Safeguarding Adults Procedures

8  Allegations against people in positions of trust (see Appendix 1 and Appendix 19) Intent is not an issue at the point of deciding whether an act or a failure to act is harm; it is the impact of the act on the person and the harm or risk of harm to that adult. Harm can take place anywhere. Harmful acts may also be crimes and informing the Police must be a key consideration. Physical abuse including assault, hitting, slapping, pushing, misuse of medication (including covert use of medication), restraint or inappropriate physical sanctions. Domestic violence and abuse The cross-government definition of domestic violence and abuse is: any incident or pattern of incidents of controlling, coercive, threatening behaviour, violence or abuse between those aged 16 or over who are, or have been, intimate partners or family members regardless of gender or sexuality. The abuse can encompass, but is not limited to:  Psychological  physical  sexual  financial  emotional • Controlling Behaviour Controlling behaviour is a range of acts designed to make a person subordinate and/or dependent by isolating them from sources of support, exploiting their resources and capacity for personal gain, depriving them of the means needed for independence, resistance and escape and regulating their everyday behaviour. • Coercive Behaviour Coercive behaviour is an act or a pattern of acts of assault, threats, humiliation and intimidation or other abuse that is used to harm, punish, or frighten their victim. Sexual abuse Including rape, indecent exposure, sexual harassment, inappropriate looking or touching, sexual teasing or innuendo, sexual photography, subjection to pornography or witnessing sexual acts, indecent exposure and sexual assault or sexual acts to which the adult has not consented or was pressured into consenting or does not have the mental capacity to consent. Sexual exploitation The term “sexual exploitation” means any actual or attempted abuse of a position of vulnerability, differential power, or trust, for sexual purposes, including, but not limited to, profiting monetarily, socially or politically from the sexual exploitation of another. It may be very important in specific cases to be clear about the context in which concerns about sexual exploitation arise. Some adults may have been groomed as children or young people. Others may be engaged as sex workers so are at risk because they are threatened or coerced, have drug dependencies and/or mental health needs. Adults with learning disabilities may be vulnerable/ susceptible to sexual exploitation, which may masquerade as an offer of friendship. (See BCP Safeguarding Adults Board website for detailed report from September 2016). See also Appendix 1 Glossary on Mate Crime Categories of Harm