Adults at Risk Flashcards
Service users at risk
Learning difficulties Mental health impairment Physical and sensory impairments Homelessness Systemic Unable to live alone Substance abuse
Who decides whether someone is at risk?
At risk definition
A person aged over 18 years of age who is or may be in need of community care services by reason of mental or other disability, age or illness
AND
Who may be unable to take care of him or herself, or unable to protect him or herself against significant harm or exploitation
Power relationships are…
Central to all abuse situations
Abuse is
Violation of an individuals human and civil rights by another person or persons
Types of abuse
Physical Sexual Psychological Material/Financial Neglect
Groups at high risk of abuse
- People lacking mental capacity, or with limited awareness
- People who are severely physically impaired
- People with sensory impairments
- People who are semi-comatose/comatose
- People with aphasia
Factors making people at risk vulnerable to abuse
- Over compliance and dependence on a service or practitioner
- Fear of retaliation from complaining
- No support networks outside a service
- Socialisolation
- Unable to or have difficulty communicating
- Practitioner/organisational factors
7 indicators of abuse and examples
- Physical - bites, burns, bruises, flinching
- Psychological
- Neglect - poor hygiene, oral health
- Financial
- Institutional
- Self harm
- Sexual - overfamiliarity
What if someone doesn’t have a protective characteristic?
One example may be domestic violence and/or abuse
• If you suspect then create a space for the person to talk
• If they disclose then listen, don’t judge
• Address immediate safety issues
• If they do not want to take immediate action signpost them and let them know you are there for them
Another example is forced marriage which is a crime under UK Law.
• Follow current guidance around forced marriage
*Always follow local procedures and make sure you are up to date with guidance
Protective characteristic
Intellectual disability Physical disability Learning difficulty Age Disease
