Safeguarding Vulnerable Adults
Signs and symptoms of abuse:
Physical abuse:
Physical abuse is deliberate physical injury of an individual. This may include hitting, burning or scalding, drowning or suffocating or other ways to case pain. Giving someone harmful substances are also physical abuse. Possible signs and symptoms include bruising, bruising which looks like a hand or finger mark, burns and scalds, pain, fractures, marks on their body, not wanting to be touched, untreated injuries, injuries to body parts that are suspicious, like on thighs and back, cigarette burns, human bites, person being sad, withdrawn, suddenly starts behaving aggressively, fear towards people and lack of confidence and low-self-esteem. Sexual abuse Sexual abuse involves forcing or enticing a person to take part in sexual activities. This includes physical contact, including kissing, inappropriate touching, oral sex and intercourse. This also includes involving individuals in looking at or being involved in the production of pornographic material or watching sexual activities.
Possible signs and symptoms include:
A vulnerable adults suddenly behaving in a sexual manner e.g. showing sexual knowledge or behaviour that is inappropriate, not wanting to be touched, using inappropriate language suddenly, Genital itching/soreness, Bleeding, Urinary tract infections, Sexually transmitted infections, Stomach pains or discomfort walking or sitting. Emotional abuse Emotion abuse is the persistent emotional ill-treatment of an individual which could cause severe effects on the vulnerable adult’s emotional development. This may involve telling a person that they are worthless or inadequate. It could also involve causing a person frequently to feel frightened or in danger. It can also be when the person receives constant rejection and denial of affection and humiliation. Emotional abuse can lead to behavioural, learning, emotional or mental disorders. Possible signs and symptoms may be: That the individual is withdrawn
Physical abuse:
Physical abuse is deliberate physical injury of an individual. This may include hitting, burning or scalding, drowning or suffocating or other ways to case pain. Giving someone harmful substances are also physical abuse. Possible signs and symptoms include bruising, bruising which looks like a hand or finger mark, burns and scalds, pain, fractures, marks on their body, not wanting to be touched, untreated injuries, injuries to body parts that are suspicious, like on thighs and back, cigarette burns, human bites, person being sad, withdrawn, suddenly starts behaving aggressively, fear towards people and lack of confidence and low-self-esteem. Sexual abuse Sexual abuse involves forcing or enticing a person to take part in sexual activities. This includes physical contact, including kissing, inappropriate touching, oral sex and intercourse. This also includes involving individuals in looking at or being involved in the production of pornographic material or watching sexual activities.
Possible signs and symptoms include:
A vulnerable adults suddenly behaving in a sexual manner e.g. showing sexual knowledge or behaviour that is inappropriate, not wanting to be touched, using inappropriate language suddenly, Genital itching/soreness, Bleeding, Urinary tract infections, Sexually transmitted infections, Stomach pains or discomfort walking or sitting. Emotional abuse Emotion abuse is the persistent emotional ill-treatment of an individual which could cause severe effects on the vulnerable adult’s emotional development. This may involve telling a person that they are worthless or inadequate. It could also involve causing a person frequently to feel frightened or in danger. It can also be when the person receives constant rejection and denial of affection and humiliation. Emotional abuse can lead to behavioural, learning, emotional or mental disorders. Possible signs and symptoms may be: That the individual is withdrawn