Most adults, who might be considered to be at risk of harm, manage to live their lives without experiencing harm. Often this is with the assistance of caring relatives, friends, paid carers, professional agencies or volunteers.
However, some people will experience harm such as physical harm, psychological harm, sexual harm or exploitation of their finances or property. The Adult Support and Protection (Scotland) Act 2007 was introduced to maximise the protection of adults at risk of harm.
How do we know that an adult may be at risk of harm?
An adult who is being harmed may tell someone about it, but sometimes they just keep quiet.
They may be afraid to tell anyone or they may be worried about what would happen if they told someone. This means that sometimes it is up to other people to realise that an adult may be at risk.
You may become concerned about someone because you notice that something is wrong.
You may:
notice a change in their behaviour
see that an adult has an injury that they cannot explain
find the adult distressed but unable to explain why
discover that the adult has no money cannot pay their usual bills
find that the adult is no longer clean and tidy
These are just some of the signs that an adult may be at risk of harm: there could be many others, too.
The most important thing is that if you believe that an adult may be at risk of harm you tell someone about it.
Who may be causing harm?
Anyone may harm an adult who finds it hard to protect themselves:
a family member such as a partner, a parent, a son or daughter or a grandchild
a neighbour
a care worker
a stranger
Where may an adult be harmed?
Harm can take place anywhere that the adult spends time, whether at home, in someone else’s home, a care setting such as a day centre or residential home or anywhere else that someone may make them feel unsafe.
The Adult Support and Protection (Scotland) Act gives the council the duty to make inquiries if they believe that an adult is at risk. Social workers will investigate the circumstances and also have the powers to look at records, ask for a medical examination and to interview the adult who may be at risk.
Who are adults at risk of harm?
Adults who are covered by the Act are people who are 16 or over and who;
On rare occasions they are able to use legal powers to gain access to the adult in question, to remove them to somewhere safer for a while or to ban someone who may harm them from specific places.
Most importantly they will talk to the person at risk about what help and support may be available to help protect them.
