Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of Adults and Children is Everybody’s Business.
All staff in Worcestershire Health and Care Trust have a duty to report abuse or concerns they have or are made aware of.
All reports are taken seriously and treated confidentially.
Safeguarding Children
Safeguarding children involves:
• protecting children from maltreatment
• preventing impairment of children’s health or development
• ensuring children are growing up in circumstances consistent with the provision of safe and effective care.
If you are worried about a child and think that he or she may be the victim of, or at risk from neglect, abuse or cruelty - talk to a teacher, health professional or youth worker, who will give you advice about what to do next. Alternatively, you can contact the Police on 101 or Worcestershire County Council Access Service on 0845 607 2000.
Web link to Children’s Social Care in Worcestershire
http://www.worcestershire.gov.uk/cms/children-and-families/making-a-referral.aspx
Email:
socialcare@worcestershire.gov.uk
Safeguarding Adults
An Adult at Risk is someone over 18 years of age who may be unable to protect themselves from significant harm or serious exploitation because of a physical or mental disability, age or illness.
Abuse can occur in any relationship and may result in significant harm or exploitation of an adult at risk. A wide range of people may harm adults including: staff members, professionals, volunteers, other patients or service users, relatives, friends, neighbours and strangers.
What is abuse?
It is the violation of an individual's human or civil rights by another person or people. It can take many different forms such as:
- Physical abuse - being hit or restrained, misuse of medication
- Sexual abuse - being harassed, teased or being forced to have sex without consent
- Psychological abuse - bullying, threats, verbal abuse
- Financial abuse - theft, fraud, misappropriation of property or possessions, pressure to change a Will
- Neglect - not getting adequate care, food, medication, heating
- Discriminatory abuse - ridicule or threats because of race, gender, disability
- Institutional abuse - mistreatment by an organisation or individual where care is provided
- Forced Marriage - forcing someone to marry under duress and unwillingly
- Hate Crime related to being victimised due to discrimination against a person for their ability, race, culture belief, sexual orientation etc.
- Honour Based Violence - is a crime and referring to the Police must always be considered.
If you need advice and guidance regarding the potential abuse of an Adult at Risk talk to a staff member at Worcestershire Health & Care NHS Trust who will support you to report your concerns, or contact Worcestershire County Council Access Service on 0845 607 2000 or contact the Police on 101.
Web Link to County Council Safeguarding Adults Site
http://www.worcestershire.gov.uk/cms/safeguarding-adults.aspx
Previous Declarations:
Worcestershire Mental Health Partnership Trust declaration
Worcestershire Primary Care Trust declaration
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