Allegations of abuse against vulnerable adults in their own home in Kent and Medway have risen sharply, according to a report by a safeguarding board.

The Kent and Medway Safeguarding Adults Board’s annual report for 2016-17 reveals that there were 2,223 incidents of alleged abuse in people’s homes in 2016-17.

That compares with 1,262 in 2015-16 and represents an increase of 961 or 77%.

Overall, there were 6,023 allegations about the treatment of vulnerable adults in 2016-17 in Kent and Medway compared to 4,174 the previous year - representing a 44% increase year-on-year.

In previous years, most claims of alleged abuse were reported to have occurred in residential and nursing homes. The report says they still account for a large number - 1932 - an increase of 404 on the figure for 2015-16.

When it came to the type of alleged abuse, physical abuse accounted for 2,063 referrals, an increase of 581.

There was a worrying increase in the incidence of self neglect, which rose from 62 in 2015-16 to 405 in 2016-17.

Claims of financial abuse rose from 600 to 841 while alleged incidents of sexual abuse went up from 215 to 302.

Of the overall number of referrals that were lodged, 1,784 were substantiated and 320 partly upheld in Kent and Medway. A total of 1,728 were not substantiated.

Cllr Graham Gibbens, cabinet member for adult social care, said: “I am pleased that we are seeing an increase in referrals.

"It means the message is getting through to people that safeguarding is everybody's business.”

“It is something we need to get the whole population focusing on. It is only when we are told of concerns we can actually do something.”

Demographic changes, chiefly an increasing population meant that the council would inevitably see more referrals.

Cllr Gibbens said KCC had protected funding for social workers in the light of an increasing number of older people in Kent.

On the issue of abuse allegations in people's homes he said the rise was partly attributable to recent changes to the Care Act had broadened the definition of abuse.

“Every case is properly investigated and every case is an individual case," he said.

"When people are living alone they are much more vulnerable and with very little external support and professional help it is worrying" - Nadra Ahmed

"If a person is isolated they are by that nature vulnerable and I want to ensure they are given the proper support they need.”

Nadra Ahmed, Kent-based executive chairman of the National Care Association, said the important figure was the number of allegations that were proven.

“What we have to focus on is that these are referrals. There is a good news story in that people are much more aware of the issue," she said.

“The Care Quality Commission has told us things are getting better and there are more services in the good category. We know there is a challenge around all of this and where there is bad care it has to be eradicated.”

However, she said abuse in people's homes was worrying.

“When people are living alone they are much more vulnerable and with very little external support and professional help it is worrying.”

Kent County Council recently secured a cash boost of nearly £4 million to ease the pressure on adult care service from the government.