Adults at Risk of Abuse

How do we define what an “Adult at Risk of Abuse” is?

As with safeguarding children, there is also a statutory threshold for reporting concerns where there are Adults at risk of abuse.

In churches, what we would define as a “vulnerable adult” or a person who is vulnerable is very different to how the law defines “vulnerable adult” and an “adult at risk of abuse.”

Safeguarding adults means helping adults with care and support needs who need support from community care services, or family and friends to keep their independence, remain safe and exercise choice in their life. Partner agencies from the statutory, voluntary and independent sector come together to seek assurance that the persons thought to be at risk stay safe, are effectively safeguarded against abuse, neglect, discrimination, are treated with dignity and respect and enjoy a high quality of life.

Definition of an ‘adult at risk of abuse‘

• Must be 18 years or over (17yrs 364 days, still classed as a child)

and

• Has need for care or support (whether or not the Local Authority is meeting any of the needs)

and

• Is experiencing or is at risk of experiencing neglect of abuse

and

• As a result of their support needs unable to protect themselves from either the risk or experience of abuse or neglect.

All 4 criteria above define what an “Adult at Risk of Abuse” is.

This is based on the Care Act (2014) and applies to England only. The other UK nations have their own safeguarding adult legislation.

Mental Capacity

The Mental Capacity Act (2005) and the Code of Practice (applies to England & Wales), provides a framework for assessing capacity, deciding what to do if someone lacks capacity for a particular decision, and how to go about resolving disputes.

It must be assumed that a person has capacity, unless it is established otherwise.

“Capacity” means being able to make a particular decision – and so capacity is only meaningful for a particular decision at a specific time. The starting point to assess capacity is always “what is the decision that needs to be made, and when?”

The legal test is that a person is unable to make a particular decision for himself if, because of “an impairment of, or a disturbance in the functioning of, the mind or brain”, he is unable:

A. To understand the information relevant to that decision, or
B. To retain that information, or
C. To use or weigh that information as part of a decision making process, or
D. To communicate his decision by any means.

Therefore capacity cannot be generic, but must relate to a particular decision. Also, capacity can fluctuate day to day and sometimes hour by hour.

Dementia

People who have dementia may benefit from their church having specific training to help them to understand the condition. There are many things we can do to support a person with dementia and and it doesn’t have to be as daunting as it may seem.

There are various activities, such as singing, sharing memories, looking through old photographs, and taking trips down memory lane. You could also hold themed evenings based on the 1940s, 1950s, or 1960s, giving people at different stages of dementia the opportunity to participate, reminisce, and talk about their lives and experiences.

Alternatively you can be supported to become a dementia friendly church. For more information click here.