Fife Multi-Agency Adult Protection Guidance - Home Page

Suggested definition of emotional or psychological harm:Emotional or Psychological harm (in absence of other forms of harm) isperpetrated when conduct leads to fear, loss of self esteem, loss of dignity,humiliation, feelings of shame, isolation or impotence. Conduct that isconstrued by others as potentially having such effects, even where we do notknow that the individual victim is responding in this way, should be viewed asemotionally or psychologically harmful.Suggested definition of financial harm:Financial harm is caused by the illegal or improper use of the individual’sresources (both financial and property) by another person without theirinformed consent or through the exercise of undue influence.Suggested definition of discriminatory harm:Discriminatory harm consists of abusive or derisive attitudes conveyed orally,or in writing or through behaviour aimed at denigrating a person's gender,sexuality, ethnicity, race, culture, religion, age, disability or any othercharacteristic of the person. Such harm is a violation of human rights and mayconstitute a hate crime. 21.3 Anticipating harmWhile much of the guidance relates to addressing concerns of harm once theyare disclosed or have become apparent, it is also important for individuals andagencies to be aware of circumstances and settings that may make it morelikely that harmful conduct may occur. The presence of these indicators doesnot mean that harm has occurred or will occur but they should be anticipatorysignals to the possibility of harm.• Social isolation: The individual who lives alone or is alone with a carerand is isolated from friends and relatives may be at increased risk. Inthese circumstances individuals may be particularly at risk of financialharm. However other types of harm can occur in socially isolated2 “Suggested definitions” cited in the Postgraduate Certificate course Adult Support,Protection and Safeguarding, University of St Andrews, 201013