What is abuse?
There are many different types of abuse and they all result in behaviour towards a person that deliberately or unintentionally causes harm. It is a violation of an individual's human and civil rights and in the worst cases can result in death.
Examples are:
- Physical abuse - may include hitting, punching, slapping, kicking, pinching or scratching.
- Psychological abuse - may include intimidation e.g threats of physical harm, shouting, swearing, name calling, racist comments, deprived of normal activities or contact, humiliation, indifference, emotional blackmail.
- Sexual Abuse - includes rape, sexual assault, unwanted sexual acts, sexual acts with person unable to give consent, subject to indecent exposure or teasing or innuendo.
- Financial or material abuse - theft, fraud, extortion, gaining access to persons, funds or possessions.
- Neglect and acts of omission -deliberate withholding of , or unintentional failure to provide care and support.
- Discriminatory abuse - oppressive and prejudicial attitudes towards a person's disability, age, race religion sexual orientations.
- Multiple or institutional abuse which includes an abusive regime or culture, ignoring a person's needs and wishes, misuse of professional power and control.
- Professional abuse is the misuse of therapeutic power and abuse of trust by professionals, the failure of professionals to act on suspected abuse/crimes, poor practice or neglect in services.
Cases of abuse can result in criminal prosecutions and action being taken in the courts such as the Court of Protection.
Victims may suffer severe neglect, injury, distress and depression. People without capacity, e.g. people with severe dementia, are particularly vulnerable and there is additional legal protection for such people under the Mental Capacity Act 2005.
What happens when safeguarding goes wrong ?