Adult protection
What is adult abuse?
Adult abuse can happen in many different ways. Abuse can be any of the following:
- Physical abuse – hitting, kicking, slapping or giving too much medication or medication that is not necessary.
- Sexual abuse – rape or sexual acts which the adult involved does not want or agree to.
- Emotional abuse – controlling, intimidating or verbally abusing the adult involved.
- Financial or material abuse – fraud, theft or misuse of property or finances.
- Neglect – ignoring a person’s medical or physical care needs, or withholding basic needs such as food, medication and heating.
- Discriminatory abuse – abuse motivated by prejudice, such as racism or sexism.
- Institutional abuse – bad practice by large organisations (for example, offering little or no choice or following unfair regimes and practices).
Abuse can happen in many different places – the adult’s home, in hospital, in a residential or nursing home. It can happen once or it can happen over and over again. Anyone can be responsible for abuse, including partners, family members, friends, carers and care workers.
Who is at risk of abuse?
Those at risk of abuse, known as ‘vulnerable adults’, are people aged 18 years or over who:
- need, or may need, community-care services because of disability, age or illness; and
- are, or may be, unable to take care of themselves, or unable to protect themselves against harm or exploitation.
What are you doing in Walsall?
We have produced adult protection procedures (PDF 749KB) for our staff. We also have an adult protection committee made up of representatives from Walsall Social Care, West Midlands Police, Walsall teaching Primary Care Trust and Walsall NHS Hospitals Trust, as well as representatives from the private sector and voluntary groups which care for adults. This committee keeps the procedures up to date and makes sure all agencies in Walsall work together to help prevent adult abuse.
For more information on the adult protection procedures or the adult protection committee, phone the Adult Protection Unit on 01922 650494.
Who do I contact if I am concerned?
If you are concerned for yourself or someone you know, contact the Adult Protection Unit or your local social care team. We will deal with your concerns sensitively and confidentially wherever possible.
Contact us
Adult Protection Unit
Tameway Tower, 6th floor
Bridge Street
Walsall WS1 1JZ
Telephone 01922 650494 or 01922 650495
Or contact your local area office
In an emergency or out of office hours
Emergency Response Team
Telephone 0845 111 2836
West Midlands Police
Green Lane
Walsall
West Midlands
WS2 8HL
Telephone 0845 113 5000