For more information about Safeguarding adults please see the list of Questions and Answers below:
- What is Safeguarding?
- What do we mean by ‘adult at risk’?
- What do we mean by abuse and neglect?
- What can we do about it?
- Where will I get a copy of the policy and procedures?
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What is Safeguarding?
Every day in Gateshead an ‘adult at risk’ will experience some kind of abuse, ill treatment or neglect.
The process of helping those adults to keep themselves safe, or putting in place plans to help protect people who cannot protect themselves, is called 'safeguarding adults'.
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What do we mean by ‘adult at risk’?
‘Adult at risk’ replaces the term ‘vulnerable adult’.
Any adult can be abused, but only an adult at risk will be able to get help through the safeguarding adults process.
An adult at risk - or vulnerable adult - is someone
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who is aged 18 years or over
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who is or may be unable to take care of themselves without support from other people or services
and
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and whose health, well-being and independence would be at risk if they did not receive appropriate health and social care support – including safeguarding support
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What do we mean by abuse and neglect?
Abuse and neglect are a violation of a person’s human and civil rights. Sometimes abuse and neglect can result in serious harm and even death.
Abuse
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is the misuse of power by one person over another
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could consist of a single or repeated acts
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it might be physical, verbal, psychological, financial, institutional or discriminatory
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it might happen when an adult at risk is persuaded to take part in a financial agreement or sexual act that they do not or cannot consent to
Neglect
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can prevent someone who is dependent on others for their basic needs, from exercising choice and control over their lives
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can cause physical and emotional harm
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undermines a person’s dignity
and
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it can be deliberate or unintentional
Abuse can happen anywhere - in a person’s own home, in residential homes, in hospitals and even in public places.
Abuse can be carried out by anyone.
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What can we do about it?
Whoever you are, if you see, hear or know something that concerns you, and suspect that an adult at risk is being harmed or abused, you must report what you know. Doing nothing is not an option.
Where an ‘adult at risk’ is in immediate danger, steps should be taken to protect their safety, e.g. by calling 999 for emergency medical assistance and/or the Police.)
The person identifying the concern shouldn’t put themselves at risk.
Every care should be taken to preserve evidence.
Service users, carers and members of the public
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( Report suspicions/allegations of abuse to Adult Social Care Direct on (0191) 4337033
Social Workers or other adult social care staff who receive an alert or who are party to a disclosure
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Immediately report the concern to their line manager
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Complete a ‘safeguarding initial contact’ form on CareFirst
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Staff who don’t have access to CareFirst complete and email the ‘safeguarding matrix’ form to cbsadultsocialcaredirect@gateshead.gov.uk
All other organisations and Council departments
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Report their concerns to the ‘Designated Person’ identified in their safeguarding adults guidance
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Where another worker is implicated, whistle-blowing procedures (‘confidential reporting code’ for the Council) can also be used to alert an appropriate manager
Workers from Health
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Follow their own agency’s guidelines
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( Report the allegation to Adult Social Care Direct on (0191) 4337033
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Provide Adult Social Care Direct with the name of the ‘Responsible Manager’ leading on the case
If the allegation is about, or implicates, the Designated Person and/or the Responsible Manager, then the Alerter will need to contact Adult Social Care Direct instead.
The number to call is (0191) 4337033
The Alerter makes a written record of the alert as soon as possible and keeps this for future reference.
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Where will I get a copy of the policy and procedures?
The documents for Safeguarding Policy and procedures can be download below: