What should I do if I suspect a
vulnerable adult is being abused?
Do you know a vulnerable adult or are
you in a position of trust? If you believe that someone is being
abused contact your local Social Care
Team. You will be listened to and you will be supported.
What is a vulnerable
adult?
A vulnerable adult is any person 18 or over 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/herself; or
- Unable to protect him/herself from significant harm or serious
exploitation
What is being done?
Cheshire East Council has the
lead role in the Inter-agency Policy, Procedures and Guidance
Document Adult Protection
in Cheshire (PDF, 520KB) on the Protection of
Vulnerable Adults from abuse. If you contact your local Social Care Team, you will be asked for basic
information about the person you are concerned about, and who is
the alleged abuser. You will be asked about yourself, and what you
heard or saw. Information will then be shared on a “needs to know”
basis, but you will be kept informed about who has to be told, for
example, the Police if a crime may have been committed.
Together all the relevant
agencies will work with the person who may be being abused, to
establish what has happened, and what action the person wants
taking next. Work will also be done with the alleged abuser, and
multi-disciplinary options will be created which will prevent,
reduce or stop further abuse from happening.
Imagine if it was your mother
or father, sister, brother, son or daughter. You would want someone
to speak out if they thought they were being abused. You may be
being abused yourself and need support.
Break the silence
contact social services, or any of the organisation listed, you
will be believed and given advice about what to do.
Factsheets
Information for workers
Information for the public
