Safeguarding adults
If you have any concerns about potential adult abuse contact:
- Blackburn with Darwen social services’ 24 hour service on (01254) 587547.
- In an emergency - where there is immediate danger - always contact the police on 999.
- If your concerns are about a possible crime, you can contact the police on (01254) 51212.
Safeguarding Adults Policies and Procedures
Abuse doesn’t just happen to children
Every day vulnerable adults are physically, psychologically, financially or sexually abused, discriminated against or neglected by others. And every day people witness this and say nothing.
Who may be vulnerable or most at risk of abuse?
Anyone could be a vulnerable adult at some point in their life:
• People with physical disabilities
• People with learning disabilities
• People with mental health needs
• Older people
• People with a sight or hearing loss
• People who are ill or injured
The key point is that the person is “unable to take care of him or herself, or unable to protect him or herself against significant harm or exploitation.”
What is abuse?
Abuse is any behaviour towards a person that deliberately or unknowingly causes him or her harm, endangers life or violates their rights. It might be a single action or a series of actions. It might also be a failure to protect people from abuse.
Abuse can be:
Physical
• Grabbing, pushing, shaking, pinching, biting, hitting
• Withholding food or drink
• Unnecessary restraint
• Failing to provide aids to living- for example glasses or a walking stick
• Failing to provide physical care
Sexual
• Unwanted sexual attention
• Teasing/ innuendo
• Molesting/ touching
• Rape
Emotional or Psychological
• Verbal abuse, shouting, swearing, insulting, threatening
• Ignoring people or withholding affection
• Denying people privacy or other rights
• Patronising attitudes
• Humiliation
Financial or Material
• Theft of money or property
• Borrowing money and not repaying
• Refusing people access to their own money or possessions
• Denying people care or comfort on cost grounds
Where does abuse happen?
Abuse can happen anywhere, for example:
- At home
- In care homes
- In day centres
- At work
- At college
- In hospitals, surgeries or other health centres.
- In public places or in the community
Who abuses?
Anyone can abuse. The abuser can be well known to the person or a stranger:
- Partner
- Carer (paid or unpaid)
- Relative
- Neighbour
- Friend
- Volunteer helper
- Someone not known to the person
Sometimes, caring for someone can be hard. Abuse can be a result of frustration or a ‘cry for help’. In these cases, it is important that abuse is reported. Social services can then offer support to the carer that helps them and the person they care for.
What to do
Someone may tell you something that has happened to them or you may hear or see something happening to someone that makes you feel uneasy or uncomfortable.
If you have any concerns about adult abuse you should telephone:
- Blackburn with Darwen social services’ 24 hour service: (01254) 587547.
- In an emergency - where there is immediate danger - always contact the police on 999.
- If your concerns are about a possible crime, you can contact the police on 01254 51212.
What happens if I call?
You do not have to give your name. If you do give your name, it will not be given to the people involved. All information given to social services will be investigated fully and appropriately. The investigation will try to find out why the abuse happened. Sometimes, abuse is a sign that someone is finding it difficult to care for someone else.
You may not be told all the details of what has happened. This is because we have a duty of confidentiality. Depending on how bad the abuse is, and what the motive of the abuser is, there might be a police investigation. In the case of professional care staff, there could be disciplinary action, including sacking.
The important thing is that the abuse stops.