Council and democracy

Responding to allegations of abuse against vulnerable adults

Are you concerned that a vulnerable adult is being abused?

A vulnerable adult is defined as any person aged 18 years or over

• who is or may be in need of community services by reason of mental or other disability, age or illness, and
• who is, or may be, unable to take care of himself or herself against significant harm or serious exploitation.

Abuse is a violation of an individual’s human and civil rights and may consist of a single act or repeated actions. It may be physical, sexual, financial, psychological or institutional, or may relate to neglect or discrimination.

If you have serious concerns that a vulnerable adult is being abused, please telephone the Customer Service Centre and ask for the client services team:

01923 471400 (Watford and Hertsmere areas)
01438 737400 (all others areas)

The client services team operates Monday to Friday 8.00am to 8.00pm and Saturday 9.00am to 4pm. Outside these times Hertfordshire’s emergency duty team can be contacted using the telephone numbers above.

If there is a danger to life, a risk of injury or a crime is taking place, please call the Police by dialling 999.

If the vulnerable adult is living in a registered care home or receiving domiciliary (home) care services, you can contact the Commission for Social Care Inspection on 0845 015 0120 or 0191 233 3323 or CSCI Eastern Regional Office on 01223 771300.

Alternatively if you are seeing a public service professional, for example a social worker, community nurse, GP, probation officer or district nurse, you may wish to share your concerns with them. As they have responsibilities under the county’s adult protection procedure they will advise you of the next steps that should be taken.