If you or someone you know is being abused or neglected
- Call Health and Community Services on 0300 123 4042 (24 hours a day).
- If there is a danger to life, a risk of injury or a crime is taking place, call the police by dialing 999 or 101 for a non-emergency.
You can also:
- Contact the Care Quality Commission (CQC) on 03000 616 161 if the vulnerable adult is living in a registered care home or receiving home care services.
- Let a public service professional, such as a social worker, community nurse, GP, probation officer or district nurse know your concerns. They have responsibilities under the county’s adult protection procedure and can advise you about what to do next.
The Main Forms of Abuse Are:
| Sexual abuse This includes rape, sexual assault, forced to take part in sexual activities to which they could not consent to, being shown sexual material or being sexually humiliated. |
| Physical abuse This includes hitting, pushing, pinching, shaking, misusing medication, scalding, restraint and hair pulling. |
| Psychological abuse This includes blaming, controlling, or humiliating, verbal abuse, intimidation, coercion, threats of harm or abandonment, being prevented from receiving services or support. |
| Neglect This includes ignoring or preventing medical or physical care needs or withholding the necessities of life such as food, drink and heating. |
| Discriminatory abuse This includes any abuse that is based on race, sexuality, gender, age or disability. |
| Institutional abuse In care homes, nursing homes or hospitals when people are mistreated because of poor or inadequate care, neglect and poor practice that affect the whole of the service. |
| Financial abuse This includes theft, fraud or exploitation, pressure in connection with wills, property, or inheritance, misuse of property, possessions or benefits. |
For further information please visit www.hertsdirect.org/safeguardingadults
