Concerned about a Vulnerable Adult

Protecting children

Most children enjoy a safe and happy childhood within their own family, but unfortunately for some, this is not the case. Everyone has a responsibility to protect children from harm.

What is abuse and neglect?

Abuse is a violation of an individual’s human and civil rights by another person. Abuse may consist of a single act or repeated acts and can take a number of different forms.

Somebody may abuse or neglect a child by inflicting harm, or by not taking action to protect a child from harm. Children may be harmed at home, by people living near their home (in their community) or by an adult who is responsible for caring for them in any place away from home. Sometimes children are abused by a stranger they have met over the internet.

Abuse may be:

Physical Abuse

This could include hitting, slapping, pushing, kicking, misuse of medication, inappropriate sanctions or restraint, as well as any potential injury like cuts, bruises, burns, scalds or broken bones that have not happened by accident. Injuries may be caused as a result of shaking in the case of babies. It can also be when someone deliberately induces illness in a child.

Emotional Abuse

This may involve constantly making a child feel worthless or unloved, frightened or in danger. It may involve serious bullying and seeing or hearing the ill-treatment of another. It may feature age or developmentally inappropriate expectations being imposed on children. These may include interactions that are beyond the child’s developmental capability, as well as overprotection and limitation of exploration and learning, or preventing the child participating in normal social interaction.

Sexual Abuse

With children, sexual abuse is when a child is made to take part in or watch sexual activities: they may be around when someone is watching pornographic material. In many cases sexual abuse is carried out by a person known to the child.

Neglect

This can include including ignoring medical or physical care needs, failure to provide access to appropriate health, social care or educational services. A child may be left alone or left with unsuitable carers. They may not be fed or clothed properly. Neglect also involves not protecting a child from danger.

Protecting vulnerable adults

Vulnerable adults are people aged 18 years and over who may be unable to:

Take care of themselves
Speak out for themselves
Protect themselves against abuse or exploitation.

They may depend on other people or a service to support or care for them. Abuse is any behaviour towards a person that deliberately or unknowingly causes him or her harm, endangers life or violates their rights.

This abuse may be:

Physical
Sexual
Emotional / psychological
Neglect

Other forms of abuse may occur for adults such as:

Financial or Material – stealing or denying access to money or possessions.
Discrimination – abuse motivated by discriminatory attitudes towards race, religion, disability, cultural background.
Institutional – neglect and poor professional practice within hospitals, care and nursing homes.

Where does abuse happen?

Abuse can happen anywhere for example:

At home
In care homes
In day centres
At work
Schools or College
Hospitals or other health centres or surgeries
Public places or in the community

Taking action

Almost every person is responsible for their actions, and also the action they choose not to take. If you are concerned about a child or vulnerable adult in Torbay, please report it.

For a child telephone Torbay Council’s Children’s Services on 01803 208100

For a vulnerable adult telephone Torbay Care Trust Customer Service Centre on 01803 219700

Devon and Cornwall Police Non Emergency Number: 101

In an emergency situation, please telephone: 999

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