Safeguarding Adults
Adult Safeguarding is the area of work that is undertaken by
local agencies to try to prevent harm and exploitation of adults
who may be unable to safeguard themselves and to respond to it when
it occurs.
Who are ‘adults in need of
safeguarding?'
Some people aged 18 years or over may
be unable to safeguard themselves from harm or from being exploited
because they have a mental health problem (including dementia), a
learning or physical disability, a sensory impairment, are older
and frail, or have some form of illness or long-term condition.
How can I tell if an adult is being harmed or
exploited?
Harm and exploitation may consist of:
- Physical harm, including hitting, slapping, pushing, kicking,
misuse of medication, restraint, or inappropriate sanctions;
- Sexual harm, including rape and sexual assault or sexual acts
to which the adult has not consented, or could not consent to or
was pressured into consenting to;
- Psychological harm, including threats of physical hurt or
abandonment, deprivation of contact, humiliation, blaming,
over-controlling, intimidation, coercion, harassment, verbal abuse,
and isolation;
- Financial or material exploitation, including theft, fraud,
pressure in connection with wills, property or inheritance or
financial transactions, or the misuse or misappropriation of
property, possessions, benefits, or direct payments;
- Neglect and acts of omission, including ignoring medical or
physical care needs; failure to provide access to appropriate
health, social care or educational services; the withholding of the
necessities of life, such as medication, adequate nutrition and
heating;
- Inappropriate discrimination, including racist, sexist, and
that based on a person’s disability, and any other forms of related
harassment.
Harm and exploitation can occur anywhere, for example:
- At home
- In care homes
- In day centres
- At work
- At college
- In hospitals or health centres/surgeries
- Public places or in the community
What do I do if I have a concern, suspicion or
allegation that an adult is being harmed or
exploited?
In emergency situations seek appropriate
medical attention and contact the Police, as would be done with
anyone in that situation. The protection of the vulnerable adult
from harm is the first priority.
- In non-urgent situations it is important that the information
is reported to Adult Social Care so that a care worker can play a
part in planning how to respond to any specific case. This is the
same as for child abuse.
- Referrals may be made during working hours through the
Peterborough Direct telephone number: 01733 747474. In emergencies
outside office hours contact the Emergency Duty Team Social Worker
on 01733 234724 or the Police on 0345 456 45640.
We would much prefer that you contact us sooner rather than
later in the process. If we are alerted early enough it may be
possible for us to act to prevent harm and exploitation taking
place.
The Peterborough Adult Safeguarding
System
A multi-agency Adult Safeguarding Partnership
consists of an Adult Safeguarding Board of senior managers from
across the agencies of Peterborough and an Adult Safeguarding Forum
of managers and workers involved with caring for adults in
Peterborough.
Further information is available by contacting the Strategic
Safeguarding Adults Unit on 01733 758435.
Useful links:
Safeguarding
Adults Board Procedures April 2012