What domestic abuse and coercive control can look like in care settings

Domestic abuse is not only physical assault. In the UK, care staff should look for patterns of fear, control, intimidation, exploitation and harm within personal or family relationships. In England and Wales, statutory guidance covers physical or sexual abuse, violent or threatening behaviour, controlling or coercive behaviour, economic abuse, and emotional or psychological abuse between people who are personally connected.

In a residential care setting abuse can continue through visits, phone calls, text messages, pressure about money, demands for private information, intimidation or threats about what will happen if the person speaks openly. It may have started before the person entered care or may escalate when an abuser feels they are losing influence.

Four-nations legal note

What this may look like in practice

• A visitor answers for the resident: the person is not allowed to speak freely, ask questions or spend time alone with staff.
• Control over money or documents: a relative insists on taking bank cards, benefit letters, pension paperwork or signing forms quickly.
• Pressure linked to contact: the person is told they will lose family visits, be taken home or be cut off from grandchildren if they do not comply.
• Monitoring and isolation: a partner or family member checks the person's phone, blocks calls or complains when staff try to speak privately.
• Fear disguised as cooperation: the person may agree quickly, withdraw, become tense before visits or say "please do not make trouble".
• Sexual or physical intimidation: rough handling, unwanted touching, threats or sexually abusive behaviour can still happen during visits or outings.

Not every family disagreement is domestic abuse

Families may argue, be upset or exhausted without abuse being present. The warning sign is a persistent pattern of power, fear, control, intimidation or exploitation that leaves the adult less safe and less free.

In care settings, domestic abuse may look like control over contact, information, money, movement or decision-making. If fear and power shape the relationship, staff should look beyond "family dynamics" and consider safeguarding.