Protecting vulnerable adults

We are committed to preventing the abuse of adults and responding promptly when abuse is suspected. If you suspect someone is being abused, call us on 01902 551199.

Who is a vulnerable adult?

A vulnerable adult is a person aged 18 years or over who may be unable to take care of themselves, or protect themselves from harm or from being exploited. This may be because they have a mental health problem, a disability, a sensory impairment, are old and frail, or have some form of illness.

What is adult abuse?

Abuse is mistreatment by any other person or persons that violates a person's human and civil rights. The abuse can vary from treating someone with disrespect in a way which significantly affects the person's quality of life, to causing actual physical suffering.

Abuse can happen anywhere - in a residential or nursing home, a hospital, in the workplace, at a day centre or educational establishment, in supported housing or in the street.

Examples of abuse

Forms of abuse can include:

physical abuse like hitting, pushing, pinching, shaking, misusing medication, scalding, hair pulling
sexual abuse such as rape or sexual acts to which the vulnerable adult has not consented
psychological or emotional abuse like threats, being left alone, humiliation, intimidation, coercion or verbal abuse
theft, fraud or exploitation, pressure over wills or inheritance, or misuse of property, possessions or benefits
neglect such as ignoring care needs, preventing access to health, social care or educational services or withholding food, drink or heating
discriminatory abuse like harassment or discrimination over a person's race, sexuality or disability
institutional abuse, when people are mistreated in in residential or nursing homes, or hospitals.

Any of these forms of abuse can be either deliberate or be the result of ignorance, or lack of training, knowledge or understanding. Often if a person is being abused in one way they are also being abused in other ways.

What should you do?

If you think you are being abused or you suspect that someone you know may be the victim of abuse, you should contact one of our Adult Assessment Teams by calling 01902 551199.

What if the abuse is also a crime?

If the abuse is also a crime - such as assault, racial harassment, rape or theft - you should involve the police to prevent someone else from being abused. If the police are involved we will work with them and with you to support you.

If you are worried about contacting the police you can always contact one of the Adult Assessment Teams on 01902 551199 to talk things over first.

If immediate action is needed the Emergency Services should be contacted by dialling 999.

Leaflets for the public

We have produced leaflets to give people information about adult abuse. One is called Protecting Vulnerable Adults - Information for the Public and the other is Protecting Vulnerable Adults - What to do if you are being abused. They can be read by clicking on the PDFs below.

Our service standards can be read by clicking on the PDF below.

Other useful contacts

For non-emergencies, contact your local West Midlands Police station on 0845 113 5000. For emergencies, dial. 999.

If your concern is about someone who is in a residential or nursing home, you should contact the Care Quality Commission.

You may also want to contact the Wolverhampton City NHS Primary Care Trust or the Royal Wolverhampton Hospitals NHS Trust if you have concerns about the care someone is receiving in a medical setting such as a hospital.

Important legislation

Our work to safeguard vulnerable adults in Wolverhampton is helped by two important pieces of legislation; the Mental Capacity Act and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards.

The Mental Capacity Act came into force in October 2007 and protects adults who lack capacity to make important decisions for themselves.

Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (or DoLS) is an important part of the Mental Capacity Act and provides additional protection for adults living in care homes or in hospitals who lack capacity to make their own decisions about their treatment or care.

We have dedicated webpages about the Mental Capacity Act and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards - click on the links for further information.

Wolverhampton Safeguarding Vulnerable Adults Board (WSVAB)

The objectives of the Safeguarding Vulnerable Adults Board (SVAB) are to enhance the quality of life of vulnerable adults who are, or may be, at risk of being harmed or abused. The objectives and remit of the SVAB are included in the Terms of Reference document below:

The WSVAB has a Steering Group and five working groups, the terms of reference for these are attached below: This structure is currently under review.