Cost:

Free

When:

18th September 2019 

12:30 – 13:30 

Days Until Event:

If you are interested in finding out more about vulnerability in relation to enforcement practices sign up to our webinar on Wednesday 18th September  12:30 – 1:30

Vulnerability is a complex issue and difficult to define – there is no legal definition, we could define it as someone due to their personal circumstances, is especially susceptible to detriment. It is not always obvious who is and who is not in a vulnerable situation – if a person discloses a specific medical condition or personal situation, it does not automatically mean they are vulnerable to detriment, indeed, many vulnerabilities are never disclosed, or some, following investigation, turn out not to be in a vulnerable situation.

Vulnerability is seldom only about the characteristics or situation of the individual but more likely to be a combination of several factors. Individual factors, such as, health conditions, emotional state or communication abilities combined with wider circumstances, including life changing events, unexpected changes in household finances or benefits, serious physical illness and bereavement.

Time and episodes will add to the complexity, some will be in a vulnerable situation only once and for a limited period of time, others will experience episodes of vulnerability which will make them vulnerable for repeated periods of time, some will have long term vulnerability where their protected characteristics will be constant and fixed.

The Taking Control of Goods: National Standards 2014 give the following categories of people as having the potential to be vulnerable:

• Older people
• Disabled people
• Mentally ill
• The seriously ill
• The recently bereaved
• Single parent families
• Pregnant women
• Unemployed people
• Those who have obvious difficulty in understanding, speaking or reading English

Although not an exhaustive list, issues surrounding mental health may be difficult to detect, some mental health problems can affect the way a person thinks feels and behaves. On the one hand some mental health problems are described using everyday words such as depression and anxiety, which makes these emotional states more understandable, but on the other hand, may also underestimate how serious these issues can be, therefore, policies and procedures must be in place when considering enforcement action against vulnerable debtors.