click on the links below for more information.
What's adult abuse?
In 2000 the Department of Health produced a document “No secrets” which says that:
“Abuse is a violation of an individual’s human and civil rights by any other person or persons”
Abuse can be the result of a single act or may continue over months or years. It can result from intentional or unintentional acts or omissions.
Why do I need to know about it?
Organisations that provide services to vulnerable adults have a professional duty of care, this will be included in your code of conduct.
No secrets requires all organisations that provide services to vulnerable adults to provide training and put adult protection policies in place for their staff. The policies should outline how to report and respond to suspected abuse. Your organisation may have an internal policy, all organisations in Sheffield work to the Safeguarding Adults Procedures for South Yorkshire, this is available to download on the adult abuse policy webpage.
How will I recognise it?
Abuse occurs in the following categories
Physical abuse can be recognised by the presence of bruises, cuts, burns, scalds, restraint marks. It may include force feeding, over medication, shaking, and blows which do not result in visible bruising.
Sexual abuse can be recognised by the presence of sexually transmitted diseases, pregnancy, urinary tract infections, bruises on inner thighs and breasts, bruising and tears to the vagina, anus or mouth, reported or observed inappropriate touching. Sexual abuse will normally result in changes to the person’s behaviour.
Psychological abuse can be recognised by changes in behaviour. The adult may become withdrawn, tearful, suffer from lack of sleep and nightmares, start with incontinence problems, and become angry or abusive. They may drink heavily, use drugs, or develop eating disorders.
Financial or material abuse can be recognised by an inability to pay bills, buy food or clothing, a reluctance to talk about money, requests to borrow money when the person is in receipt of all their benefits/pensions/wages. Valuable possessions “disappearing” from their home, visitors only calling on the day the benefits are cashed, and pressure to change a will or make a will.
Neglect or acts of omission can be recognised by the person being left dirty, not having any clean clothes, or not feeding the person appropriately. Adults may be denied access to friends and family, social contact, and outings. Their health or medical needs may not be attended to, they may be under or over medicated and denied access to equipment and adaptations such as hearing aids, walking frames etc.
Discriminatory abuse may be linked to the person’s race, gender or sexuality, or may be related to the person’s mental health, physical disability or “differences” perceived by the people living around them. It can be recognised in the presence of hate mail, graffiti, and the delivery of unwanted goods and services.
Institutional abuse occurs when the culture and/or regime of an organisation results in the service users being mistreated, denied choice, or excluded.
It couldn't happen here!
Research has shown that the majority of abusers are people known and trusted by the adult. This includes family members, carers and workers. Some people will deliberately abuse adults who they see as easy targets.
No one likes to think that a colleague could be abusing an adult they care for. It seems inconceivable that a family member or neighbour would abuse a vulnerable adult, but it does happen.
Always listen carefully if an adult chooses you, as a trusted person, to tell about the abuse they are suffering. Try not to interrupt or interrogate. Explain that you're going to help, and this means that you cannot keep the information confidential.
It is not your responsibility to investigate or decide if the abuse has happened, only to make sure that the appropriate agencies are told.
What do I do?
If the person is in immediate danger
- contact the emergency services
- inform a manager within your organisation immediately
- refer to Adult Social Care Services (Adult Access Team - see number below)
- record what you've been told and the actions you took, date and sign the record
- try to preserve any evidence, by not offering bathing or drinks etc.
If the person is not in immediate danger
- record what you've been told and the actions you took, date and sign the record
- try to preserve any evidence
- inform your manager, who'll pass it to your organisations designated referral worker.
The designated referral worker will confirm if the abuse could have taken place (2.7.5 of the Safeguarding Adults Procedures).
If the abuse could have taken place, a referral will be made to a Safeguarding Manager in Adult Social Care Services or an NHS Trust (2.7.1 of the Safeguarding Adults Procedures).
Who, if anybody, in your organisation should be told?
If a manager is not available or is implicated in the abuse, or you feel the appropriate action has not been taken, you must contact an alternative manager, Adult Social Care Services or the Police.
What will happen next?
Adult Social Care Services have a responsibility to take your referral seriously. They'll ask for information about the person you are concerned about, and what you've been told, heard or suspect. You'll be asked to provide your name and the details of your organisation. Adult Social Care Services will investigate your concerns and should keep you informed.
If the investigation results in a case conference, your organisation may be invited to attend. Your organisation will be expected to provide a written report, which will be shared with the conference participants. You can obtain advice and support about case conference attendance from the Safeguarding Adults Office.
The case conference will produce a protection plan, to help prevent further abuse, and you may be involved in its construction, implementation and review.
Useful Numbers
- Adult Access Team (0114) 273 4908 (24 hours)
- South Yorkshire Police (0114) 220 2020
- Commission for Social Care Inspection (inspect and regulate social care providers)
0845 015 0120 or 0191 233 3323
- Health Care Commission (inspect and regulate health care providers) 0845 601 3012
Downloads
Download this document and use for recording observations, decisions and actions that occur outside strategy meetings or case conferences. (79 KB)
Download a copy of this form to record details of alleged abuse, and send a copy to the Safeguarding Adults Team. (125 KB)
Download this document and use it to record the information you are presenting to the case conference. (68.5 KB)
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