Are you concerned?

Are you being treated badly, taken advantage of, or injured? Or do you know an adult who is?

CALL:
 

 
                                        on 0808 80 10 345

Ask SAL, the adult safeguarding helpline for Essex, has recently been launched as a support line for any member of the public who is concerned either for themselves or others who may (intentionally or unintentionally) be suffering abuse at the hands of a care provider.

Many people can be vulnerable to abuse whether a result of illness, disability, age or simply an inability to look after themselves. Similarly, abuse can present itself in many ways – some more obvious than others:

Physical abuse may include hitting, slapping, pushing, kicking, misuse of medication, misuse of restraint, or inappropriate sanctions.

Sexual abuse may include rape and sexual assault, or sexual acts to which the vulnerable adult has not consented, or could not consent, or where pressure was applied to secure their consent.

Emotional abuse may include verbal abuse, psychological abuse, threats, deprivation of contact, humiliation, blaming, controlling, intimidation, coercion, harassment, isolation or withdrawal from services or supportive networks.

Financial or Material abuse may include 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 (including acts of omission) may include 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, food and drink and heating.

Discriminatory abuse may include racist or sexist remarks or comments based on a person's impairment, disability, age or illness, and other forms of harassment, slurs or similar treatment.

Institutional abuse involves the collective failure of an organisation to provide an appropriate and professional service to vulnerable people. It can be seen or detected in processes, attitudes and behaviour that amount to discrimination through unwitting prejudice, ignorance, thoughtlessness and stereotyping. It includes a failure to ensure the necessary safeguards are in place to protect vulnerable adults and maintain good standards of care in accordance with individual needs, including training of staff, supervision and management, record keeping and liaising with other providers of care.

Signs of Abuse can vary. Clearly there are obvious physical injuries such as bruises (often around wrists through restraint), cuts or even scars from old injuries. In many cases victims have been known to wear long sleeves and other covering garments to hide physical injuries and this may be an indicator of physical abuse; particularly during the warmer months.
 

Signs of other types of abuse can present themselves in far more subtle ways. Emotionally victims may be very frail and seem withdrawn. Alternatively their behaviour may be particularly unpredictable and in some cases aggression may present itself. Often sufferers of abuse develop irrational fears or phobias; for example a fear of going out in public, and though phobias can be developed for a number of contrasting reasons – abuse may be one of them.
 

Victims of neglect may often be urine soaked or have pressure sores, suffer from dehydration and their weight may fluctuate. However neglect isn’t always this clear, and can often be the result of more subtle acts of omission such as failing to give the correct medication at the appropriate time or even forgetting to leave any required sensory aids within reachable distance such as glasses or hearing aids etc.
 

Sexual abuse may be signified by a persistent lack of trust or panic attacks, excessive washing, eating disorders, drug or alcohol misuse, and many of the emotional signs previously mentioned.
 

Financial abuse is often present where valuable possessions such as jewellery and cash occasionally go missing, or where despite pensions and savings people in care find themselves ‘in the red’.
 

Ignoring abuse is not an option - Any person or organisation with knowledge of, or suspicion that a vulnerable adult may be at risk of abuse or is being abused must report their concerns. If you have suspicions that abuse may be taking place, or simply want some advice then call Ask SAL on 0808 80 10 345 and for additional information visit the website at www.asksal.org.uk.

To receive the helpline number and website in a text message directly to your mobile, text ASKSAL to 60777.