Safeguarding Adults
If you think you or someone you know is being mistreated, ring the Safeguarding Adults Referral and Advice Line on 020 8489 1400 (office hours) or 020 8348 3148 (out of hours).
If you or the person you are concerned about is not being mistreated (but you or they they still have needs to address) you can make a referral to Adult Social Care via the Integrated Access Team
Abuse exists in various forms and can be perpetrated by one or more person.
Whatever the abuse or the setting, abuse is not acceptable and a violation of a person's basic human rights. Adults living in Haringey have the right to receive support and live a life free from abuse and neglect.
Most people find it difficult to imagine that vulnerable adults and older people are victims of abuse. It is a hidden and often ignored problem in society. Haringey recognises the need to protect vulnerable people from abuse.
Haringey Council with its partners in the Haringey Teaching Primary Care Trust and the Metropolitan Police have produced information outlining what abuse is and what to do if you suspect someone is being abused. This information can be found in the attached files section below.
- What is abuse?
- Where does abuse occur?
- Who can the abuser be?
- How can you tell someone is being abused?
- What should I do if I suspect someone is being abused? (this section includes the Safeguarding Adults Alert Form)
What is abuse?
Abuse is a violation on an individual’s human and civil rights by a person or persons.
The following types of abuse that are listed are recognised with the Department of Health's No Secrets: Guidance on developing Multi-Agency Policies and Procedures to Protect Vulnerable Adults from Abuse (external link) definitions.
- Physical Abuse: includes hitting, slapping, pushing, kicking, misuse of medication or inappropriate sanctions or restraint.
- Sexual Abuse: includes rape and sexual assault or sexual acts to which the vulnerable adult has not consented, or could not consent or was pressured into consenting.
- Psychological Abuse: includes emotional abuse, threats of harm or abandonment, deprivation of contact, humiliation, blaming, controlling, intimidation, coercion, harassment, verbal abuse, isolation or withdrawal from services or supportive networks.
- Financial or material abuse: includes theft, fraud, exploitation, pressure in connection with wills, property or inheritance or financial transactions, or the misuse or misappropriation of property, possessions or benefits.
- Neglect and acts of omission: includes ignoring medical or physical care needs, failure to provide access to appropriate health, social care or educational services, the withholding of the necessities of life, such as medication, adequate nutrition and heating.
- Discriminatory abuse: includes racism, sexism, or those based on a person’s disability, and other forms of harassment, slurs or similar treatment.
Where does abuse occur?
Abuse can take place in any context and can occur in the following settings:
- In your own home, living alone or with a relative
- In someone else’s house
- Nursing home
- Residential care home
- In hospital
- Day care centre
- In a custodial situation
- In other places assumed as being safe
- In public places
Who can the abuser be?
Vulnerable adults may be abused by a wide range of people including:
- Relatives and family members
- Professional staff
- Paid care workers
- Volunteers
- Other service users
- Neighbours
- Friends and associates
- People who deliberately exploit vulnerable people
- Strangers
How can you tell someone is being abused?
Some people may not realise they are being abused. Often the person being harmed is not able to say what is happening to them. Here are some warning signs that you can look for:
- Bruises, falls and injuries
- Signs of neglect such as clothes being dirty
- Poor care either at home or in a residential or nursing home or hospital
- Changes in someone’s financial situation
- Changes in behaviour such as loss of confidence or nervousness
What should I do if I suspect someone is being abused?
Your concerns will be listened to and taken seriously. Please tell someone.
You can raise your concerns by contacting one of the following:
| If the danger is immediate, always call the police on their emergency number | 999 |
|---|---|
| Safeguarding Adults Referral and Advice Line (office hours) | 020 8489 1400 |
| Safeguarding Adults Referral and Advice Line (out of hours) | 020 8348 3148 |
| Community Safety Unit (24 hours) | 020 8345 1939 |
| Police - Criminal Investigation Department (CID) (evenings and weekends) | 020 8345 0832 |
If you would like to make a referral to the Adult Protection service, you can download the Safeguarding Adults Alert Form (DOC, 250KB) here.
|Back to TopHaringey Safeguarding Adults Board Annual Report 2010/11
Our annual report for 2010/11 provides details of the work of the Haringey Safeguarding Adults Board (SAB) between April 2010 and the end of March 2011. The report describes national initiatives on adult safeguarding as well as the work that has been undertaken locally to protect adults at risk in Haringey. The purpose of the report is to share information on our achievements and future plans with our partners, service users and other Haringey residents. We are very proud of our achievements in 2010/11 and we are committed to continuing our work to deliver excellent adult safeguarding services in Haringey.
|Back to TopHaringey Multi-agency Safeguarding Adults
In Haringey, as in every London local authority, we have adopted the London multi-agency procedures - "Protecting adults at risk: London multi-agency policy and procedures to safeguard adults from abuse". The previous Haringey procedures have been replaced but are included here as a reference tool.
Haringey Multi-Agency Safeguarding Adults Policy and Procedures March 2008 (PDF, 471KB)
The new Pan-London safeguarding adults procedures, “Protecting adults at risk: London multi-agency policy and procedures to safeguard adults from abuse”, were published in January 2011. The procedures provide a single point of reference, and shared understanding for all agencies working with adults at risk from harm, in London.
The report can be viewed by clicking on the link to SCIE Report 39 in the useful external links section below.
We have produced a local Haringey appendix to the London multi-agency procedures. This local appendix sets out local contacts, details about the safeguarding Adults Board and our Haringey safeguarding adults referral and audit forms. The local appendix is provided in the attached files section below.
For information about Adult abuse and contact details of other organisations that can offer important advice and information, please click on the link below:
See the attached files section below for additional guidance and Safeguarding Adults documents.
|Back to TopReview of "No Secrets" Guidance
The Department of Health and Home Office issued the publication No Secrets: Guidance on developing Multi-Agency Policies and Procedures to Protect Vulnerable Adults from Abuse (external link) in March 2000. Haringey’s current Safeguarding Adults policy and procedures adheres to the contents of the No Secrets guidance.
The Department of Health have reviewed 'No Secrets' and they provide details of the responses to their consultation on their website. The responses can be viewed by clicking on the external link to 'No Secrets-Consultation' in the useful external links section below.
|Back to TopInformation Sharing Protocol
This Individual Protocol is an agreement between Partner Organisations detailed in section 1.2, to facilitate and govern the sharing of information between agencies working with Adults (aged 18 and over).
The purpose of the protocol is to facilitate the secure exchange of information to cover specific social care issues not previously addressed by the Crime, Disorder and Anti-Social Behaviour protocol. You can download the protocol and practitioners guide using the following link below:
- Vulnerable Adults Living in Haringey - Information Sharing Protocol (PDF, 126KB)
- Safeguarding Adults ISP Practitioners Guide (PDF, 130KB)
If you believe a child (under 18) is at risk, you will find more information on our Child Protection page.
Find out about our Domestic Violence Strategy and Safer for All - Community Safety Strategy.
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