You may become concerned that someone is being abused in a number of ways:

• the person may tell you
• the person may say something that worries you
• you may see something – an incident or an injury or other sign

 

What might cause concern?

You might see and/or hear something happen:

• someone being bullied or intimidated
• someone being made to feel frightened or unhappy
• someone in a situation of unnecessary risk

 

The person might tell you or say something that worries you. Somebody might tell you something or say something that gives cause for concern, for example:

• a colleague
• family member
• member of the public

 

There might be physical signs or unexplained or unusual injuries:

• bruises
• slap marks
• black eyes
• bleeding
• burns or scalding
• cigarette marks
• torn, stained or bloodstained clothes

 

There may be other signs such as:

• inappropriate dirty or soiled clothes
• no food or drink available for the person
• bills not being paid or services, e.g. telephone, cut off
• shortage of money

 

The person might say things or behave in a way that causes you concerns:

• the person may seem unhappy or distressed
• the person may appear frightened, anxious or agitated without identifiable cause, or in relation to certain people
• sleeping problems
• constant visits to the toilet without a medical reason
• other unexplained changes in how the person behaves

 

The behaviour of a colleague or other person:

• dismissive or intolerant attitude
• task/routine orientated rather than person focussed
• not a team player; insists on doing tasks on their own or their way/secretive about contact with clients
• oversteps their professional boundaries with clients and colleagues/overfriendly neglects professional development

 

You may not know. It is enough that you are worried.