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Safeguarding adults

Safeguarding means protecting an adult’s right to live in safety, free from abuse and neglect. It is about working together to support adults to make decisions about the risks they face in their own lives, and protecting those without the mental capacity to make these decisions.

Safeguarding adults

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 Emma Nunez, Executive Director of Nursing, Midwifery and AHPs, and the Named Nurse Adult Safeguarding is Jayne Upperton.

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.

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