Safeguarding AdultsYou are here: Home ยป Safeguarding Adults

If you are worried about a child or young person please contact:

Kingston & Richmond Children’s Social Care:

In an emergency where you believe a crime may be committed always call the police using 999 or 101.

Other useful contacts can be found under the contacts tab.

Safeguarding children 

The action we take to promote the welfare of children and protect them from harm - is everyone’s responsibility. Everyone who comes into contact with children and families has a role to play.  (Working Together to Safeguard Children, 2018)

Your Healthcare works in partnership with both statutory and non statutory agencies to provide support and services to children, young people and their families. Keeping children and young people safe is our highest priority.

We work closely with our partners in Achieving for Children (AFC) who along with the Royal Borough of Kingston provides statutory safeguarding and Child Protection services.

Referrals

Referrals can be made to children’s social care (AFC) for anyone under the age of 18.

What is safeguarding?

Safeguarding means protecting the health, wellbeing and human rights of adults at risk, enabling them to live safely, free from abuse and neglect.

Adult safeguarding is about working in partnership with our patients and those who use our services, including their families and carers to prevent and reduce both the risks and experience of abuse or neglect.

Adult Safeguarding is a shared responsibility because everyone in our community has a responsibility to report suspected abuse of an adult at risk.

The local council’s hold the statutory responsibility to receive and respond to adult safeguard concerns. If you are concerned that you or someone you know may be being abused or neglected, you can contact the council safeguard team using the contact details given on the contact tab. 

Safeguard concerns should be reported to the Borough in which the concern arises. If in any doubt about where to raise the concern you can contact your nearest local authority safeguard team and they will help you.

Who does Adult Safeguarding Apply to?

Any adult (aged 18 or over) who may be in need of help because they have care and support needs. They may be unable to stop someone else from harming or exploiting them:

  • has care and support needs (these include health needs) and
  • is experiencing, or is at risk of, abuse or neglect and
  • is unable to protect themselves because of their care and support needs.

If you are worried about an adult please contact:

Kingston Adult Social Care:

In an emergency where you believe a crime may be committed always call the police using 999 or 101.

Other Borough Local Council's contacts can be found under the contacts tab.

If you need help to raise a safeguard please speak to one of our staff.

What is abuse?

Abuse is described as a violation of an individual’s human and civil rights by any other person or persons which results in harm or risk of harm. In some cases people can self–neglect to the point where there is a risk of serious harm to themselves and this can also come under Adult Safeguarding. Abuse may consist of a single act or repeated acts. Abuse can occur anywhere and the reasons behind it can be complex and varied. The important thing is that where any of us suspect abuse we report it. The local authority will then decide the best way of making a safeguarding enquiry and how to involve the person at risk.

Forms of abuse include:  

  • Physical abuse – including hitting, slapping, pushing, misuse of medication, restraint or inappropriate physical sanctions;

  • Sexual abuse – including rape and sexual assault or sexual acts to which the adult has not consented or was pressured into consenting;

  • Psychological abuse – including emotional abuse, threats of harm or abandonment, deprivation of contact, humiliation, blaming, controlling, intimidation, coercion, harassment, verbal abuse, isolation or unreasonable and unjustified withdrawal of services or supportive networks;

  • Exploitation – either opportunistically or premeditated, unfairly manipulating someone for profit or personal gain;

  • Financial or material abuse – including theft, fraud,  exploitation, coercion in relation to an adult’s financial affairs or arrangements, including in connection with wills,
    property , inheritance or financial transactions, or the misuse or misappropriation of property, possessions or benefits;

  • Neglect and acts of omission – including ignoring medical or physical care needs, failure to provide access to appropriate health, care and support or educational services, the withholding of the necessities of life, such as medication, adequate nutrition and heating;

  • Discriminatory abuse – including discrimination on grounds of race, gender and gender identity , disability, sexual orientation, religion, and other forms of harassment, slurs or similar treatment;

  • Organisational abuse – including neglect and poor care practice within an institution or specific care setting like a hospital or care home, for example. This may range from isolated incidents to continuing ill-treatment.

  • Radicalisation– exposing an adult to extremist ideas which could lead to terrorism

  • Self-neglect

  • Hate crime, including disability hate crime

  • Domestic Abuse including Forced Marriage, ‘honour based violence’ and controlling or coercive behaviour in an intimate or family relationship

  • Female Genital Mutilation

  • Human Trafficking

  • Mate Crime – exploitation of a vulnerable adult by a befriender

  • Modern Slavery- slavery, servitude or forced labour

  • Restraint – unlawful or inappropriate use of restraint or physical interventions.

Safeguarding Pledge

The pledge sets out to ensure that all organisations working in the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames work together to commit to the protection of adults at risk from abuse, neglect and exploitation.

The pledge is made up of the following 9 key principles:

  • We believe that safeguarding is everyone’s business.
  • We commit to safeguarding and promoting the wellbeing of adults.
  • We will act in partnership with other key agencies to take action without delay when abuse or neglect is suspected.
  • We know how to recognise and report safeguarding concerns and issues.
  • We believe that adults should be involved in all decisions affecting their lives with choice and control in how they live their lives.
  • We support adults, families and advocates to understand and engage in safeguarding processes and enquiries.
  • We will ensure that outcomes of safeguarding enquiries are meaningful to all adults and their families.
  • We promote a culture where safeguarding is openly discussed and training is encouraged.
  • We learn from reviewing our safeguarding practice and embed this into our practice.
Adult Safeguard Team contact details Children Safeguarding Team contact details
Susan Fitzgerald
Adult Safeguarding Lead
Your Healthcare CIC
1st Floor
Hollyfield House, 22 Hollyfield Road, Surbiton, Surrey,
KT5 9AL
Telephone number : 020 8339 8057
Mobile number : 07961479418
e: susan.fitzgerald@yourhealthcare.org

Jill Chatwood
Named Nurse Safeguarding Children
Your Healthcare CIC  
Hollyfield House, 22 Hollyfield Road, Surbiton KT5 9AL
t:  0208 339 8039 / 8038
e: safeguardingchildren@yourhealthcare.org

 

Kingston Adult Social Care:
Telephone Numbers: 020 8547 5005
Out of hours: 020 8770 5005

website:
Adult safeguarding - Report a concern about an adult – www.kingston.gov.uk

Kingston & Richmond Children’s Social Care:

Telephone 02085475008 out of hours your call will be redirected.
Website:
https://www.achievingforchildren.org.uk/

Richmond Adult Social Care:
Telephone Numbers: 020 8891 7971
Out of hours: 020 8744 2442
Website:
https://www.richmond.gov.uk/safeguarding_adults
Safeguard concerns can be raised via an electronic form on the website.
 

Surrey Adult Social Care:
Telephone Numbers: 0300 470 9100
Out of hours: 01483 517898
Website: Adult Safeguarding Referral - Surrey County Council (surreycc.gov.uk)

 

Other useful contact details
Sutton Adult Social Care:
Telephone Numbers: 020 8770 5465 24 hours a
day
Website:
https://www.sutton.gov.uk/info/200609/safe_from_abuse_-_adult_safeguarding/1617/help_for_adults_being_abused

Merton Adult Social Care :
Telephone Numbers: 0845 618 9762 open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
Website: Concerned about an adult? - Merton Safeguarding Adults Board (mertonsab.org.uk)

Wandsworth Adult Social Care:
Telephone Numbers: 020 8871 5855

advice and consultation 020 8871 7707 for making alerts
Out of hours: 020 8871 6000
Website:
http://www.wandsworth.gov.uk/info/200385/safeguarding_adults

 

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