Safeguarding Adults

Safeguarding means protecting an adults’ right to live in safety and free from abuse and neglect.

NHS Safeguarding

It is about people and organisations working together to prevent and stop both the risks and experience of abuse or neglect, while at the same time making sure the adults wellbeing is promoted, where appropriate, having regard to their views, wishes, feelings and beliefs in deciding on any action.

Categories of abuse

Abuse and neglect can take many forms. Organisations and individuals should not be constrained in their view of what constitutes abuse or neglect, and should always consider the circumstances of the individual case.

Abuse includes:

  • Physical abuse – including assault hitting, slapping, pushing, misuse of medication, restraint or inappropriate physical sanctions.
  • Sexual abuse – including rape and sexual assault or sexual acts to which the adult has not consented or was pressured into consenting.
  • Psychological abuse – including emotional abuse, threats of harm or abandonment, deprivation of contact, humiliation, blaming, controlling, intimidation, coercion, harassment, verbal abuse, isolation or unreasonable and unjustified withdrawal of services or supportive networks
  • Modern Slavery – including human trafficking.
  • Financial or material abuse – including theft, fraud, exploitation, coercion in relation to an adult’s financial affairs or arrangements, including in connection with wills, property, inheritance or financial transactions, or the misuse or misappropriation of property, possessions or benefits.
  • Neglect and acts of omission – including ignoring medical or physical care needs, failure to provide access to appropriate health, care and support or educational services, the withholding of the necessities of life, such as medication, adequate nutrition and heating.
  • Self – Neglect – this covers a wide range of behaviour neglecting to care for one’s personal hygiene, health or surrounding and includes behaviour such as hoarding. It is important to consider capacity when self-neglect is suspected. Also consider how it may impact on other family members and whether this gives rise to a safeguarding concern.
  • Domestic Violence
  • Discriminatory abuse – including discrimination on grounds of race, gender and gender identity, disability sexual orientation, religion, and other forms of harassment, slurs or similar treatment.
  • Organisational abuse – including neglect and poor care practice within an institution or specific care setting like a hospital or care home, e.g. this may range from isolated incidents to continuing ill-treatment.

What to do if you have a concern regarding an adult at risk of abuse

It is important to remember that if abuse has taken place that we need to ensure the welfare and the immediate safety of the adult at risk.

To report your safeguarding concern you need to contact the Local Authority where the person is living.

If you believe a crime has been committed then you must also contact the police:

Dial 999 if you believe the situation is very serious and the person is at immediate risk of serious harm.

Dial 101 for non-emergency reports.

Local Authority contact details – adult safeguarding concern:

Bolton
Tel: 01204 337000 /333410
Out of Hours: 01204 337777

Bury
Tel: 0161 2535151
Out of Hours: 0161 2536600

Cheshire West and Chester
Tel: 0300 123 7034
Out of Hours: 01244 977277

East Cheshire
Tel: 0300 123 5010
Out of Hours: 0300 123 5022

Halton
Tel: 0151 907 8306
Out of Hours: 0345 0500 148

Oldham
Tel: 0161 770 7777
Out of Hours: 0161 770 6936

Rochdale
Tel: 0300 3038886
Out of Hours: 0300 3038875

St Helens
Tel: 01744 676600
Out of Hours: 0345 050 0148

Stockport
Tel: 0161 217 6029
Out of Hours: 0161 718 2118

Tameside / Glossop
Tel: 0161 3422400
Out of Hours: 0161 342 2222

Trafford
Tel: 0161 912 5135 / 0161 912 2820
Out of Hours: 0161 912 2020

Warrington
Tel: 01925 444239
Out of Hours: 01925 444400

Wigan
Tel: 01942 828777
Out of Hours: 01942 828777