If you suspect, tell us
If you suspect an adult is being abused or neglected (this could be you or someone you know), call us on 01225 394200 (our phone lines are open Monday to Thursday, 8.30am to 5pm, and Fridays, 8.30am to 4.30pm), or call our Emergency Duty Social Work team on 01454 61 51 65 (evenings, weekends and bank holidays).
Different types of abuse
- Physical abuse (e.g. being hit, slapped, kicked, locked in a room, restrained inappropriately)
- Sexual abuse (e.g. being made to take part in a sexual activity without consent)
- Emotional or psychological abuse (e.g. being shouted at, ridiculed, bullied, made to feel frightened or pressurised into decisions)
- Financial or material abuse (e.g. the misuse, withholding or theft of someone's money or belongings)
- Discriminatory abuse (e.g. ill treatment or harassment based on someone's age, gender, sexuality, disability, race or religious belief)
- Domestic abuse (e.g. an incident or pattern of incidents of controlling, forcible or threatening behaviour, violence, or abuse by someone who is or has been an intimate partner or family member regardless of sexuality)
- Modern slavery (e.g. human trafficking, forced labour and domestic servitude)
- Neglect (e.g. failure to provide care that results in the person being harmed, left with no food, or not receiving help with health or care needs)
- Self-neglect (e.g. situations where someone declines support with their care needs, hygiene, health or their environment, and this has a significant impact on their overall wellbeing)
When any of these types of abuse or neglect are caused by an organisation, this is also referred to as organisational abuse.
Who is at risk?
Someone in need of care and support can be particularly at risk of harm or abuse. This includes anyone:
- With a physical disability or illness
- Elderly or frail
- With sensory loss
- Living with dementia
- With a learning disability
- With a mental health need
What we will do
When you call us, we will talk to you about any further action we will take, and consider your wishes and feelings. And we will try to maintain confidentiality, unless this is impossible to do so. For further details about what we will do when you report a concern to us, visit our safeguarding page on our Council's website.
If there is a large-scale safeguarding concern within an organisation such as a nursing or care home, we will progress safeguarding measures as quickly as possible.