28/09/2016
The paragraph below gives a description of a vulnerable adult.
A vulnerable adult is any person aged 18 or over who is, or may be, unable to take care of him or herself against significant harm or exploitation. This may be because he or she has a mental health problem, a disability, a sensory impairment, is old or frail, or has some form of illness. Because of his or her vulnerability, the individual may be in receipt of a care service in his or her own home, in the community or be resident in a residential care home, nursing home or other institutional setting.
The Government White Paper 'Modernising Social Services' which was published at the end of 1998 clearly states that it must be our intention to provide better protection for individuals needing care and support. We are committed to providing greater protection to victims and witnesses.
So what happens when someone tries to report abuse and is not taken seriously? Where would that person go to tell the story? What happens when the system breaks down and the tables are turned to make the reporter look like a troublemaker? This is a very disturbing situation to be in. Carers are told time and time again that abuse must be reported. There is a system which must be followed.
In a letter which was recently published we read of a lady who wanted to report a case of abuse. Although she went through all the right procedures, she felt that no one would listen to her or take her seriously. Worse still, she was threatened with prosecution, restraining orders and bailiffs. She had asked some people who were prepared to corroborate her story, but they were later prevented from doing this. The writer makes a very valid viewpoint that by not investigating the serious allegations from a member of public because they are not a carer or client, the Local Government Ombudsman (LGO) is not fit for purpose. A member of the public who wants to make a valid complaint has no one to approach.
The CAB in Chester referred her to the CAB in Flintshire and the various county councils sent her back and forth between them.
Even when taking her case to a member of parliament she found that no one would listen as she was not registered in that particular constituency. The police force would not get involved as they had not been approached by a care company and she was left feeling that she was being brushed aside.
The writer says that the CQC dismissed her complaint and even the Audit Commissioner would not investigate her allegation.
Finally, in desperation to get some assistance she joined a Carers Forum where she began a conversation with another carer, and was subsequently banned from the site. The administrator has never replied with a reason.
What becomes very clear in her situation is the fact that she very obviously feels that she has a case of abuse to report, but not being a carer or a client, she has no one that will listen to her. There are no channels for a member of public to take with something like this. While there may not be any precedent for this type of complaint, it seems that it is in the public interest to change this.
There is something fundamentally flawed with a system when serious allegations against a vulnerable person cannot - or worse – will not be investigated without fear or favour.
