Safeguarding  Adults – protecting people from abuse

Everyone has the right to live their lives free from violence, fear and abuse. All adults have the right to be protected from harm or exploitation.  Adults have the right to independence, which may involve a degree of risk.

Sometimes people are not able to enjoy these rights.  If a person is seen as vulnerable or isolated within the community there are some people who may take advantage of them or cause suffering and harm to them.  A vulnerable adult is a person who is in need of extra support because they are elderly or have a learning disability, physical disability, sensory impairment or mental health problem and who is or may be unable to take care of themselves or unable to protect themselves against harm.

The way in which people can cause harm
Abuse or mistreatment can involve any of the following:

• physically hurting someone
• neglecting a person
• sexually abusing someone
• financially exploiting a person
• causing them emotional or psychological distress.

Where people are at risk

People can be at risk from harm or exploitation anywhere.  This includes their own home, in a residential or nursing home, in day centres, at college, in hospitals or in public places.

The people who can cause harm  

There is no one particular group of people who can be identified.  We know from experience that people who have behaved in an abusive way can include the following: neighbours, friend, relatives, partners, people who are paid to care, volunteers and strangers.

Are you concerned for your safety or the safety of someone else?

Whether you are a relative, a neighbour or a member of the public, you have a responsibility to do something if you are concerned for the safety or welfare of a vulnerable adult.

If you are concerned about a possible abusive situation you can contact your local Adult Services Department or Police and tell the person answering the phone that you want to report a suspected case of adult abuse. Any information you give will be treated as confidential.

You can ring one of the numbers below :

Nottinghamshire Police Central Switchboard                    0115 967 0999

For people living within the Nottingham City Boundary  - 0115 915 1298

                                                                                                    or 0115 915 1299

For people living in the County of Nottinghamshire          0115 982 3823