Adult Safeguarding
The Care Act 2014
This Care Act was the first legislation for adult safeguarding in the UK. Domestic Abuse is a type of abuse under this Act.
The Act uses the term ‘Adult at risk of neglect or abuse’.
The Act defines an Adult at Risk as someone who:
- has needs for care and support (whether or not the authority is meeting any of those needs),
- is experiencing, or is at risk of, abuse or neglect, and
- as a result of those needs is unable to protect himself or herself against the abuse or neglect or the risk of it.
People falling under this criteria could be:
- frail due to ill health, physical disability or cognitive impairment;
- someone with a learning disability;
- a person with mental health needs including dementia or a personality disorder;
- someone with a physical disability and/or a sensory impairment;
- someone with a long-term illness/condition;
- a person that misuses substances or alcohol;
- a carer such as a family member /friend who may be at risk because of their caring role;
- someone who is unable to demonstrate the capacity to make a relevant decision and is in need of care and support.
It is important to note that just because somebody has a disability or is an older person, they may not meet the criteria for a Safeguarding Adults Enquiry.
Where someone has care and support needs, these can be exploited by the abuser to cause harm.
Select each of the headings below to find out more:
Personal care may be withheld if the abuser is a carer.
For example, refusing to provide assistance to use the toilet as a way of controlling the victim.
The abuser may also misuse medication prescribed to the person with care and support needs – this could be over or under administering or withholding medication as ways to impact on the behaviour of the person.
The abuser may spend the person’s money inappropriately and/or without their consent or restrict their access to money or benefits.
Lasting Power of Attorney (Financial) can be used by abusers to steal money or property.
Destroying property is another form of financial abuse.
The abuser may tell the person that no one else will love them or that if they report the abuse they will have to go into a care home.
The abuser may use children as a hold over the victim, telling them that their children will be taken away if they report the abuse because they will not be able to look after them on their own.
The abuser may sexually assault or rape the person, who may not physically be able to stop them or understand what is happening to them. Sexual violence is about one person exerting power and control over the victim – not sexual attraction.
Carers can be victims of domestic abuse. This could be a long-standing situation or as a result of behaviour changes in their partner due to illness of disability. Carers may also gave care and support needs themselves. This is a complex area but professional support is available.
Family carers may also abuse the person they are caring for. Sometimes the abuse is not deliberate and is the result of extreme carer stress. But caring for someone does give power and control over that person and some people may choose to abuse that position.
It’s important for professionals to be curious about family carer relationships. Speak to the Carer and the cared-for person on their own, ask about abuse and safety, don’t assume everyone has their loved one’s best interests at heart, signpost carers to support services.
Domestic Abuse can also happen within families. This could be adult children abusing a parent or parent in-law, parent(s) abusing an adult child, or other abusive behaviours between close family members.
Child to Parent Abuse and Violence is where a child is abusive towards parents, grandparents or carers. There is a separate section on this.
Older People
Victims aged 61+ are much more likely to experience abuse from an adult family member than those 60 and under.
Older victims are more likely to remain living with the perpetrator after getting support.
Older victims are significantly more likely to have a disability – for a third, this is physical (34%).
In Cambridgeshire, we have an Older People’s DASH that can be used when assessing risks for people aged 60 and over.
The Dewis Choice project have adapted the Power & Control Wheel to reflect Domestic Abuse in Later Life https://dewischoice.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Dewis-Choice-Duluth-Wheel-1.pdf
The short film below from Norfolk Safeguarding Adults Board explains some of the risks faced by older victims.
A common barrier to accessing domestic abuse support for older people is health and mobility issues. It can be harder for older people to find safe accommodation to flee the abuse – a traditional refuge may not be suitable for them due to accessibility issues or care and support needs or for older male victims. Where a refuge is used, the Adult Social Care Team will continue to support the victim and work closely with the refuge.
Source: Safe Lives Spotlight http://safelives.org.uk/sites/default/files/resources/Safe%20Later%20Lives%20-%20Older%20people%20and%20domestic%20abuse.pdf
Disabilities
Women with disabilities are more than twice as likely to experience domestic abuse as women without disabilities. This is because of the multiple vulnerabilities of having a disability added to the vulnerability of being a victim of domestic abuse.
Disability can include any physical and learning disabilities as well as mental health issues, sensory impairment, age and illness.
People with disabilities typically experience abuse for longer before seeking support. When they do, traditional support such as refuges or travelling to support meetings may not be suitable or achievable for them.
Almost a third of domestic abuse victims with disabilities live with the perpetrator – who in many cases may also be their informal care
Source: Safe Lives Spotlight http://safelives.org.uk/sites/default/files/resources/Disabled%20Survivors%20Too%20CORRECTED.pdf
Additional support for people with vulnerabilities:
Cambridgeshire Deaf Association have a specialist Deaf IDVA and also provide the Freedom Programme in BSL https://cambsdeaf.org/get-support/support-courses/freedom-programme/
Hourglass support older victims of abuse www.wearehourglass.org
The Us Too project produced guidance for professionals when working with victims of abuse who have learning disabilities and autism Cambridgeshire County Council DASV Partnership – Disabilities (cambsdasv.org.uk)