Abuse

All staff that come into contact with people with care and support needs who may be at risk of abuse and neglect should understand that safeguarding procedures apply to this group. Safeguarding applies to all adults with care and support needs regardless of whether those needs are being met, regardless of whether the adult lacks mental capacity or not, and regardless of setting.

Abuse is a violation of an individual’s human and civil rights by any other person or persons. Abuse may consist of a single act or repeated acts. It may be physical, verbal or psychological, it may be an act of neglect or an omission to act, or it may occur when a person with care and support needs is persuaded to enter into a financial or sexual transaction to which he or she has not consented, or cannot consent. Abuse can occur in any relationship and may result in significant harm to, or exploitation of, the person subjected to it. Adult safeguarding is the process of protecting adults with care and support needs from abuse or neglect. This will include empowering and enabling people to protect themselves.

Type of abuse:

• Discriminatory abuse
• Financial or material abuse
• Psychological or emotional abuse
• Sexual abuse
• Physical abuse
• Neglect
• Domestic abuse
• People who are missing, exploited or trafficked