Safeguarding Adults
Age UK Redbridge, Barking & Havering are committed to preventing the abuse and neglect of vulnerable adults. This page provides information on what this means and how you can help. We aim to adopt the highest possible standards and take all reasonable steps in relation to the safety and welfare of vulnerable adults. Abuse is a single or repeated act or lack of appropriate action which causes harm or distress to an older person.
If you need help either because you are at risk of abuse, concerned about someone else please talk to someone.
It is the duty of all statutory and voluntary organisations to promote safeguarding of vulnerable people, take steps to reduce risks of abuse of those who might be vulnerable and to act when abuse has taken place.
Age UK Redbridge, Barking and Havering is one of the partner organisations working with Adult Social Services to protect older people who are at risk of abuse.
What is a Vulnerable Adult?
A vulnerable adult is a person over the age of 18 who may be in need of extra support. This is because they are elderly or have a learning disability, physical disability, sensory impairment or mental health problems. They also may be unable to take care of themselves or protect themselves from harm.
A vulnerable older adult at risk may be someone who is in need of care and support because of disability, illness or frailty and as a result may be unable to protect themselves from the risk of or experience of abuse or neglect.
Who abuses and where does it happen?
Abuse can happen anywhere – in someone’s home, a care home, at work, or in hospital. Anyone can act in a way that is abusive.
What is Abuse?
Abuse is something done to another person that harms, hurts, exploits them or makes them feel frightened or unhappy in some way. This can be:
- Physical - hitting, pushing, pinching or shaking, over-medicating
- Domestic violence -psychological, physical, sexual, financial, emotional, 'honour' based violence
- Sexual - rape and sexual assault that a person does not want or understand
- Psychological - shouting, swearing or threats
- Financial - theft, fraud, internet scamming
- Modern slavery - slavery, human trafficking, forced labour
- Discriminatory - racist, sexist abuse or abuse based on a person's age, disability, gender, religion
- Organisational - neglect and poor care within an institution or care setting
- Neglect and acts of omission - not providing food, drink, or medical care
- Self-neglect - neglecting to care for one's personal hygiene, health or surroundings
Where does abuse happen?
Abuse can happen anywhere:
- in someone's own home
- at work
- at a day centre
- at college
- in hospital
- in residential care or nursing homes
- at a club or social event
No matter where you are, you shouldn't suffer abuse. If you or someone you know is being abused, there are people you can talk to about it.
Reporting abuse:
If you are at immediate risk of harm contact the emergency services by ringing 999, or if it is not an emergency, call 101.
Let’s talk about …. Safeguarding Adults – Supporting individuals and communities to prevent abuse and neglect
What is safeguarding adults?
Safeguarding adults is a wide range of services, including the local authority, health services and the police, plus the voluntary sector, working together to stop abuse and neglect of anyone over 18 with care and support needs. This includes supporting adults to keep safe and offering practical help, support and advice.
Who do we safeguard?
Adults with care and support needs who are experiencing or are at risk of abuse and/or neglect and are unable to protect themselves.
What are care and support needs?
Examples include learning disability; physical disability; long-term condition; acquired brain injury; drug or alcohol addiction; mental ill health.
What is abuse and neglect?
Abuse is intentional mistreatment of another person, causing them harm. It usually happens more than once by someone known to the adult, or who provides a service to the adult.
Neglect is a form of abuse. It is the ongoing failure to meet the neds of a person you care for. The adult may be hungry, dirty or left without stimulation, adequate clothing, adequate supervision or access to healthcare or medication. Neglect is one of ten recognised forms of abuse which also include domestic abuse, physical abuse, sexual abuse, psychological or emotional abuse, modern slavery, self-neglect and hoarding, organisational or institutional abuse, financial or material abuse, and discriminatory abuse.
Safeguarding partners that form the Redbridge Safeguarding Adults Board are particularly raising awareness of discriminatory abuse, which is the unequal treatment based on your age, gender, sexual orientation, disability, race, religion and belief and can be the foundation of other forms of abuse e.g. physical abuse, emotional abuse.
Some people have conditions that may put them at additional risk, for example, loneliness, difficulties with communication or mental ill health.
Signs that someone maybe experiencing abuse are withdrawing from friends/family; feeling scared; appearing dirty or uncared for; feeling like a burden; change in friendship group; having less money; changes in mood; appearing to be influenced or controlled; losing interest in usual activities; and being secretive.
Abuse can happen anywhere – in someone’s home, in a care setting, or at work. We are asking Redbridge residents to help protect adults at risk by recognising the potential signs of abuse and speaking up if they have concerns about a relative, friend or someone in your community. Share your concerns by contacting Redbridge Health and Adult Social Care on 020 8708 7333 (Monday – Friday, 09:00 – 17:00). In an emergency, outside of office hours, call the Emergency Duty Team on 020 8553 5824. If you feel that someone is in immediate danger, please dial 999 and ask for the Police.
If you want to find out more about safeguarding adults, there are two leaflets available to read online – RSAB Safeguarding Adults Leaflet and ‘Say no to abuse’, an Easy Read version.
Safeguarding adults in Redbridge – together we can stop abuse.
Safeguarding adult referrals can be made by completing the Redbridge safeguarding adults referral form
Making a Safeguarding Referral – Redbridge Safeguarding Adults Board
Havering Adult Social Services
The Safeguarding Adults Team in the Integrated Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH) is the central pathway in relation to all safeguarding concerns.
If there is an immediate risk of serious harm, then call the Police - Dial 999.
Otherwise please report abuse to us below:
Report the abuse of a vulnerable adult
Adult Social Services Safeguarding Adults Team
Telephone: 01708 433 550
Email: safeguarding_adults_team@havering.gov.uk
Barking & Dagenham Adult Social Services
Contact the Adult Intake Team if you are concerned that an adult at risk is being abused or neglected.
Telephone 020 8227 2915
Email IntakeTeam@lbbd.gov.uk
https://www.lbbd.gov.uk/form/safeguarding-adults-report-a-con
Redbridge Safeguarding Survey (ONLY FOR RESIDENTS LIVING IN REDBRIDGE)
Everyone has a right to feel safe, and to live without fear of abuse, neglect or exploitation. You can support us with this work by getting a better understanding of what abuse is and that it takes place in all communities. You can make a difference by looking out for signs of abuse and reporting any concerns you may have.
In Redbridge we are carrying out a short survey to get a better understanding of people’s awareness of Safeguarding and knowledge of who they would go to if they themselves are experiencing abuse or someone that they know. It has been highlighted that there are fewer Safeguarding referrals from certain Community Groups and so our survey will enable us to look at how we can increase awareness of Safeguarding in the community and to ensure that you are more aware of abuse and be able to look out for signs of abuse and feel confident to report any concerns. We would be grateful if you could please take a few minutes to complete the survey for us using the QR Code below:
For more information:
For more information about Protecting yourself from abuse and neglect or someone you know please use the links below:
Age UK Safeguarding Factsheet https://www.ageuk.org.uk/siteassets/documents/factsheets/fs78_safeguarding_older_people_from_abuse_fcs.pdf
Hour Glass
Hour Glass offers a free to call 24/7 Helpline to discuss abuse and neglect of Older People.
Telephone Line: 24/7 Helpline 0808 808 8141
Free Text: 078 6005 2906