Mon May 07, 2012 3:56 pm
This is a subject which comes up fairly regularly on this forum, most frequently in respect of care provided by agencies, etc., but more recently there has been some debate about what does and does not constitute appropriate treatment of older people by family carers.
I therefore thought that it might be useful to provide information and a link to the government's, and therefore local authority and NHS, definitions of vulnerable adult, abuse, etc.
The previous government's No Secrets Guidance, published in 2000, still remains the definitive guide to the protection of vulnerable adults, a consultation was held into widening the scope of the guidance and the powers available to statutory bodies contained in the No Secrets Guidance with the possibility of legislating for the protection of vulnerable adults but no further action is proposed until at least 2013 so this remains the most up-to-date statutory guidance available.
It is important to note that the guidance does not only cover older people but any person aged over 18 who meets the definition of vulnerable adult and this can include family carers who can themselves be the subject of abuse.
Who is a vulnerable adult?
Any adult aged over 18:
What is abuse?
of medication, restraint, or inappropriate sanctions;
• sexual abuse, including rape and sexual assault or sexual acts to
which the vulnerable adult has not consented, or could not consent
or was pressured into consenting;
• psychological abuse, including emotional abuse, threats of harm or
abandonment, deprivation of contact, humiliation, blaming,
controlling, intimidation, coercion, harassment, verbal abuse, isolation
or withdrawal from services or supportive networks;
• financial or material abuse, including theft, fraud, exploitation,
pressure in connection with wills, property or inheritance or financial
transactions, or the misuse or misappropriation of property,
possessions or benefits;
• neglect and acts of omission, including ignoring medical or
physical care needs, failure to provide access to appropriate health,
social care or educational services, the withholding of the necessities
of life, such as medication, adequate nutrition and heating; and
• discriminatory abuse, including racist, sexist, that based on a
person’s disability, and other forms of harassment, slurs or similar
treatment.
Any or all of these types of abuse may be perpetrated as the result of
deliberate intent, negligence or ignorance.[/quote]
Who may abuse?
The Guidance then states]Agencies not only have a responsibility to all vulnerable adults who
have been abused but may also have responsibilities in relation to some
perpetrators of abuse. The roles, powers and duties of the various
agencies in relation to the perpetrator will vary depending on
whether the latter is:
• a member of staff, proprietor or service manager;
• a member of a recognised professional group;
• a volunteer or member of a community group such as place of
worship or social club
• another service user;
• a spouse, relative or member of the person’s social network;
• a carer; ie: someone who is eligible for an assessment under the
Carers (Recognition and Services) Act 1996;
• a neighbour, member of the public or stranger; or
• a person who deliberately targets vulnerable people in order to
exploit them.[/quote]
The full No Secrets Guidance with further information on who is at risk, what constitutes abuse, perpetrators and action to be taken where abuse is suspected can be found here:
http://www.dh.gov.uk/prod_consum_dh/gro ... 074544.pdf
Further information
Local authorities and NHS trusts are required to publish information on safeguarding vulnerable adults, including who to contact with concerns about a vulnerable adult.
Action on Elder Abuse provides information and advice, their website and contact information can be found here:
http://www.elderabuse.org.uk
I therefore thought that it might be useful to provide information and a link to the government's, and therefore local authority and NHS, definitions of vulnerable adult, abuse, etc.
The previous government's No Secrets Guidance, published in 2000, still remains the definitive guide to the protection of vulnerable adults, a consultation was held into widening the scope of the guidance and the powers available to statutory bodies contained in the No Secrets Guidance with the possibility of legislating for the protection of vulnerable adults but no further action is proposed until at least 2013 so this remains the most up-to-date statutory guidance available.
It is important to note that the guidance does not only cover older people but any person aged over 18 who meets the definition of vulnerable adult and this can include family carers who can themselves be the subject of abuse.
Who is a vulnerable adult?
Any adult aged over 18:
*Community care services are defined as]all care services provided in any setting or context.[/quote]“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”.
What is abuse?
The DH guidance identifies the following behaviours as abuse]• physical abuse, including hitting, slapping, pushing, kicking, misuseAbuse is a violation of an individual’s human and civil rights by
any other person or persons.
of medication, restraint, or inappropriate sanctions;
• sexual abuse, including rape and sexual assault or sexual acts to
which the vulnerable adult has not consented, or could not consent
or was pressured into consenting;
• psychological abuse, including emotional abuse, threats of harm or
abandonment, deprivation of contact, humiliation, blaming,
controlling, intimidation, coercion, harassment, verbal abuse, isolation
or withdrawal from services or supportive networks;
• financial or material abuse, including theft, fraud, exploitation,
pressure in connection with wills, property or inheritance or financial
transactions, or the misuse or misappropriation of property,
possessions or benefits;
• neglect and acts of omission, including ignoring medical or
physical care needs, failure to provide access to appropriate health,
social care or educational services, the withholding of the necessities
of life, such as medication, adequate nutrition and heating; and
• discriminatory abuse, including racist, sexist, that based on a
person’s disability, and other forms of harassment, slurs or similar
treatment.
Any or all of these types of abuse may be perpetrated as the result of
deliberate intent, negligence or ignorance.[/quote]
Who may abuse?
Vulnerable adult(s) may be abused by a
wide range of people including relatives and family members,
professional staff, paid care workers, volunteers, other service users,
neighbours, friends and associates, people who deliberately exploit
vulnerable people and strangers.
The Guidance then states]Agencies not only have a responsibility to all vulnerable adults who
have been abused but may also have responsibilities in relation to some
perpetrators of abuse. The roles, powers and duties of the various
agencies in relation to the perpetrator will vary depending on
whether the latter is:
• a member of staff, proprietor or service manager;
• a member of a recognised professional group;
• a volunteer or member of a community group such as place of
worship or social club
• another service user;
• a spouse, relative or member of the person’s social network;
• a carer; ie: someone who is eligible for an assessment under the
Carers (Recognition and Services) Act 1996;
• a neighbour, member of the public or stranger; or
• a person who deliberately targets vulnerable people in order to
exploit them.[/quote]
The full No Secrets Guidance with further information on who is at risk, what constitutes abuse, perpetrators and action to be taken where abuse is suspected can be found here:
http://www.dh.gov.uk/prod_consum_dh/gro ... 074544.pdf
Further information
Local authorities and NHS trusts are required to publish information on safeguarding vulnerable adults, including who to contact with concerns about a vulnerable adult.
Action on Elder Abuse provides information and advice, their website and contact information can be found here:
http://www.elderabuse.org.uk