Safeguarding Adults
Who is a vulnerable adult?
A person who is or may be in need of community care services by reason of mental or other disability, age or illness; and who is or may be unable to take care of him or herself, or unable to protect him or herself against significant harm or exploitation (No Secrets 2000)
Why do we need to safeguard vulnerable adults?
Because staff, family, neighbours and so-called friends abuse vulnerable adults!
- Physical: including hitting, slapping, pushing, kicking, misuse of medication, restraint, force feeding and inappropriate sanctions
- Financial or material: including theft, fraud exploitation, pressure in connection with wills, property or inheritance, or financial transactions or using a person’s money (including benefits), possessions or property without consent
- Psychological/emotional: including threats of harm or abandonment, isolation, humiliation, blaming, controlling, intimidation, coercion, harassment, verbal abuse, threats or bribes
- Sexual: including rape and sexual assault or sexual acts to which the vulnerable adult has not consented, could not consent, or was pressurised into consenting
- Neglect: or acts of omission: including ignoring medical or physical care needs, failure to provide access to appropriate health, social care or educational services, withholding the necessities of life (eg food, clothing, medication, heating, cleanliness, hygiene) and denying religious or cultural needs
Some or all of these may be present in situations of domestic violence.
We do not identify racial abuse or institutional abuse as separate forms of abuse because these show in the five types described above. Racial discrimination can be what motivates someone in their actions, and institutional abuse can be used to describe the environment and circumstances that give rise to abuse.
Safeguarding adults is not a tick box exercise. Safeguarding adults needs to permeate the whole ethos of your organisation.
Look at our other pages for further information about policies and procedures and training for staff and managers.