What are the signs of abuse?
Overview
These sections outline some signs of different types of abuse. They also include categories of abuse that have been introduced since the Care Act 2014.
Physical
This could be:
- hitting
- slapping
- pushing
- kicking.
Sexual
This includes rape and sexual assault or sexual acts to which the adult at risk:
- has not consented
- could not consent
- was pressured into consenting.
Psychological
This could be:
- emotional abuse
- threats of harm or abandonment
- depriving the person of contact
- humiliating
- blaming
- controlling
- intimidating
- coercing
- harassing
- verbally abusing
- isolating
- withdrawing the person from services or support networks.
Financial or material
This includes:
- theft
- fraud
- exploitation
- pressure in connection with wills, property, inheritance or financial transactions
- misusing or misappropriating property, possessions or benefits.
Neglect or acts of omission
This includes:
- ignoring medical or physical care needs
- failing to provide access to appropriate health care, social care or education services
- misusing medication
- inadequate nutrition or heating.
Discriminatory
This includes:
- racist behaviour
- sexist behaviour
- harassment based on a person's ethnicity, race, culture, sexual orientation, age or disability
- other forms of harassment, slurs or similar treatment.
Domestic violence
This could include:
- acts of assault, threats, humiliation and intimidation
- harming, punishing, or frightening the person
- isolating the person from sources of support
- exploitation of resources or money.
Sexual exploitation
- appearing with unexplained gifts and possessions that cannot be accounted for
- having mood swings that change in temperament
- showing signs of unexplained physical harms, such as bruising
- experiencing health problems.
Organisational abuse
- lack of leadership and supervision
- insufficient staff or high turnover resulting in poor quality care
- abusive and disrespectful attitudes towards people using the service
- lack of respect for dignity and privacy
- not providing adequate food and drink, or assistance with eating.
Self-neglect
- lack of self-care to an extent that it threatens personal health and safety
- neglecting to care for one’s personal hygiene, health or surroundings
- inability to avoid self-harm
- failure to seek help or access services to meet health and social care needs
- inability or unwillingness to manage one’s personal affairs
Modern slavery
- seeming to be under the control of others rarely interacting with neighbours or people at work
- living in dirt or overcrowded accommodation
- few personal possessions
- no travel documents.