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When someone has been or is being abused by someone, it is extremely important that any physical evidence that exists is not destroyed or tampered with, because it can be used by police and medical professionals to prove that abuse has in fact taken place and in some cases, it can help start to point towards the abuser. Some examples of potential evidence can be ripped clothes, audio and/or video of abuse or assault, a written account from the victim as mentioned in the 'Recording' section, bank statements in the case of financial abuse, and probably the most difficult piece of evidence can be pictures of any injuries in the case of physical abuse and a rape kit in the case of a sexual assault. Evidence of sexual assault can be the most difficult to gather because a person's first instinct after the assault can be to wash themselves off, but they may need to try and go to the hospital or the police preferably the same day as the assault to get the best results and start to get them help and stop their attacker.

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When a practitioner is talking to someone who they think may be a victim of harm and abuse, it is vital that they are writing down notes of what is being said (as well as a written description of any physical signs or behaviours that may link to  abuse). This is because these notes and any other reports relating to a practitioner suspecting harm or abuse are legal documents and can be used by law enforcement if something severe were to happen to the supposed victim to prove that the practitioner was not negligent and did express concern about the victim's possibly declining health and wellbeing. In order for these reports to count as official legal documents, they will need to be signed and dated by the practitioner, clear, concise and written eligibly in black ink so they can be scanned if need be.

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There are two methods of reporting a suspected or confirmed case of harm and abuse, and which one a practitioner follows depends on the severity and danger level of the person involved. If it seems that they are not in any immediate danger, then the practitioner should follow their organisation's policies and procedures. Doing this can involve talking to a manager, higher ups and/or local authorities. If they do appear to be in immediate danger, however, then the practitioner should call 999. In order for the matter to be resolved as quickly as possible to avoid any potential increase in risk, the case should be reported as soon as possible. (NSPCC Learning, 2021)

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Some may say that maintaining safety when responding to suspected harm or abuse is the most important step for practitioners to take. This is because if any suspicions turn out to be true, then any practitioner's first priority is to make sure that the person is safe and if not, then they can be safe as quickly as possible so their situation doesn't escalate to possibly life-threatening levels. Some ways they can do this are:
- Carrying out risk assessments
- Working with parents/guardians unless they may be the reason for any danger or risk.
- Being aware of and looking out for any signs of any and all forms of abuse or harm
- If the practitioner has already talked with the person and a plan has been put in place, they could do regular check-ins to review the outcomes and results. (Procedures Online, 2019)

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When responding to a case of suspected harm of abuse, it is important that practitioners should keep their professional roles and responsibilities in mind. Some of these can include:
- Ensuring the safety and wellbeing of the person at risk
- Learning lessons and making changes from past mistakes
and
- Enforcing person-centred care
This is so the practitioner can be sure not to, for lack of a better word, 'get too attached'. Doing this can ensure that the situation can be sorted in a professional manner and the practitioner is withheld from stepping out of line and taking measures into their own hands. This can also help enforce the degree of separation that is needed in situations like this and remind the person the practitioner is talking to that their situation is being taken seriously and give them reassurance that it will be taken care of.  (CQC, 2014)

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This action is also extremely important because it can be both the starting point to getting someone help, as well as possibly confirming any suspicions a practitioner may have about someone experiencing abuse. Practitioners should never ignore anyone they are talking to about harm or abuse they may be experiencing or have experienced, because they don't know just how bad the person's situation might be, and they are also overcoming a great personal barrier by talking to someone they might not know that well about their struggles. (YoungMinds, no date given)

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- Wyatt, L., et al., (2017) (Textbook), CACHE Level 3 Technical Extended Diploma in Health and Social Care, London: Hodder Education, [accessed 13/05/2021]
- YoungMinds, (no date given) (online), Abuse, https://youngminds.org.uk/find-help/feelings-and-symptoms/abuse/, [accessed 13/05/2021]
- CQC, (2014) (PDF), Safeguarding adults, https://www.cqc.org.uk/sites/default/files/20140416_safeguarding_adults_-_roles_and_responsibilities_-_revised_draf....pdf, [accessed 20/05/2021]
- Procedures Online, (2019) (online), Responding to Abuse and Neglect, https://www.proceduresonline.com/swcpp/cornwall_scilly/p_respond_abuse_neg.html, [accessed 20/05/2021]
- NSPCC Learning, (2021) (online), Recognising and responding to child abuse and neglect, https://learning.nspcc.org.uk/child-abuse-and-neglect/recognising-and-responding-to-abuse#heading-top, [accessed 20/05/2021]

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This step is crucial when a practitioner is responding to suspected harm and abuse because it can remind them of their 'place' when reporting, as well as telling them what they legally can and should do in order to ensure that the concern is dealt with as quickly and easily as possible. Policies can also remind the practitioner what they can and cannot to when it comes to the person they are concerned for, like physical contact and general attitude. (Wyatt, L., et al., 2017, pg.241&242)