Keeping Adults Safe from Abuse

Every adult has the right to be treated with dignity, have their choices respected and live a life free from fear.

When people have to rely on others to help them in their day-to-day lives, perhaps because they have a disability, they can be more vulnerable to abuse.  Often they are abused by people who are close to them, such as family, friends or paid carers.

Abuse can take place in a person’s own home, in a nursing home or care home or a day centre or hospital. Often, people who are abused are the least likely to tell someone about it.  If you are concerned about someone’s safety please do not ignore it. Get in touch with us and we will do something about it. This may mean acting directly on your information and/or contacting other services to put an end to an abusive or neglectful situation.

We will also provide information and offer practical advice to the person suffering abuse, so that they can make an informed choice about any help they might need, or any action they may wish to take. If they are unable to make an informed choice, care will be taken to support and protect them.

What is abuse?

Abuse can take many forms:

• Physical, for example hitting, slapping, pushing or physically restraining, or the mismanagement of medication.
• Emotional or psychological, for example shouting and swearing to make a person afraid.
• Sexual, for example unwanted touching, kissing or sexual intercourse.
• Financial, for example money or belongings taken under pressure or stolen without consent.
• Neglectful, for example not being properly cared for, mismanaging medication or being denied privacy, choice or social contact.
• Discriminatory, for example suffering abuse or neglect on the grounds of religion, culture, gender, sexuality or disability.

How can you help?

Get in touch

Tell us about your concerns by calling Careline: 0151 233 3800 or contact the Police: 0151 709 6010 or dial 999 in an emergency.

Merseyside Safeguarding Adults Board

Merseyside has a Safeguarding Adults Combined Board made up of representatives from Knowsley, Liverpool, Sefton and Wirral councils, the NHS, Police, independent care providers and the voluntary sector.

The Board treats cases of suspected abuse very seriously and all organisations work closely together – following the same policies and procedures – to make sure all cases are fully investigated and vulnerable adults are protected from harm.

Visit Merseyside Safeguarding Adults Board website