Adult Protection
Protecting adults at risk of harm in Angus
Throughout Scotland many adults are at risk from all kinds of harm. Thankfully there is a law to help and support people who find it hard to protect themselves. This is called the Adult Support and Protection (Scotland) Act 2007. Everybody has the right to feel safe. This law makes sure that people tell someone if they think someone is treating you badly. The law says that it is everybody's job to share information if they are worried about someone being harmed. It is everybody's job to help you if you are at risk of harm.
A small number of adults may however experience harm, such as:
- Physical abuse
- Being bullied or threatened
- Being forced or pressured into sexual activity
- Having their money or possessions taken
- Not receiving the care that they need
- Financial harm
This information will tell you how to help protect adults who are more at risk of being harmed because of disability or ill health or age and are not able to protect themselves or their own interests. It will also tell you how to seek help if someone is causing you harm.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why might an adult be less able to protect him or herself?
An adult might be less able to protect him or herself because of:
- Old age or frailty
- Sight or hearing loss
- Severe illness
- Dementia or poor memory
- Mental health problems
- Learning disability
- Physical disability
How would I know if someone was being harmed?
An adult at risk may tell you that they are being harmed. More usually the sign that they are being harmed is something you see or hear.
The adult may:
- behave in an unusual way
- have injuries or repeated infections
- demonstrate a sudden increase in confusion
- appear to be unusually drowsy most of the time
- show signs of fear towards another person or fear of going home
- be overly anxious or disturbed
- lack money or food
- be left in a situation of serious but avoidable risk
- not be receiving appropriate medical care
- show signs of, depression, withdrawal, hopelessness or suspicion
- have requests or needs that are not being met
- have personal care needs that are not being met
or
Someone tells you something that makes you think that an adult is being harmed.
Where does harm happen?
Harm can happen anywhere including a person's own home, a care home, a hospital, at work or college or in a public place.
Who can harm adults at risk?
Anyone can cause harm to adults at risk and often it is someone who the adult knows and trusts, for example a partner, relative, friend, a professional member of care staff, a health worker, a neighbour, a volunteer, a solicitor or financial advisor or a member of the community. However, harm can be caused by a stranger such as a rogue trader or by bogus telephone calls.
I think an adult is being harmed. What should I do?
If you see behaviour that you are concerned about or if an adult at risk tells you something of concern you need to take this seriously.
In these circumstances you should speak to someone such as a police officer, social worker or health professional. To make sure that people get the help they need you should give as much information as you can about the adult and their circumstances and describe what you saw or heard that concerned you. Make sure you let the person know if there are immediate risks of harm.
You can contact Angus Council Social Work and Health, Monday to Friday 8.45am to 5pm by phoning the ACCESSLine on 08452 777 778
In an emergency after 5pm and before 8.45am, at weekends and on public holidays phone 01382 307964 (Out of Hours Social Work Service)
- Police Scotland - phone 101 (covers all areas of Angus)
Will I need to give my name if I report a concern?
Any information about you will be treated with care. Details such as your name will not be revealed unless the adult's safety depends on it. Even if you do not want give your name we can still enquire into the adult's welfare but it might make it more difficult for those looking into these concerns. In certain circumstances information you give may need to be shared with other professionals to ensure that the right action is taken to protect the adult at risk.
What will happen to the adult and/or their carer if I report a concern?
All information will be taken seriously and acted on. In all cases an initial inquiry will be made. This may lead to a more thorough investigation of the person's circumstances. A social worker or care manager will work with them to decide what help they need. They will also make sure that what is done to protect the adult from harm is of most benefit to the adult and restricts their freedom as little as possible.
Sometimes a meeting, called a case conference, will be arranged to decide what to do next. This meeting will involve a range of people such as social workers, police and health care professionals.
The people at the meeting may decide to do any of the following:
- Provide support, help or advice to the adult and/or carer
- Provide a service to the adult or carer
- Take steps to remove the adult from the harmful situation or stop a person who causes harm from having contact
- The police might charge a person causing harm with an offence
- Report the matter to the Mental Welfare Commission or the Care Commission
- Admit the adult to hospital or a care home for a short while
Someone is causing me harm. What help can I get?
You might be more at risk of harm because of:
- Mental illness
- Old age
- Physical disability
- Frailty
- Learning disability
- Sight loss
- Hearing loss
Someone might be:
- hurting you
- not giving you food or pills that you need
- taking your money
- touching you in ways you do not like
- making you have sex when you do not want it
- frightening you
- making you unhappy in other ways
If someone is causing you harm you do not have to put up with it.
To get help contact one of the numbers below:
You can contact Angus Council Social Work and Health, Monday to Friday 8.45am to 5pm by phoning the ACCESSLine on 08452 777 778
In an emergency after 5pm and before 8.45am, at weekends and on public holidays phone 01382 307964 (Out of Hours Social Work Service)
- Police Scotland - phone 101 (covers all areas of Angus)
Who do I contact for further information?
Adult Protection Review Officer
Carseview Office
Carseview Road
Forfar DD8 3BT
Tel: 01307 473762
Website: www.aapc.org.uk.
Service Page: adultprotection.htm
Service Details Last Reviewed : 18 October 2012
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