Worried about an adult?
Click below for essential safeguarding information for practitioners in all agencies.
For information on who can help with Domestic Abuse issues, see our domestic abuse page.
Most people in Slough live safely, free from harm, abuse and neglect. However, some people have care and support needs that make it difficult for them to protect themselves. Adults at risk may be people who:
- Are frail due to age, ill health, physical disability or cognitive impairment, or a combination of these
- Have a learning disability
- Have a physical disability and/or a sensory impairment
- Have mental health needs including dementia or a personality disorder
- Have a long-term illness/condition
- Are users of substances or alcohol
- Are unable to demonstrate the capacity to make a decision and is in need of care and support.
Disability, illness or frailty means that many adults have to rely on other people to help them in their day-to-day living. Sadly, it is because they have to depend on others that they become vulnerable and at risk of abuse, very often from people they know such as a relative, friend, neighbour or paid carer.
If you suspect somebody is being harmed, don't ignore it, report it. The worst thing you can do, is do nothing.
How can you help?
Abuse can take place anywhere, in a person's own home, in a residential or nursing home or a day centre or hospital. Unfortunately those being abused are often the least likely to tell someone or seek help. If you see or know something of concern, please do not ignore it.
We treat cases of suspected abuse very seriously and lots of organisations in Slough work closely together to stop abuse happening. Safeguarding Adults is everybody’s business; if you see something, say something.
In an emergency, call the Police on 999.
If you think there has been a crime but it is not an emergency, call the Police on 101.
Contact Slough Adult Social Care Services:
Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm:
Out of normal office hours, call the Emergency Duty Team on 01344 786543
You can report concerns about residential, hospital or domiciliary care to CQC at enquiries@cqc.org.uk or by using the Contact us by online form - Care Quality Commission (cqc.org.uk)
Do:
- Stay calm and listen
- Take what you are being told seriously
- Offer support to help them stop the abuse happening
- Be aware that medical or other evidence might be needed
- Make a written note of what you have been told
- Contact the Police or Adult Social Care without delay
Do not:
- Question the person, or press them for more details
- Assume that someone else will take action
- Contact the alleged abuser
- Promise to keep it a secret
What Adult Social Care will do
We will:
- listen and take seriously what the person has to say
- ask them what they want to happen
- gather information
- make sure the person is safe
- get immediate medical treatment if there is an injury
- involve the police if a crime is suspected
- involve other professionals to investigate and protect the person from further abuse.
Adult Social Care will provide information and offer practical advice to the person suffering abuse, so that they can make an informed choice about any help they might need, or any action they may wish to take. If they are unable to make an informed choice, care will be taken to support and protect them.
Safeguarding Adults BSL Video
View the Safeguarding Adults video (British Sign Language version) which explains the different types of abuse and what happens after someone tells us that abuse has or may have happened.