4. Report problems. Legal and ethical

Abuse is commonly defined as any intentional action that harms or injures another person. There are many kinds of abuse, and these are normally defined by the type of harm and the type of victim.

Reference: https://www.slatergordon.com.au/abuse-law/what-is-the-definition-of-abuse#

Physical abuse is the non-accidental infliction of physical injury or harm to a person. 

Unless the victim speaks out, it can be difficult to detect or confirm they are being abused. One key way to detect abuse is by the demeanour of the person you think may be a victim.

If their behaviour changes, if they become sad, appear distracted and disengaged, or if they appear to have physical symptoms such as bruising; it is important that you raise your concerns. You might want to begin by simply asking a question about what you have seen. You could ask the victim or the perpetrator. You could also ask others if they share your concerns.

Another way is to see how well the potential perpetrator responds to your concerns. Are they overly defensive? Do they seek to conceal important information? What have they done to try to address the issue that concerns you? It is imperative that you take action, even if your concerns end up being misplaced. This is for the clients who are less able to express their feelings directly.