Keeping yourself safe

  • Bully

    What do we mean by abuse?

    Abuse is when someone hurts or harms you.

    Abuse can happen once or lots times. It may be done on purpose.

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    Who could be hurt or harmed?

    People with learning disabilities may be more at risk than others.

    People who need help with their care or support.

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    Who can abuse?

    Anyone can be an abuser.

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    Where does it happen?

    Abuse can happen anywhere.

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    Different types of abuse

    Confinement: being told to stay in one place.

    Also being refused the company of other people, at home or outside.

  • Woman being sexually harassed
    Sexual: being involved in a sexual way that is not wanted or understood.
  • Woman being attacked
    Physical: being hit, hurt or held down.
  • Tablets
    Medication: giving someone the wrong medication. Giving someone too much medication or not enough.
  • Woman being bullied
    Emotional: being spoken to in a frightening way, people teasing you.
  • Woman looking in her purse
    Neglect: not being given food, clothes or the help you need.
  • Woman being mugged
    Financial: taking someone's money or belongings.
  • Man being discriminated against
    Discrimination: treating people in a different way or worse because they have a learning disability.
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    What should you do if someone tells you they are being abused?

    * Stay calm and listen to them.

    * Take them seriously listen to them and believe them.

    * Contact Adult Social Care Services or the Police.

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    What should you do if you think or have seen someone being abused?

    Telephone the Adult Social Care Contact Centre on 01752 668000 between 8.30am and 5pm or

    Out of Hours Social Work Team on 01752 346984 between 5pm and 8.30am  or

    Weekends and Bank Holidays - 24 hour cover - Out of Hours Social Work Team on 01752 346984 or the Police on 999.

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    If you think someone is at risk of immediate harm.

    Contact the Police by calling 999.

  • Woman crying on the phone

    What if you are being abused, hurt or harmed?

    Contact Adult Social Care or the Police.

    Ask someone you trust to tell them for you.

  • Crime victim

    Adult Social Care and the Police will:

    * Listen to what you have to say

    * Treat you with dignity and respect

    * Do something to make it stop.

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    Human rights

    Everyone has a human right to be treated with respect and listened too. On the next page is A Guide to the Human Rights Act and what is means for you.

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    To view this document you might need to download some software. Visit our documents page for more information.

    A Guide to the Human Rights Act - a booklet in easy words and pictures.

    This is an Adobe Acrobat (pdf) document and is 342.2KB.

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