Adult protection alerts for people with intellectual disabilities: Patterns of risk

Aims: The study explored monitoring data from adult protection alerts collected by two local authorities in England between 1998 and 2005. This paper examines the data relating to people with intellectual disabilities to identify the nature, location and patterns of abuse.Method: Additional client information was imported from other client databases and integrated into a single database. The data for people with intellectual disabilities was then analysed in order to ascertain associations and patterns in the data.Results: The specific vulnerabilities of people with intellectual disabilities to abuse were identified in relation to the type and location of abuse, the perpetration of abuse, outcomes and responses. People with intellectual disabilities placed by other authorities were also found to be at a higher risk from multiple abuse and abuse from more than one perpetrator than those placed locally but with abuse more likely to be investigated and action more likely to be taken. Conclusions: Distinct patters are discernable in the abuse of people with intellectual disabilities and people in out of authority placements are more vulnerable to particular forms and types of abuse, information helpful for risk management in this area of policy and practice.