National reports on all types of abuse are constantly in the media. Buckinghamshire County Council are running a campaign across the county to raise awareness of adult abuse and what can be done to protect vulnerable people.
“It really is everybody’s business”, says Charles Owen-Conway, chairman of the SVAB (Safeguarding Vulnerable Adults Board). “What’s tragic is witnessing abuse but not knowing what to do about it, or worse assume that someone else will deal with it. So our aim with the campaign is to make people aware that adults are abused in different ways, what they can do about it and how we can protect people.”
We should all feel safe in our own home, but for some people it can be a teriifying place rather than a place of of cosy comfort.
When Mary’s ex-partner wouldn’t accept their relationship was over and his behaviour became threatening she knew who to turn to for help.
“He grabbed my dog and held a knife to its throat”, says Mary. “I was very scared and it really upset me. I kept thinking that next time it might be me.”
Mary is supported by Buckinghamshire’s Adult Social Care team because she has a learning difficulty so she immediately turned to her social worker who dropped everything to concentrate on making sure Mary was safe.
The Housing Association from whom Mary rents her home, replaced her glass-panelled front door and put in a spy hole, social services paid for and installed a video camera so she could monitor who was outside.
“I don’t want to be driven out of my own home”, says Mary, “and although I am still nervous when unexpected visitors knock on the door I do feel much safer with the added security and knowing that there are people there to help me.”
“Knowing who to contact and getting a fast response in an abusive situation can prevent a bad situation getting worse” says Patricia Birchley, cabinet member for Health and Wellbeing. “It’s why we are running a campaign to make people aware that we have a careline number and that the statutory services work together to resolve issues and make people feel safe.”
More information can be found on the SVABs website: www.bsvab.org. The careline number is confidential and free from BT landlines. Call 0800 137915