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 – at home, in a residential or nursing home, a hospital, in the workplace, at a day centre or educational establishment, in supported housing, in the street, on line.
Safeguarding means protecting an adult’s right to live in safety, free from abuse and neglect. It is about people and organisations working together to prevent and stop both the risks and experience of abuse or neglect, while at the same time making sure that the adult’s wellbeing is promoted including, where appropriate, having regard to their views, wishes, feelings and beliefs in deciding on any action.
The Care Act 2014 defines the different types of abuse. It is not intended to be an exhaustive list but a guide to the sort of behaviour which could trigger a safeguarding concern:
Types of Abuse | Types of Behaviours |
| Physical abuse | Assault, hitting, slapping, pushing, misuse of medication, restraint, inappropriate physical sanctions
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| Sexual Abuse | Rape, indecent exposure, sexual harassment, inappropriate looking or touching, sexual teasing, or innuendo, sexual photography, subjection to pornography or witnessing sexual acts, indecent exposure and sexual assault or sexual acts to which the adult has not consented or was pressured into consenting
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| Financial or material abuse | Theft; fraud or exploitation; pressure regarding wills, property, or inheritance; misuse of property, possessions or benefits.
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| Modern Slavery | Encompasses slavery, human trafficking, forced labour and domestic servitude. Traffickers and slave masters use whatever means they have at their disposal to coerce, deceive and force individuals into a life of abuse, servitude and inhumane treatment |
| Domestic Violence | Psychological, physical, sexual, financial, emotional abuse, ‘honour’ based violence |
| Neglect | Ignoring medical or physical care needs; preventing access to health, social care, or educational services; withholding the necessities of life, such as food, drink, or heating.
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| Discriminatory Abuse | Including forms of harassment, slurs or similar treatment: because of race, gender and gender identity, age, disability, sexual orientation or religion
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| Organisational abuse | Including neglect and poor care practice within an institution or specific care setting such as a hospital or care home, for example, or in relation to care provided in one’s own home. This may range from one off incidents to on-going ill-treatment. It can be through neglect or poor professional practice as a result of the structure, policies, processes and practices within an organisation
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| Self- Neglect | This covers a wide range of behaviour neglecting to care for one’s personal hygiene, health or surroundings and includes behaviour such as hoarding
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| Psychological abuse | Including emotional abuse, threats of harm or abandonment, deprivation of contact, humiliation, blaming, controlling, intimidation, coercion, harassment, verbal abuse, cyber bullying, isolation or unreasonable and unjustified withdrawal of services or supportive networks
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El Marsh Care Ltd – follow Sandwell Council Safeguarding procedures and our own policy and procedure details the responsibilities and action required by all staff. If you have any concerns that someone is at risk of harm or abuse, is being harmed or abused, you must take action.
Ensure your own safety – leave the situation if you are at risk of harm
Where there is clear evidence of harm or an imminent danger call the emergency services immediately
Treat all allegations of abuse seriously
Report concerns to your line manager as soon as possible
At El Marsh Care Ltd – the person responsible for Safeguarding is:
Donna Campbell
They can be contacted on 07932441736 or dcampbell@elmarsh.co.uk
We report our concerns to Sandwell Council
Sandwell Adult Social Services 01215692266
You can also contact CQC if you feel you cannot use El Marsh Care Ltd – Whistleblowing Policy and Procedure. They can be contacted on:
Phone: 03000 616161
Email: Enquiries@cqc.org.uk
Post: CQC National Correspondence, Citygate, Gallowgate, Newcastle upon Tyne. NE1 4PA
Available upon request, please contact head office for further information.
