A*1 - DESCRIBE FACTORS WHICH CONTRIBUTE TO AN INDIVIDUAL BEING VULNERABLE TO HARM OR ABUSE
Introduce the topic by describing what harm/ abuse is - you could even list the different types of abuse
You can then consider why it is important for us, as HSC practitioners, to be aware of factors - means we can take action earlier
When you are looking at the different factors, think about what type of abuse this is likely to contribute to
Age
A child might not be able to defend themselves - can lead to physical abuse, emotional abuse, domestic abuse, sexual abuse
A young person might not understand certain types of abuse, such as emotional abuse, sexual abuse, honour based violence, FGM
An elderly person might be vulnerable - can lead to emotional abuse, financial abuse, institutional abuse, domestic abuse
Health
Think about a person who has either poor physical health or mental health - this might make them dependent on other people
This can lead to various types of abuse such as physical abuse, emotional abuse, financial abuse, institutional abuse, self neglect
Individuals in this category heavily rely on others for their care - therefore, if the abuser happens to be someone that is involved in their care, they might be really reluctant to say anything
Substance misuse
Here, we are talking about alcohol abuse, and/ or drugs - individuals with this history may have certain symptoms such as memory loss and hallucinations
People might be more vulnerable to certain types of abuse, such as physical abuse, sexual abuse, and financial abuse, because the abuser knows that the victim might not necessarily remember what has happened, so they might take advantage
SOME people who are involved in substance misuse are also involved in crime, therefore it is possible that they are not believed when they do report abuse
Disability
A person with a physical disability might not be able to defend themselves from certain types of abuse such as physical abuse, and sexual abuse
A person with a learning difficulty might not recognise that they have been abused, especially if it is sexual abuse, emotional abuse, or financial abuse. Even if they do recognise abuse, they might not have the capacity to express this well.
Isolation
Some people choose to move away from friends and family, and could be living alone, in a new location
Such people might not have a lot of visitors (as they are away from family and friends), therefore abusers might use them as a target as they know that this person is alone
Also think about people that have been isolated from birth/ young age - they know nothing different, and rely on the abuser as they are their only family/friend that provides for them.
Social media
Children and young people are especially vulnerable to being abused on social media, due to the amount of time they spend on it - they could be at risk of online bullying, sexual abuse, and emotional abuse
Adults can also be abused via social media, particularly if they have supports needs, which means that they are not necessarily aware of the dangers of social media - such people might be vulnerable to financial abuse, and sexual abuse
Environment
The environment that people live in/ are exposed to can increase their risk to certain types of abuse
Children might be vulnerable to physical abuse, sexual abuse, and institutional abuse at nursery/ school
Vulnerable adults/ elderly might be vulnerable to physical abuse, institutional abuse, and financial abuse if they live in a care setting for example a care home or assisted living
Some people live in homes/ communities with a history of domestic abuse and honour based violence
