Safeguarding Adults
What is Safeguarding?
Safeguarding adults is protecting an adult’s right to live in safety, free from abuse and neglect. It is about people and organisations working together to prevent and stop abuse and neglect happening.
The Newcastle Safeguarding Adults Board makes sure that all organisations work closely together, using the same multi agency policies and procedures, to protect and prevent abuse of adults at risk.
Abuse and neglect is never ok. If you, or someone you know is being abused or neglected, it is important to tell someone. Report it.
At this time, you can also visit our dedicated webpage on coronavirus and safeguarding adults, which includes information for professionals, volunteers and the public.
Information for adults at risk, carers, and family members
Do you know someone aged over 18 who cannot always protect themselves from harm because of care and support needs?
It might be that they could be more vulnerable to abuse or neglect and may have greater difficulty keeping themselves safe.
Policy and procedures
All agencies in Newcastle need to be familiar with and use the multi-agency safeguarding adults policy and procedures. They detail what safeguarding adults is and what needs to happen when abuse or neglect of an adult at risk is suspected.
NSAB and Sub-Committees
The Newcastle Safeguarding Adults Board (NSAB) makes sure that all organisations work closely together, using the same multi-agency policies and procedures, to protect and prevent abuse of adults at risk. Find out more about the Newcastle Safeguarding Adults Board and it’s sub-committees.
Resources for practice
As well as the policy and procedures, the NSAB produce a variety of topic-based resources, briefing sheets and other learning tools.
The six safeguarding principles
Empowerment
People are supported and
encouraged to make their own decisions and informed consent
Prevention
It is better to take action before
harm occurs
Proportionality
The least intrusive response appropriate to the risk presented
Protection
Support and representation
for those in greatest need
Partnership
Local solutions through services working with communities
Accountability
Accountability and transparency
in delivering safeguarding
What is Abuse?
Abuse or neglect can happen to anyone, anywhere. It can take place in a person’s own home, in a residential or nursing home, a hospital, day centre or in the street. Most abusers are known by the adult at risk. Abusers can be:
- family members
- friends
- neighbours
- paid carers
- health or care professionals
- work colleagues
There are different forms of abuse or neglect:
- Physical abuse – being hit or slapped, being given the wrong medication on purpose, being locked in somewhere, tied up or force fed.
- Sexual abuse – being touched or kissed when it is not wanted, being made to touch or kiss someone else, being made to watch pornography, being raped, getting something (e.g. gifts or money) as a result of performing sexual acts which a person could not or did not consent to.
- Emotional abuse – being threatened, not being given choices, being bullied, being deliberately left alone for a long time, being tormented.
- Financial abuse – having money or personal property stolen, being tricked out of benefits, someone borrowing money and not paying it back, being bullied into letting other people use credit cards or cheques.
- Neglect – not being given enough to eat or drink, being left in dirty or wet clothes, being given the wrong medication or not being given medication at all, someone not calling a doctor or nurse when help is needed.
- Discriminatory abuse – ignoring religious beliefs, making comments or jokes about a person’s disability, race or sexuality, not providing food to meet dietary requirements.
- Organisational abuse – repeated instances of poor care or treatment in a service.
- Domestic abuse – abuse perpetrated by someone who is, or has been, a family member or intimate partner.
- Self-neglect – when a person is unable to look after themselves meaning that their health, wellbeing or safety is affected.
- Modern slavery – when a person is forced to work for no money, they may be owned or controlled by an employer or moved from different areas or abroad.
- Criminal exploitation – When a person is controlled by an abuser who might use coercion, intimidation, violence (including sexual violence) and weapons to do so. Control methods used include debt bondage; threats of kidnap and serious violence, including the use of firearms and bladed weapons; threats of harm to family members; ‘cuckooing’; and sexual abuse. Exploitation might be linked to organised crime groups involved in activity such as money laundering and drug dealing.
Membership
The Board meets six times a year to agree a work plan and review how well we’re doing. Our findings are published in our annual reports. The Newcastle Safeguarding Adults Board has an Independent Chair: Vida Morris.
The agencies represented on the Board are:
