A vulnerable adult is someone over 18 years of age who may be disabled, ill or frail and unable to care for or protect themselves from significant harm or exploitation. 

Adult safeguarding is about protecting vulnerable people from abuse by others.  Abuse can be something that is done to a person or something that is omitted from being done. It is a violation of an individual’s rights and can happen anywhere, including in someone’s home, a residential home, a nursing home, a day centre or hospital.  It can happen once or repeatedly. Abuse includes physical abuse, sexual abuse, financial abuse, psychological abuse, neglect in an institution (such as a care home) or discriminatory (because of someone’s disability, age or sexuality).

 

Abuse can be intentional or it can be because someone is doing what they think is right, such as locking the front door to stop an adult suffering from dementia leaving the house unaccompanied.  This is actually not in the best interests of the vulnerable individual.

 

Any concerns about possible abuse should not be ignored.  You can contact Essex Social Care Direct or, if you are uncertain about contacting the local authority, the AskSal helpline can offer help, guidance and information.

 

If you think you or someone you know is the victim of hate crime then you must report it to the police.

 

Hate crime is when someone discriminates, harasses or attacks another person verbally (including by email or on social networking sites) or physically, and the crime is committed because of the attacker's prejudice against a particular group of people.

 

While hate crime is more often verbal than physical, it does not mean it is not serious, or very upsetting for the person being harassed. 

 

The two most common forms of hate crime are racism and homophobia.

When a person commits a crime against someone because of the colour of their skin, ethnic background, accent or use of a foreign language.

When someone is victimised because of their sexuality or because they are, or the attacker thinks they are, gay, lesbian, bisexual or transsexual.

Hate crime also includes violence or harassment against people because of their religion, refugee or asylum seeker status or disability.

 

Domestic abuse can also be considered by the police to be a hate crime, but is treated separately.

 

Hate crimes are covered by the Protection from Harassment Act 1997, the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 and the Criminal Justice Act 2003.

 

Each area of Essex has a Hate Crimes Panel which meets to discuss how to address hate crimes that are occurring in their area.  These Panels work closely with police hate crime units.

 

The Act is intended to support people who lack capacity and is not about controlling or restricting people’s lives. Everyone is deemed to have capacity unless there is an assessment to show otherwise.  People may be unable to make decisions for themselves for many reasons, but it cannot be assumed that if they lack capacity over one issue they then lack capacity for other decisions.

 

There are two types of capacity assessment. The first is about day to day decisions such as what to wear or what to eat. The second one is around major decisions such as where to live, changes of accommodation, serious medical treatment and the management of finances. All assessments about capacity are related to a specific issue. There cannot be a general statement that someone lacks capacity.

 

A person is not to be treated as unable to make a decision merely because they make an unwise decision.

 

People who lack capacity and have no-one to act on their behalf can be given access to an independent mental capacity advocate (IMCA) who will act on the person’s behalf to ensure that things are done in their best interests.

 

The Act encourages people with capacity to make long term plans for their future, for a time when they may not be able to make a decision for themselves.

 

If you are a professional requiring more information about the Mental Capacity Act please visit our partners area. If you an unpaid carer or are being cared for, please visit our carers area.

 

DoLs is part of the Mental Capacity Act and relates to people in residential homes, nursing homes and hospitals.  It provides legal protection for vulnerable people who lack capacity to consent to the arrangements made for their care and who are, or may become, deprived of their liberty for their own safety and wellbeing.  Any deprivation of liberty is for a set time and regularly reviewed, it is not a permanent arrangement. Any unauthorised deprivation, such as being locked in rooms or stopped from going out, is illegal.  Any vulnerable person without family or friends will be given access to an Independent Mental Capacity Advocate (IMCA) to act on that person’s behalf and ensure that things are done in their best interests. If the Deprivation of Liberty is felt to be unreasonable it can be challenged through the Court of Protection.

 

If you are a professional requiring more information about Deprivation on Liberty please visit our partners area.

Scams can come in many forms, from junk mail promising something that seems too good to be true, to rogue traders who take money for a job that never gets done.

 

If you are concerned that a person you know is being scammed you need to let someone know. Visit The Citizens Advice Consumer Service for clear, practical advice. To report a scam, visit Action Fraud.

 

If you would like to a hire a workman try the Buy With Confidence website.