Psychological abuse

Ongoing psychological or emotional maltreatment.

Non-reportable concerns

Examples of isolated incidents where no other similar concerns have been identified and that do not need to be reported as a safeguarding concern include:

Not committed by a Person in a Position of Trust (e.g., a professional), and:

• Incident where a person is spoken to in a rude or inappropriate way – respect is undermined but no significant distress is caused.
• Occasional taunts or outbursts between two people using a service that do not cause impact or distress.

Concerns requiring consultation

More serious incidents will require internal consultation, through relevant organisational policies and procedures and senior leadership as well as potentially through the Sussex Safeguarding Adults Policy and Procedures and other organisations being made aware.

Actions that should be considered to reduce risk include:

• Share information with the local Community Safety Team/Police Community Safety Team.
• Referral to the local Adult Social Care department for a social care assessment, carers assessment, or review of existing arrangements.
• Review staffing arrangements.

Examples that require external consultation with the relevant Adult Social Care department, and may lead to a safeguarding concern needing to be submitted, include:

• Treatment that undermines dignity and damages esteem.
• Repeated incidents of denying or failing to recognise an adult’s opinions, views, and choices, particularly in relation to their care and support needs.
• Taunts, mocking or outbursts which cause distress (please also refer to information in this guidance about discrimination and hate crimes).
• Withholding of information from a person that disempowers them but there is a minor impact.

Reportable concerns

Serious incidents need to be formally raised as a safeguarding concern with the local authority Adult Social Care department. Consideration should also be given as to whether the police or other emergency services need to be contacted. Professional curiosity is important and a Think Family approach if children or other adults may be impacted.

In these cases, it is important that you consider additional actions to contacting the local authority. These include:

• RAISE SAFEGUARDING CONCERN
• If there is an indication a criminal act has occurred, the police must be consulted.
• Immediate safety plans must be implemented.

Examples of reportable concerns include:

• Any concerns about a Person in a Position of Trust.
• Denial of basic human rights/civil liberties, the over-riding of an advance directive, forced marriage, ‘honour based’ violence and Female Genital Mutilation (FGM).
• Prolonged intimidation or humiliation.
• Vicious/personalised verbal attacks.
• Emotional blackmail, e.g., threats of abandonment or harm, or cyberbullying.
• Withholding of information to dis-empower that has a significant impact.
• Concerns relating to ‘cuckooing’ – information on cuckooing can be found in the Sussex Safeguarding Adults Policy and Procedures chapter Recognising and Reporting Abuse and Neglect.