Protecting Vulnerable Adults
We are committed to preventing the abuse of adults and responding promptly when abuse is suspected. If you suspect someone is being abused, call Wolverhampton Social Services on 01902 551199.
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 is adult abuse?
Abuse is mistreatment by any other person or persons that violates a person's human and civil rights. The abuse can vary from treating someone with disrespect in a way which significantly affects the person's quality of life, to causing actual physical suffering.
Abuse can happen anywhere - in a residential or nursing home, a hospital, in the workplace, at a day centre or educational establishment, in supported housing or in the street.
Examples of abuse
Forms of abuse can include:
- physical abuse like hitting, pushing, pinching, shaking, misusing medication, scalding, hair pulling
- sexual abuse such as rape or sexual acts to which the vulnerable adult has not consented
- psychological or emotional abuse like threats, being left alone, humiliation, intimidation, coercion or verbal abuse
- theft, fraud or exploitation, pressure over wills or inheritance, or misuse of property, possessions or benefits
- neglect such as ignoring care needs, preventing access to health, social care or educational services or withholding food, drink or heating
- discriminatory abuse like harassment or discrimination over a person's race, sexuality or disability
- institutional abuse, when people are mistreated in in residential or nursing homes, or hospitals.
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.
What should you do?
If you think you are being abused or you suspect that someone you know may be the victim of abuse, you should contact Wolverhampton Social Services on 01902 551199.
What if the abuse is also a crime?
If the abuse is also a crime - such as assault, racial harassment, rape or theft - you should involve the police to prevent someone else from being abused. If the police are involved, Adult Social Services will work with them and with you to support you.
If you are worried about contacting the police you can call Wolverhampton Social Services on 01902 551199. to talk things over first.
If immediate action is needed the Emergency Services should be contacted by dialling 999.
Useful contacts
- If you have concerns about the care someone is receiving in a medical setting such as a hospital, you can contact either the PCT on 01902 444888 or Royal Wolverhampton Hospitals NHS Trust
- For non-emergencies, contact your local West Midlands Police station on 0845 113 5000. For emergencies, dial. 999.
- If your concern is about someone who is in a residential or nursing home, you should contact the Commission for Social Care Inspection. http://www.csci.gov.uk/
- Wolverhampton Adult Social services
e-mail: socialservices@wolverhampton.gov.uk
Phone: 01902 551199
Minicom: 01902 555554
Fax: 01902 551195
Useful documents (produced by the agencies involved, including the police and local authority colleagues)
