Posted on Friday 28th October 2011
Hard hitting campaign to raise awareness of adult abuse
A hard hitting campaign aimed at raising awareness of adult abuse has launched today.
The Staffordshire and Stoke on Trent Adult Safeguarding Partnership has launched “The Signs Were There…” The campaign encourages people to recognise the tell tale signs of financial and emotional abuse and neglect, and report it.
In a countywide survey, it was revealed that 49 per cent of people were unsure of who to contact with an adult safeguarding issue.
Last year, over 3,100 cases of financial, emotional, institutional, discriminatory and physical abuse and neglect were reported in Stoke on Trent and Staffordshire, but experts believe the issue is still underreported, especially with regards to abuse against older people.
The independent Chair of the Partnership, Steve Wellings, is calling on everyone to pick up the phone and call the adult protection experts, even if they only suspect abuse.
“Abuse against older people, people with learning disabilities or mental health issues, or anyone else that is vulnerable in some way, must stop. It’s everyone’s responsibility to do their bit.
“We know that some people don’t pick up the phone and report because they don’t know how much evidence they need. But even a suspicion is enough; they may be saving someone’s life.
“We’ll make sure that the situation doesn’t get any worse for the person potentially being abused or the person that reports it.
“We also think that many people don’t know the tell tale signs. The campaign and the new website, www.stopabuse.info| , will help people to recognise abuse by describing real examples.”
Staffordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Community Safety, Robbie Marshall, agrees. “Over 16,000 professionals in Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent have received specialist training to help them spot the crucial signs of abuse or neglect to elderly adults or adults with learning disabilities in the last year.
“However, as well as trained professionals, it is important that the general public are able to recognise the signs and report abuse.
“Financial abuse is an area of particular concern, and the awareness of this is low amongst the general public. This is worrying.
“Financial abuse might show itself by the vulnerable person suddenly not being able to pay bills, personal possessions going missing, or people being unusually interested in what someone owns. So if you see it, please make that call to the safeguarding professionals.”
Councillor Olwen Hamer, Stoke-on-Trent City Council cabinet member for adult social care, health and commissioning, said: “Around 80 per cent of the calls that we receive about possible abuse come from professionals. However friends, families and neighbours spend more time with vulnerable adults than professionals do. Sometimes they notice something which is not quite right but they don’t recognise it as possible abuse.
“We want to increase awareness about issues affecting older adults and those with disabilities, particularly about neglect, emotional abuse and financial abuse. Without referrals from friends, family or neighbours, the problems might go unnoticed and the adults would suffer. We want friends, families and neighbours to recognise the signs of abuse and to know how to report these.
“We want to work together with the residents of Stoke-on-Trent to make sure that vulnerable adults are safe wherever they live and whoever is caring for them.”
Age UK is supporting the campaign and will be distributing materials about financial and emotional abuse, and neglect, to older people across the Staffordshire Moorlands, Stoke-on-Trent, Newcastle, Stafford and East Staffordshire.
Anyone who is concerned about a vulnerable adult being abused should:
• contact the Staffordshire and Stoke on Trent Adult Safeguarding Partnership on:
o 0845 604 2886
o People with a hearing impairment can use the Minicom on 01785 2876207 or text on 07814 191 111
• contact Staffordshire Police on 999 in an emergency