What is safeguarding?
We all have a right to live a life free from abuse and neglect. Safeguarding adults means protecting adults at risk from abuse or neglect by taking steps to prevent or stop it from happening.
In an emergency, please call 999
Who is an adult at risk?
A vulnerable adult at risk is anyone aged 18 and over who:
- Has care and support needs
- Is experiencing, or at risk of abuse or neglect
- Is unable to protect themselves against significant harm or exploitation.
What is abuse?
Abuse can be a single or repeated act or lack of appropriate action, which causes harm or distress. It happens in many forms such as:
- Psychological abuse
- Physical abuse
- Sexual abuse
- Discriminatory abuse
- Domestic abuse
- Financial or material abuse
- Modern slavery
- Organisational abuse
- Neglect acts of omission
- Self –neglect
- Forced marriage
- Female genital mutilation
- Hate crime
- Human trafficking
Who could be an abuser?
- Spouses / partners
- Other family members
- Neighbours
- Friends
- Acquaintances
- Local residents
- People who deliberately exploit adults they perceive as vulnerable to abuse
- Paid staff or professionals
- Volunteers and strangers.
Where can abuse happen?
- In your own home
- At relatives or friends homes
- In residential or nursing homes
- In a day centre, social club, adult education centre
- In hospital or GP surgery
- Any public places.
What to do if you witness a person being abused
Take the following steps if you witness an abuse or to report an abuse:
- Make sure that the person is safe
- Listen calmly to the person
- Talk reassuringly to the person and guarantee confidentiality
- Explain that you must inform your line manager
- Tell them that with their consent they can get help and support
- Make an accurate report using the person's own words
- Describe the circumstances in which it occurred
- Keep person informed of all follow-on proceedings.
How to raise a concern about an adult in Newham.
In an emergency, please call 999