Safeguarding

Safeguarding Adults

What is adult safeguarding?

Adult safeguarding is protecting an adult’s right to live in safety, free from abuse and neglect and to make choices about what happens in your life.

Abuse occurs when someone exploits another person or treats them in a way that harms or hurts them. It can happen once or on multiple occasions. People who abuse are not always strangers. They can also be: partners, relatives, a friend, neighbour or carer. Abuse is always wrong and it can happen to anyone and anywhere.

Safeguarding Form

https://www.kent.gov.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0005/168602/Prevent-National-Referral-Form.pdf

Types of abuse

Abuse can happen anywhere and by anyone. Whether it’s something big that’s happening now, or small acts that build up over a long time, it’s still abuse.

– Abuse at a hospital or care home

Abuse can happen at a hospital or at a care home. It may involve physical violence, a one-off incident, or can be connected to the removal of something we all take for granted.

Some examples are:

  • lack of choice (heating, lighting or food)
  • lack of personal clothing or possessions
  • abuse (physical, financial or verbal)
  • confinement, restraint or restriction
  • an unhygienic environment
  • no respect towards someone’s religion, belief or culture
  • being treated like a child
  • inappropriate use of power or control over someone.

If you are concerned about someone suffering from abuse in hospital or in a care home, let us know.

– Discriminatory abuse

Discriminatory abuse can also be known as a “hate crime”.

This type of abuse includes forms of harassment, threats or insults because of someone’s:

  • age
  • culture
  • gender and gender identity
  • physical or learning disability
  • mental health needs
  • race
  • religion
  • sexual orientation.

Charities who can offer support:

– Domestic abuse

Domestic abuse is when someone uses power and control over you. You may be subjected to violence, threats or emotional pressure.

It is not always easy to recognise that you or someone you know is being abused, especially there is no physical violence.

– Emotional or psychological abuse

Emotional or psychological abuse can include:

  • being often blamed for something that isn’t your fault
  • controlling behaviour by intimidation of fear
  • being shouted at
  • being bullied or feeling threatened
  • humiliation.

This type of abuse can take place in person, or through texts, calls, social media, or at home.

– Financial abuse

Everyone has the right to make independent financial decisions.

Financial abuse is: “The unauthorised and improper use of funds, property or any resources belonging to another individual”. It includes:

  • theft, fraud and exploitation
  • pressure in connection with wills, property, inheritance or financial transactions
  • misuse or misappropriation of property, assets, possessions, savings, capital or benefits.

There are places to go for help and support and things you can do.

– Forcing someone to work (modern slavery)

Modern slavery means a person is being forced to work for little or no pay. They are being held against their will, and being tortured or abused by others.

– Neglect

A person can suffer if a carer neglects their physical or mental needs. This can include keeping someone clean, warm, and fed. Or not giving someone their medication.

Some examples of neglect are:

  • not giving someone appropriate privacy and dignity
  • failing to give heating and lighting
  • inconsistent or reluctant contact with health and social care agencies
  • being isolated from visitors
  • poor environmental conditions.

– Physical abuse

Physical abuse is when someone causes another harm. This can include:

  • hitting
  • pushing
  • kicking
  • misusing their medication
  • burning someone on purpose
  • controlling what they eat
  • depriving them of their liberty or independence.

– Sexual abuse

Sexual abuse may mean making someone take part in unwanted sex. Or a sexual activity. This can either be by someone they know or someone they do not know.

It can also include:

  • rape
  • indecent exposure
  • sexual harassment
  • inappropriate looking or touching
  • sexual teasing or innuendo
  • sexual photography
  • subjection to pornography
  • witnessing sexual acts
  • indecent exposure
  • sexual assault
  • sexual acts to which the adult has not consented or was pressured into consenting to.

If you are in a relationship, it should always be based on honesty and trust.

– Self-neglect

Self-neglect is when someone neglects their health, hygiene and home.

Examples of self neglect are:

  • choosing not to ask or refusing to ask for help from health or social care services when needed
  • choosing not to ask or refusing to ask for help to look after finances
  • lack of self care that it could threaten your mental state
  • living in dirty and unsanitary conditions
  • hoarding
  • not wishing to take any medication.

If you know someone who is neglecting themselves, sit down and chat with them. Ask them how they are, and if they need any support with cooking, cleaning or doing basic jobs around the house.

Charities who can offer support:

– Deprivation of liberty safeguards (DoLS)

The deprivation of liberty safeguards (DoLS), makes sure anyone who cannot consent to their care arrangements in a care home or hospital are protected if those arrangements deprive them of their liberty. A person who is being deprived of their liberty as a result of their care needs is entitled to legal safeguards. This is to make sure that the restrictions in place to keep them safe are appropriate and proportionate.

Safeguarding Children

Report child abuse

Children experiencing abuse might be afraid to talk about what is happening. They may not know that what is happening is not okay.

It can be difficult to know what to do if you are worried about the safety and welfare of a child. You might be concerned that a child is being abused by someone:

  • in the child’s own family
  • outside the child’s family, like a teacher, sports coach or babysitter
  • on the internet, such as being groomed or bullied on social media websites.

Learn more on our page about signs and symptoms of child abuse.

Call 999 for the emergency services if you think someone is in immediate danger.

Contact us if you suspect child abuse

Contact us if you are concerned about a child being abused. We can help.

Visit the Ofcom website for information about text relay.

Emergency and out of hours calls

Call 03000 41 91 91 if you need to contact us outside of normal office hours, for example during the night or at the weekend.

Tell us as much as you can

The more information you can give us about what’s happening and where it’s happening, the better. Reporting your concerns means trained professionals will review the situation and put protective actions in place.

As a member of the public, we encourage you to give your name. Sometimes the situation or safety of the child means we need to share the details you give us. But we do our best to not tell anyone your name unless you say we can.

Don’t assume that someone else will take responsibility. If you are worried, report it.

Other ways to report child abuse

Call the NSPCC helpline on 0808 800 5000. This is available on Monday to Friday 10am to 8pm. Visit the NSPCC website for more information about the NSPCC Helpline.

You can also email the NSPCC at help@nspcc.org.uk or use the NSPCC online form to report child abuse.

Report child abuse as a professional

Making a referral online is easy. It is your duty to report suspected child abuse if you are a professional and you will need to share your name.

You can report this on the Kent Integrated Children’s Portal. Or for more information visit the Kent Safeguarding Children Multi-Agency Partnership website.