Fife Multi-Agency Adult Protection Guidance - Home Page

1 Adult Protection: Definitions1.1 Who is an adult at risk of harm?An adult at risk of harm is any person aged 16 years 1 or over who:• is unable to safeguard their own well being, property, rights or otherinterests• is at risk of harm and• because they are affected by disability, mental disorder, illness,physical or mental infirmity, are more vulnerable to being harmed thanadults who are not so affected.All three elements must be met.1.2 What is harm?An Adult is at risk of harm where:• another person’s conduct is causing (or is likely to cause) the adult tobe harmed, or• the adult is engaging (or is likely to engage) in conduct which causes(or is likely to cause) self harm.Harm includes all harmful conduct and in particular includes:• physical harm• sexual harm• psychological/emotional harm• financial harm• neglect• self-harm (including self-neglect, self-poisoning and self-injury)Additionally, harm as presented above can be demonstrated under thecircumstances/settings below:• discriminatory harm (including disability hate crime)• domestic harm• institutional harmPlease note that this list is not exhaustive.1 An adult between 16 to 18 may still be legally defined as a child if they are subject to acurrent supervision requirement issued by a Children’s Hearing. It is essential that theseyoung adults receive appropriate support from both Children’s Services and relevant AdultServices.11