Safeguarding Vulnerable Adults

All organisations in Hackney are committed to preventing the abuse of adults and responding promptly when abuse is suspected.

These pages tell you what to do and who to contact if you or someone you know is vulnerable and being abused.

Who is a vulnerable adult?

A vulnerable adult is a person aged 18 years or over who may be unable to take care of themselves, or protect themselves from harm or from being exploited. This may be because they have a mental health problem, a disability, a sensory impairment, are old and frail, or have some form of illness.

What do we mean by abuse?

Abuse is a violation of a person’s human rights or dignity by someone else. There are many kinds of abuse; some are listed below:

Physical

Including hitting, slapping, pushing, kicking, restraint or inappropriate sanctions.

Sexual

Including rape and sexual assault or sexual acts to which the vulnerable adult has not consented, could not consent or was pressured into consenting.

Psychological

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

Including theft, fraud, exploitation, pressure in connection with wills, property or inheritance or financial transactions, the misuse or misappropriation of property, possessions or benefits.

Neglect or acts of omission

Including ignoring medical or physical care needs, failure to provide access to appropriate health care, social care, education services or misuse of medication, adequate nutrition or heating.

Discriminatory

Including racist, sexist behaviour and harassment based on a person’s ethnicity, race, culture, sexual orientation, age or disability, and other forms of harassment, slurs or similar treatment.

Institutional abuse

This can sometimes happen in residential homes, nursing homes or hospitals when people are mistreated because of poor or inadequate care, neglect and poor practice that affects the whole of that service.

Any of these forms of abuse can be either deliberate or be the result of ignorance, or lack of training, knowledge or understanding. Often if a person is being abused in one way they are also being abused in other ways.

Who may be an abuser?

The person who is responsible for the abuse is often well known to the person abused and could be -

Relatives and family members
Professional staff
Paid care workers
Volunteers
Other service users
Neighbours
Friends and associates, and
Strangers

What are the signs?

Some of the signs to look for are -

multiple bruising or fingermarks
injuries the person cannot give a good reason for
deterioration of health for no apparent reason
loss of weight
inappropriate or inadequate clothing
withdrawal or mood changes
a carer who is unwilling to allow access to the person
an individual who is unwilling to be alone with a particular carer
unexplained shortage of money

Who should you contact if you are worried?

If you are being abused or you suspect that someone you know may be the victim of abuse you should call the relevant team below. For general advice or if you are unsure who to call please contact the Safeguarding Vulnerable Adults Manager on 020 8356 5782.

For people currently not receiving social care services

Access Team Adult Social Care
Tel: 020 8356 6262
Fax: 020 8356 4638
Email: access@hackney.gov.uk

For older people and people with a physical or sensory disability or long-term illness

Care Management and Review Service (Adults)
Tel: 020 8356 5095
Fax: 020 8356 5045
Email: info@hackney.gov.uk

For people with learning disabilities

Hackney Learning Disabilities Service
Tel: 020 7683 4054 / 020 7683 4006
Fax: 020 7301 3535
Email: duty.worker@hackney.gov.uk

For people with mental health problems

North Hackney Community Mental Health Team
Tel: 020 7275 1000
Fax: 020 7275 1001

South Hackney Community Mental Health Team
Tel: 020 8510 8011
Email: 020 8510 5360

Older People’s Mental Health Team
Tel: 020 8525 1115 / 020 8525 4470 (helpdesk)
Fax: 020 8525 4485

For people who are in hospital

Homerton University Hospital Social Work Team (Adults)
Tel: 020 8510 7622/3/4/5
Fax: 020 8510 7794

Email: info@hackney.gov.uk

Outside of normal office hours

The Emergency Duty Team
Tel: 020 8356 2346
Fax: 020 8356 2347

In an emergency

Please call the police - 999

If a crime may have been committed - but is NOT an emergency

Please contact the Community Safety Unit on -
Tel: 020 7275 3087

If you would prefer to write

You can download the Adult Protection Alert form on the right and email to the relevant social work team or to the email address on the form.

What happens after your contact?

The social care or health care staff will find out as much as possible about what has happened. An investigation will be carried out and arrangements will also be made to safeguard the vulnerable adult from any future abuse.

Page updated: 21 Oct 2008