Safeguarding concerns

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The well-being and safety of local people is our main concern, and we adopt a zero tolerance stance on the abuse, neglect or discrimination of any person but particularly people at risk or in vulnerable situations in whatever setting. There is good partnership working at the local level when concerns are raised and services work together effectively to ensure a co-ordinated approach. If you are concerned that you or another adult is being neglected, harmed, or abused in any way, please do not ignore it. Any suspicion of abuse or neglect should be reported. Anyone who has concerns that an adult who may have care and support needs is at risk of or experiencing abuse and neglect, can raise their concerns with the local authority.

Southampton Adult Social Care: 023 8083 3003

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Report a concern about an adult

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This video provides information about abuse, how to recognise it and how to report concerns.

4LSAB Safeguarding Concerns Guidance

The purpose of the 4LSAB Safeguarding Concerns Guidance is to support the decision making and reporting of adult safeguarding concerns, in order to impact positively on outcomes for people with a need for care and support, who are at risk of or experiencing abuse or neglect. This framework sits alongside the 4LSAB Multi-Agency Adult Safeguarding Policy, Process and Guidance 2020 and draws on the Care Act 2014 and accompanying statutory guidance and connects to the LGA and ADASS framework ‘Making decisions on the duty to carry out safeguarding enquiries’.

National safeguarding concerns quick guides

Safeguarding concerns e-learning

The purpose of this multi-agency framework is to support the decision making and reporting of adult safeguarding concerns, in order to impact positively on outcomes for people with a need for care and support, who are at risk of or experiencing abuse or neglect.

This framework sits alongside the Multi-Agency Adult Safeguarding Policy, Process and Guidance 2020 and draws on the Care Act 2014 and accompanying statutory guidance and connects to the LGA and Adass framework ‘Making decisions on the duty to carry out safeguarding enquiries’.

Key points

What supports this framework is practice that promotes:

Personalised approaches which balance well-being with safety and prevention
Engagement with the adult about how best to respond to their safeguarding situations in a way that enhances their involvement, choice, and control. – An adult’s rights, ensuring that those who lack mental capacity (as well as those who have capacity) are empowered and included within safeguarding support
Empowering people so that they are partners in understanding and managing risk in their own lives
An emphasis on the need for transparency and openness in managing conflicting outcomes (both of the adult and between the adult and professional organisations)
The role of advocacy in all of the above

Southampton Safeguarding Concerns e-learning (link to multi-agency policies and guidance page)

Southampton City Council Adult Safeguarding Concern referral form

SCIE safeguarding videos

Safeguarding adults: helping people to protect themselves from crime

What is the video about? Care staff can help older people to protect against burglary and feel more confident at home. Practical advice such as using door chains, window locks and asking for identification are simple strategies older people can take to reduce the risk of burglary. In this video, older people who were robbed by distraction burglars and rogue traders are interviewed. They explain the shock, fear and deep disappointment such experiences can cause. Interviews with care staff illustrate this issue can be discussed without being patronising or making a person feel unduly concerned.

Who will find this useful? Care workers in community settings; trainers of community staff; safety roadshows.

Safeguarding adults: looking out for each other to prevent abuse

What is the video about? The film shows how good communication with older people can improve safeguarding. In residential care it is important that staff take the time to talk to residents and to listen to their concerns. Two community projects demonstrate how people are encouraged to look out for each other and to report any concerns about the safety of individuals. The Elders Forum based at the Malcolm X Community Centre in Bristol and the Ivybank House Residential Home in Bath both demonstrate how an open learning environment can encourage older people to speak out if they have seen or experienced abuse.

Who will find this useful? Managers and front-line workers providing residential and community care.

Safeguarding adults: an independent life after abuse

What is the video about? The film focuses on the personal story of Philip who suffered physical, financial and emotional abuse in the family home for many years. Philip has learning disabilities and cerebral palsy. When Philip finally disclosed the abuse, he was supported to leave the family home. Since then he has gone from strength to strength. He married and, although his wife unfortunately died some years after their marriage, Philip continues to live a full and independent life. Warning: This film contains strong language.

Who will find this useful? Social workers; front-line care workers.

Safeguarding adults: teaching people to protect themselves

What is the video about? This short film shows how training for people with learning disabilities can help them to protect themselves from abuse. People are helped to recognise what abuse is and to understand that they can and should say no. Each session involves a paid co-trainer who is an adult with learning disabilities. The training has also been adapted for groups of older people, people with physical disabilities and people who misuse substances.

Who will find this useful? People working with people who are vulnerable to abuse; people working with people with communication problems.