Safeguarding Adults
What is safeguarding?
Adult safeguarding is about protecting vulnerable people aged
over 18 years from abuse by others.
Abuse can be something that is done to a person or something
that is omitted from being done. It is a violation of an
individual’s rights and can happen anywhere, including in someone’s
home, a residential home, a nursing home, a day centre or
hospital. It can happen once or repeatedly.
A vulnerable adult is someone aged 18 years or over who may be
disabled, ill or frail and unable to care for or protect themselves
from significant harm or exploitation.
Abuse includes physical abuse, sexual abuse, financial abuse,
psychological abuse, neglect in an institution (such as a care
home) or discriminatory (because of someone’s disability, age or
sexuality).
All public agencies have a responsibility to ensure adults are
kept safe and well but residents can also offer support by
reporting any suspected instances of abuse to adults. They should
contact the Access Centre on 0845 607 2000 and will be able to
discuss their concerns confidentially.
Who is responsible for adult safeguarding?
All citizens of Worcestershire can expect to be treated with
dignity and respect at all times.
Worcestershire County Council has a duty to protect vulnerable
people from abuse or neglect and is the lead agency for
investigating reports of abuse or neglect from anyone in the
county.
But safeguarding is everyone's business and all partner agencies
are also responsible for ensuring adults are kept safe and well.
The Worcestershire Safeguarding Adults Board is a multi-agency
partnership of health, police, social care and the voluntary sector
and ensures all the agencies work together to ensure the safety of
residents.
Partner Agencies
- West Mercia Police
- Worcestershire Acute Hospitals Trust
- Worcestershire Health and Care Trust
- Worcestershire PCT (after April 1, three CCGs)
- Voluntary sector
Information and advice
It is the violation of an individual's human or civil rights by
another person or people. It can take many different forms and
examples such as:
- Physical
abuse being hit or restrained, misuse of medication
- Sexual abuse
being harassed, teased or being forced to have sex without
consent
- Neglect not getting
adequate care, food, medication, heating
- Psychological abuse bullying, threats, verbal
abuse
- Discriminatory abuse ridicule or threats
because of race, gender, disability, age, sexual orientation
- Financial abuse theft, fraud,
exploitation, pressure to change a will, misappropriation of
property and possessions
- Institutional abuse mistreatment by an
organisation or individual where care is provided
Campaigns
Making a referral
Contact the Access Centre on 0845 607 2000 or email socialcare@worcestershire.gov.uk
This page was last reviewed 17 May 2013 at 13:41.
The page is next due for review 13 November 2014.