Adult safeguarding (2)

Adult safeguarding is the term used to describe the function of protecting adults (18 or over who appear to have health and social care needs) from abuse or neglect. This is shared across a range of public services, but the key responsibility of the local authority.

An adult at risk may be a person who:

• Is elderly and frail due to ill health
• Physical disability or cognitive impairment has a learning disability has a physical disability and/or sensory impairment
• Has a mental health needs
• Has a long term illness/condition
• Missuses substances or alcohol
• Is a carer such as family members and friends
• Is unable to demonstrate the capacity to make a decision and is in need of care and support.

Adults can be more at risk of abuse when they:

• Live alone have care and support needs
• Depend on others for example to manage their money

Find it difficult to communicate.

Abuse can occur in a variety of different settings, some examples of these are:

• In a care home
• In a public place
• In a day centre
• In an adults home
• In a hospital

Anyone can be an abuser:

• A friend or family member
• A volunteer neighbour
• A care worker
• In fact anyone that has access to the adult

The Care Act 2014 guidance (page 233) describes different types of abuse which can affect people, especially when they are unable to protect themselves or tell their own story.

There are ten main categories of abuse, which are:

• Physical
• Sexual
• Psychological or emotional
• Financial or material
• Discriminatory
• Neglect and acts of omission
• Organisational or institutional
• Domestic violence
• Modern slavery and self-neglect.

If you are worried about a vulnerable person who lives in the Telford and Wrekin area being abused or neglected by other people, please say something.

If you are worried about a vulnerable person who lives in the Telford and Wrekin area being abused or neglected by other people, please say something.

• Please note if it is a serious matter or an emergency, always ring 999.
• Family Connect (Option 3) Telephone: 01952 385385 (when prompted please select option 3) Monday to Friday from 9am - 5pm Emergency Duty team Telephone: 01952 676500 Monday to Sunday after 5pm
• West Mercia Police Telephone: 0300 333 3000 or 101

Sometimes people are afraid to speak up and report abuse. This maybe because they will get someone into trouble, might have got it wrong or cause more distress.

All safeguarding concerns are responded to sensitively and focus on safeguarding and getting it right for the person concerned.

If you report abuse to us we will:

• Find out more about what is going on with the person at risk and what they want
• Work together with the person themselves and with other professional colleagues in the police and health service to try to reduce the level of risk
• Make every effort using all available legal means to find ways of reducing risk and increasing people’s safety
• Learn from everything that happens to make our work and our processes more effective in the future.

Making safeguarding personal:

• This means putting the person at the centre of everything we do during the safeguarding process from the initial contact to the very end.