Safeguarding vulnerable adults
A vulnerable adult is defined as a person who may be unable to take care of themselves, (self-neglect) or protect themselves against significant harm or exploitation for any reason. The safeguarding of vulnerable adults involves supporting people in maintaining control of their own lives whilst reducing or preventing the risk of significant harm from neglect or abuse. Safeguarding a vulnerable adult involves:
- Ensuring they can live in safety, free from abuse and neglect.
- Empowering them by encouraging them to make their own decisions and provide informed consent.
- Preventing the risk of abuse or neglect, and stopping it from occurring.
- Promoting their well-being and taking their views, wishes, feelings and beliefs into account.
If you have a concern regarding an adult you can report it to the Nottinghamshire Multi-agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH)
Report adult abuse
What is an adult safeguarding concern?
Abuse is mistreatment that violates a person’s human and civil rights.
The abuse can vary from treating someone with disrespect in a way which significantly affects the person’s quality of life, to causing actual physical suffering.
Abuse can be:
Physical, sexual, domestic abuse, emotional, psychological, financial, neglectful, self-neglect, discriminatory, modern slavery, organisational abuse.
Abuse can happen anywhere, for example:
In a residential or care home, in a hospital, in the workplace, at a day centre, an educational establishment, in supported housing, in the street or in the person’s home.
What do I do if I have a concern about an adult?
If you are a member of the public and have concerns about an adult at risk, then you can call MASH on 0300 500 80 80 as soon as possible to discuss your concerns. You can report abuse anonymously.
In an emergency outside of these hours, contact the Emergency Duty Team on 0300 456 4546.