Safeguarding Adults

Safeguarding is the protection of harm from abuse and or neglect.

Safeguarding Adults

The Care Act (2014) describes adult safeguarding as protecting an adult’s right to live in safety, free from abuse and neglect by protecting adults who:

have needs for care and support
are experiencing or at risk of abuse or neglect, and
as a result of those care and support needs, are unable to protect themselves from either the risk of, or the experience of, abuse or neglect.

If someone is in imminent danger, ring 999. If a crime has been committed, but there is no immediate danger, ring 101.

If you are worried that an adult is or may be experiencing abuse or neglect, contact the local authority safeguarding contact centre to raise your concerns.

Stoke - 0800 561 0015

Staffordshire - 0345 604 2719

Out of area - use the free NHS Safeguarding guide to find the correct number https://safeguarding-guide.nhs.uk/

Child Safeguarding

A person is classed as a child up until their 18^th birthday.

Government guidance called "Working Together to Safeguard Children" (2023), defines safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children as -

providing help and support to meet the needs of children as soon as problems
emerge

protecting children from maltreatment, whether that is within or outside the home,

including online

preventing impairment of children’s mental and physical health or development

ensuring that children grow up in circumstances consistent with the provision of safe and effective care

taking action to enable all children to have the best outcomes

promoting the upbringing of children with their birth parents, or otherwise their family network, through a kinship care arrangement, whenever possible and where this is in the best interests of the children

taking action to enable all children to have the best outcomes in line with the outcomes set out in the Children’s Social Care National Framework

If a child is in imminent danger, ring 999. If a crime has been committed, but there is no immediate danger, ring 101.

If you are worried that a child might be at risk of, or is experiencing abuse or neglect, contact the local authority safeguarding contact centre to raise your concerns.

Stoke - 01782 235100

Staffordshire - 0800 131 3126

Out of area - use the free NHS Safeguarding guide to find the correct number https://safeguarding-guide.nhs.uk/

Domestic Abuse

Domestic Abuse is defined by the Domestic Abuse Act (2021) as -

‘Any incident or pattern of incidents of controlling, coercive or threatening behaviour, violence or abuse between those aged 16 or over who are or have been intimate partners or family members (Family members are: mother, father, son, daughter, brother, sister and grandparents: directly related, in-laws or stepfamily) regardless of gender or sexuality’.

This can encompass, but is not limited to the following types of abuse: