The Big Picture
A client or child might tell you that someone has abused them. Your response should support the person and offer immediate help.
Stay calm. Listen carefully. Follow your employer’s guidelines and policies. You also need to know when to notify your supervisor and how to respect an adult client’s right to make their own informed choices.
Look for Nova Scotia CCA Notes throughout this page for current provincial guidance.
Quick tip: Tap, click, or press Enter on any term with a dotted underline and an ⓘ icon to see its plain-English definition.
Start Here If You’re Overwhelmed
Focus on these core ideas:
- Abuse means physical or mental harm that another person deliberately causes.
- Listen carefully and let the client explain what happened in their own words.
- Reassure the client that you believe what they told you.
- Stay calm and avoid blaming questions.
- Notify your supervisor at once.
- Support capable adults even when they choose not to accept help.
Jump to:
Course Notes: Key Ideas You Need to Know
What Abuse Means
Abuse is physical or mental harm deliberately caused by another person or people.
A client or child might tell you that abuse has happened. When this happens, listen, offer support, follow your employer’s guidelines and policies, and notify your supervisor at once.
Listen Carefully
Give the client your full attention.
Let the client explain what happened in their own words.
Recognize the client’s feelings while they speak.
Show That You Believe the Client
Reassure the client that you believe what they told you.
Stay calm. Do not react with anger or disgust.
Do not deny the problem or act as if it does not matter.
Do Not Blame the Client
Do not ask the client what they did to make the person who abused them angry.
A blaming question can make the client think they caused the abuse.
The important point is to respond without placing responsibility on the person who experienced the abuse.
Offer Help and Notify Your Supervisor
Tell the client that you will do what you are able to do to help.
Report: Notify your supervisor at once.
Follow your employer’s guidelines and policies. These workplace directions explain what support should be provided to people living with abuse.
Nova Scotia CCA Note
Sorrentino’s Canadian Textbook for the Support Worker, 5th Edition says to notify your supervisor at once. In Nova Scotia, suspected child abuse or neglect also has a provincial reporting requirement. Everyone has a duty to immediately report suspected abuse or neglect of a child 18 or younger to a child and family wellbeing agency . (novascotia.ca)
For a Nova Scotia CCA, reporting to a supervisor and making the required provincial report are separate steps.
Why this matters in Nova Scotia: A child abuse or neglect concern must reach the child and family wellbeing system, not only the workplace supervisor.
Official source: Report child abuse or neglect
Last checked: September 6, 2026
Community Resources
Sorrentino identifies several types of community resources that might help people living with abuse:
- police
- women’s shelters
- counselling services
- telephone helplines
- legal clinics
Continue Emotional Support
Keep supporting the client emotionally, regardless of the decision they make.
Your support does not depend on the client choosing the action you prefer.
Respect the Choices of Capable Adults
Adults who are able to make informed decisions have the right to decide for themselves.
They decide whether to:
- continue living with the abuse
- accept help
- refuse help
Role limit: You cannot force a capable adult to make a particular decision or take a particular action.
Some capable adults choose not to accept help. You must respect that decision.
Nova Scotia CCA Note
Sorrentino explains that a capable adult decides whether to accept help. In Nova Scotia, that choice does not remove a service provider’s legal reporting duty under the Protection for Persons in Care Act when the person is a patient or resident age 16 or older in a covered care setting.
The Act requires health facility administrators and service providers, including staff and volunteers, to promptly report all allegations or instances of abuse. (novascotia.ca)
Why this matters in Nova Scotia: Respecting a patient’s or resident’s choices and meeting a legal reporting duty are separate responsibilities in covered care settings.
Official source: Protection for Persons in Care Act
Last checked: September 6, 2026
When a Person Cannot Make an Informed Decision
A person who is not able to make informed decisions must receive help from a professional.
Nova Scotia CCA Note
Sorrentino says a person who cannot make informed decisions must receive professional help. In Nova Scotia, Adult Protection Services applies to adults age 16 or older who are at significant risk and cannot protect themselves from abuse or neglect because of mental or physical incapacity.
If you know of an adult in need of protection, Nova Scotia requires the situation to be reported immediately to Adult Protection Services. (novascotia.ca)
Why this matters in Nova Scotia: The provincial rule provides a specific reporting route when an adult meets the Adult Protection criteria.
Official source: Protecting Vulnerable Adults
Last checked: September 6, 2026
Exam Clue Words
- At once: Notify your supervisor without delaying the report.
- Do not: Do not blame the client, deny the problem, ignore it, or react with anger or disgust.
- Cannot force: A capable adult has the right to make their own informed decision.
- Must: A person who cannot make informed decisions must receive professional help.
Common Mix-Ups
| Wrong Idea | Better Idea |
|---|---|
| You should question the client about what they did to cause the abuse. | Do not ask blaming questions. |
| You decide whether a capable adult accepts help. | The capable adult decides for themselves. |
| Refusing help means you should stop supporting the client. | Continue emotional support regardless of their decision. |
| Every person makes the same type of decision independently. | A person unable to make informed decisions must receive professional help. |
Fast Review
Keep these points in mind when you need a quick review:
- Abuse involves deliberate physical or mental harm caused by another person or people.
- Listen carefully and let the client describe what happened in their own words.
- Recognize the client’s feelings.
- Reassure the client that you believe them.
- Stay calm. Do not show anger or disgust.
- Do not deny or ignore the problem.
- Avoid questions that blame the client for the abuser’s actions.
- Notify your supervisor at once.
- Follow your employer’s guidelines and policies.
- Continue giving emotional support regardless of the client’s decision.
- Do not force a capable adult to accept help or take a specific action.
- A person who cannot make informed decisions must receive professional help.
Final Pep Talk
This topic has several small wording differences that matter. Focus on the pattern: listen, believe, stay calm, avoid blame, report to your supervisor, and respect informed adult choice.