Section 42 of the Care Act 2014 requires that each local authority must make enquiries (or cause others to do so) if it believes an adult is experiencing, or is at risk of, abuse or neglect.

This applies where a local authority has reasonable cause to suspect that an adult in its area (whether or not ordinarily resident there)

To meet the criteria for safeguarding, a person must:

• have needs for care and support (whether or not the authority is meeting any of those needs),
• is experiencing, or is at risk of, abuse or neglect, and
• as a result of those needs is unable to protect himself or herself against the abuse or neglect or the risk of it (Care Act 2014, section 42)
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• On this page, we will explore what Safeguarding is, what to look for and what to do when you spot the signs. The station has it’s own Designated Safeguarding Lead, available 24 hours a day, to deal with any safeguarding issues. The Designated Safeguard Lead’s contact details are provided further down this page. 

Deliberately hurting an adult, causing injuries such as bruises, broken bones, burns or cuts, or otherwise causing harm.  It could also be when a carer fabricates the symptoms of, or deliberately induces illness, or misuses medication.

Types of Physical Abuse

• Assault, hitting, slapping, punching, kicking, hair-pulling, biting, pushing
• Rough handling
• Scalding and burning
• Physical punishments
• Inappropriate or unlawful use of restraint
• Making someone purposefully uncomfortable (e.g. opening a window and removing blankets)
• Involuntary isolation or confinement
• Misuse of medication (e.g. over-sedation)
• Forcible feeding or withholding food
• Unauthorised restraint, restricting movement (e.g. tying someone to a chair)

Possible signs

• Multiple bruising
• Fractures
• Injuries in places not normally exposed to falls or rough games
• Burns
• Bed sores
• Fear
• Depression
• Unexplained weight loss
• Assault (can be intentional or reckless)
• Failure to seek medical treatment, or a pattern of visiting different hospitals or doctors over a short period of time.

Domestic abuse is any type of violence – or other abuse – that is present in close relationships. For example it could be between husband and wife; mother/father and their son/daughter; siblings; boyfriend and girlfriend; partner or ex-partner.

It can emerge through many other types of abuse: physical, sexual, emotional or financial, and can include undermining of self-confidence and the threat of violence.

Possible signs of domestic abuse:

• Low self-esteem
• Physical evidence of violence such as bruising, cuts, broken bones
• Verbal abuse and humiliation in front of others
• Fear of outside help and support
• Damage to home or property
• Isolation – not seeing friends and family
• Limited access to money

• Rape, attempted rape or sexual assault
• Inappropriate touching anywhere on the body
• Non- consensual masturbation of either or both persons
• Non- consensual sexual penetration or attempted penetration of the vagina, anus or mouth
• Any sexual activity that the person lacks the capacity to consent to
• Inappropriate looking, sexual teasing or innuendo or sexual harassment
• Sexual photography or forced use of pornography or witnessing of sexual acts
• Indecent exposure

Possible indicators of sexual abuse

• Bruising, particularly to the thighs, buttocks and upper arms and marks on the neck
• Torn, stained or bloody underclothing
• Bleeding, pain or itching in the genital area
• Repeated urine infections or unexplained stomach pains, soreness or bruising around the genitals, sexually transmitted infections, unplanned, concealed or
  denied pregnancies
• Uncharacteristic use of explicit sexual language or significant changes in sexual behaviour or attitude
• Self-harming
• Poor concentration, withdrawal, sleep disturbance
• Excessive fear/apprehension of, or withdrawal from, relationships
• Fear of receiving help with personal care
• Reluctance to be alone with a particular person

Emotional maltreatment. It is sometimes called psychological abuse and can cause serious harm. It may involve:

• Isolation from services, social opportunities or friends
• Removing mobility of communication aids
• Intentionally leaving someone unattended when they need assistance
• Preventing expression of choice or opinion
• Failure to respect privacy
• Preventing stimulation, meaningful occupation or activities
• Intimidation, coercion, harassment, use of threats, humiliation, bullying, swearing or verbal abuse
• Being patronising or infantilising towards an individual
• Cyber bullying
• Preventing access to services or support.

Possible signs:

• An air of silence when a particular person is present
• Withdrawal or noticeable changes mood or behaviour
• Depression, aggression, extreme anxiety
• Signs of distress, tearfulness, anger
• Obsessions, fears or phobias
• Sleep disorders, changes in appetite
• Going missing, stealing and lying
• Low self-esteem

Finanical abuse is the theft or misuse of money, property or personal belongings, taken without consent or under pressure in connection with wills, property or inheritance.

Types

• Theft of money or possessions
• Fraud, scamming
• Preventing a person from accessing their own money, benefits or assets
• Employees taking a loan from a person using the service
• Undue pressure, threat or influence put on the person in connection with loans, wills, property, inheritance or financial transactions
• Arranging less care than is needed to save money to maximise inheritance
• Denying assistance to manage/monitor financial affairs or access to benefits
• Misuse of personal allowance in a care home
• Misuse of benefits or direct payments in a family home
• Someone moving into a person’s home and living rent free without agreement or under duress
• False representation, using another person’s bank account, cards or documents
• Exploitation of a person’s money or assets, e.g. unauthorised use of a car
• Misuse of a power of attorney, deputy, appointeeship or other legal authority
• Rogue trading – eg. unnecessary or overpriced property repairs and failure to carry out agreed repairs or poor workmanship

Possible signs

• Missing personal possessions
• Unexplained lack of money
• Unexplained withdrawal of funds from accounts
• The person allocated to manage financial affairs is evasive or uncooperative
• The family or others show unusual interest in the assets of the person
• Signs of financial hardship in cases where the person’s financial affairs are being managed by a court appointed deputy or power of attorny
• Recent changes in deeds or title to property
• Rent arrears and eviction notices
• A lack of clear financial accounts held by a care home or service
• Failure to provide receipts for shopping or other financial transactions carried out on behalf of the person
• Disparity between the person’s living conditions and their financial resources, e.g. insufficient food in the house
• Unnecessary property repairs

Disciminatory abuse is where an individual is treated differently because of ethnicity, culture, sexuality, gender, age or disability.

Types

• Verbal abuse, derogatory remarks or inappropriate use of language related to a protected characteristic
• Denying access to communication aids, not allowing access to an interpreter, signer or lip-reader
• Harassment or deliberate exclusion on the grounds of a protected characteristic
• Denying basic rights to healthcare, education, employment and criminal justice relating to a protected characteristic
• Substandard service provision relating to a protected characteristic

Possible signs

• The person appears withdrawn and isolated
• Expressions of anger, frustration, fear or anxiety
• The support on offer does not take account of the person’s individual needs in terms of a protected characteristic

• Discouraging visits or the involvement of relatives or friends
• Run-down or overcrowded establishment
• Lack of leadership and supervision
• Insufficient staff or high turnover resulting in poor quality care
• Abusive and disrespectful attitudes towards people using the service
• Inappropriate use of restraints
• Lack of respect for dignity and privacy
• Not providing adequate food and drink, or assistance with eating
• Not offering choice or promoting independence
• Misuse of medication
• Failure to provide care with dentures, spectacles or hearing aids
• Not taking account of individuals’ cultural, religious or ethnic needs
• Failure to respond to abuse appropriately
• Interference with personal correspondence or communication
• Failure to respond to complaints

Possible signs

• Lack of flexibility and choice for people using the service
• Inadequate staffing levels
• People being hungry or dehydrated
• Poor standards of care
• Lack of personal clothing and possessions and communal use of personal items
• Lack of adequate procedures
• Poor record-keeping and missing documents
• Absence of visitors
• Few social, recreational and educational activities
• Public discussion of personal matters
• Unnecessary exposure during bathing or using the toilet
• Absence of individual care plans
• Lack of management overview and support

Neglect is the ongoing failure to meet basic needs. The individual may be left hungry or dirty, without adequate clothing, shelter, supervision, medical/health care, and access to aids or equipment. They may not get the love, care and attention they need from their family or carers.

Types

• Failure to provide or allow access to food, shelter, clothing, heating, stimulation and activity, personal or medical care
• Providing care in a way that the person dislikes
• Failure to administer medication as prescribed
• Refusal of access to visitors
• Not taking account of individuals’ cultural, religious or ethnic needs
• Not taking account of educational, social and recreational needs
• Ignoring or isolating the person
• Preventing the person from making their own decisions
• Preventing access to glasses, hearing aids, dentures, etc.
• Failure to ensure privacy and dignity

Possible indicators of neglect and acts of omission

• Poor environment – dirty or unhygienic
• Poor physical condition and/or personal hygiene
• Pressure sores or ulcers
• Malnutrition or unexplained weight loss
• Untreated injuries and medical problems
• Inconsistent or reluctant contact with medical and social care organisations
• Accumulation of untaken medication
• Uncharacteristic failure to engage in social interaction
• Inappropriate or inadequate clothing

Self-neglect is the lack of self-care; lack of care for one’s environment; and/or the refusal of services, to an extent that it threatens personal health and safety.

Types of Self-Neglect:

• Lack of self-care
• Neglecting to care for one’s personal hygiene, health or surroundings
• Inability to avoid self-harm
• Failure to seek help or access services to meet health and social care needs
• Inability or unwillingness to manage one’s personal affairs

Possible signs to look out for:

• Very poor personal hygiene
• Unkempt appearance
• Lack of essential food, clothing or shelter
• Malnutrition and/or dehydration
• Living in squalid or unsanitary conditions
• Neglecting household maintenance
• Hoarding
• Collecting a large number of animals in inappropriate conditions
• Non-compliance with health or care services
• Inability or unwillingness to take medication or treat illness or injury

Modern Slavery is where an individual is exploited, forced to work, or sold.  It involves the recruitment and movement of individuals using threats, deception and coercion for the purpose of exploitation. Modern Slavery can take many forms:

Types

• Forced labour
• Domestic servitude
• Sexual exploitation, such as escort work, prostitution and pornography
• Human trafficking
• Debt bondage – being forced to work to pay off debts that realistically they never will be able to

Possible indicators of modern slavery

• Signs of physical or emotional abuse
• Appearing to be malnourished, unkempt or withdrawn
• Isolation from the community, seeming under the control or influence of others
• Living in dirty, cramped or overcrowded accommodation and or living and working at the same address
• Lack of personal effects or identification documents
• Always wearing the same clothes
• Avoidance of eye contact, appearing frightened or hesitant to talk to strangers
• Fear of law enforcers

Modern Slavery isn’t confined to history or other countries, it is a global problem and is happening right now, here in Blackpool.  It’s a problem that affects all ages, genders and ethnicities, and affects people from Britain and aboard.

– IF A CHILD OR ADULT IS IN IMMIDIATE DANGER, PLEASE CALL THE POLICE  BY DIALLING 999 –   

Please contact the designated Safeguarding Lead, if you have been made aware of a Safeguarding Concern. 

Important: Please make sure you give us much background as possible, on the nature of the alert. The DSL will need information on the victim, (including name, address,, phone number and date of birth) as well as as much information about what has happened, times and dates if possible and wherever possible, the name and address of the perpetrator. 

During Office Hours

Please call Station Switchboard on 01253 224925 and press option 2. You should ask for the Designated Safeguarding Lead. Our office staff can contact the Designated Safeguarding Lead via mobile, if not in the office and will make sure that a prompt call back is arranged. 

Out of Hours

Please call the Station Duty Officer on call, If you are made aware of a safeguarding issue out of hours. He or she will then contact the DSL by phone and arrange a prompt call back. 

Their first priority will be to establish an understanding of the vulnerable child, young person or adult at risk and the circumstances. This will involve a convocation with the person raising the alert. The Designated Safeguarding Lead will fill out a alert form, using the information that has been given to him, by the person raising the alert. 

The Safeguarding Lead will then make a referral to the Local Authority, (and or, the Police) and if requested, advocacy for the person you are raising the concern about.