Safeguarding adults
What does safeguarding adults mean?
Safeguarding adults means working together to stop abuse and prevent it from happening in the future. Everyone has the right to live a life that is free from abuse and neglect.
Who is at risk of abuse or neglect?
Anyone could be at risk of abuse or neglect. A person may be more or less vulnerable at different times on their life. An adult at risk is:
- an adult who has needs for care and support
- and is experiencing or is at risk of abuse or neglect
- and as a result of those care and support needs is unable to protect themselves from the risk of, or the experience of abuse and neglect.
Types of abuse
There are many types of abuse, including:
- Physical abuse – someone being hit, slapped or kicked, or restrained inappropriately
- Sexual abuse – someone being made to take part in sexual activity for which they haven’t consented (or are unable to consent).
- Emotional or psychological abuse – someone being shouted at, bullied, made to feel frightened or pressurised
- Financial abuse – stealing, fraud, withholding or misusing someone’s money or possessions
- Neglect/acts of omission – includes not giving someone the care they need
- Modern slavery – human trafficking and forced labour
- Domestic abuse – abuse occurring between family members or close partners
- Discriminatory abuse – poor treatment because of someone age, gender, sexuality, disability, race or religious belief
- Organisational abuse – inflexible routines that suit the organisation, not the individual
- Self-neglect – when someone chooses not to look after themselves and this has a significant impact on their wellbeing
At the Trust, all our staff and volunteers are trained to recognise abuse and respond accordingly, and we work in partnership with other agencies to support people at risk. The Trust’s adult safeguarding policy and processes are based on the Safeguarding Adults Multi-Agency Policy and Procedure for West and North Yorkshire. The Board Executive Lead for adult safeguarding is the Chief Nurse, and the Senior Nurse Adult Safeguarding is Janet Farnhill.
If you are a member of the public and have a safeguarding concern, please contact North Yorkshire Customer Services Centre on 01609 780780.
Modern slavery
Modern slavery is an umbrella term that encompasses the offences of human trafficking and slavery, servitude, forced or compulsory labour. NHS England has published a slavery and human trafficking statement which demonstrates that they fully support the Government’s objectives to eradicate modern slavery and human trafficking and recognises the significant role the NHS has to play in both combatting it, and supporting victims.
The Trust is committed to ensuring they work to the NHS England standards, including ensuring appropriate processes are in place to support staff recruitment and that our supply chains are free from ethical and labour standards abuses.
All staff receive safeguarding training which includes information about Modern Slavery, and are supported to identify and raise concerns if required.
Useful links
- North Yorkshire Partnerships – advice on safeguarding adults, including links to information leaflets in different languages and formats.
Safeguarding children
All staff, whether paid or voluntary, have a responsibility to safeguard children. The Trust, in its obligation under the Children Act 2004 (S13), acts as a key partner agency to North Yorkshire Safeguarding Children Board. In line with section 11 of the Children’s Act, the Trust must ensure that its functions and any services it contracts out are discharged having due regard to the need to safeguard and promote the welfare of children. As an NHS organisation, the Trust is in a strong position to identify and address welfare needs and concerns regarding individual children and, where appropriate, refer to, or provide support with, multi-agency colleagues to address these. This includes understanding risk factors, communicating effectively with children and families, liaising with other agencies, assessing needs and capacity, responding to those needs and contributing to multi-agency assessments and reviews.
We have a dedicated Safeguarding Children Service to protect the health and wellbeing of children and young people.