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Safeguarding Adults

Safeguarding adults

Don't let abuse go unnoticed, don't ignore, report it!

Please share your concerns by contacting the Safeguarding Team:

The Council is committed to safeguarding and protecting all adults living in the borough by removing all forms of financial, emotional, physical or sexual abuse.

Safeguarding adults is everyone's responsibility and mistreatment of any adult is not acceptable.  Remember, doing nothing is not an option - your actions can make a difference.

The agencies which form the Safeguarding Adults Board are working to ensure that adults in Rotherham are safeguarded and protected. We know that abuse of the financial, neglect, discriminatory, psychological, institutional, emotional, physical and sexual kind, affects a lot of people, often over long periods of time.

Anyone raising a concern that an adult is being abused or neglected will be taken seriously and we will act promptly and appropriately.

Our Safeguarding Adults policy confirms our commitment to make sure that:

  • People using our services are safe.
  • We extend help where needed to support those experiencing abuse and neglect in their own homes.
  • Communities can access safety measures and live safer lives.

Dont' let abuse go unnoticed.  If you, or someone you know, is being abused, don't ignore it, report it!

Information on Vulnerable Adults

We work in partnership with the police and NHS Rotherham to keep you safe. This work includes safeguarding and responding to the abuse of vulnerable adults. By vulnerable we mean, adults who:-

  • are aged 18 years or over who may need help
  • unable to take care of themselves or protect themselves
  • has a learning/physical or sensory disability
  • frail due to age
  • mental health problems or dementia
  • a drug/alcohol problem
  • a physical illness
  • a brain injury

Are they being abused?

Abuse is any action or failure to act that harms another person - it can be:-

  • The result of a single or repeated acts
  • Accidental or as the result of lack of knowledge or understanding
  • Done with intent to harm
  • Against the law

What can I do if I think someone is being abused?  

Every day there are people who witness adult abuse and say nothing please share your worries fill our online Safeguarding Adults Form.

  • If someone is in immediate danger call a doctor or call 999 for an ambulance.

If you think a crime has been committed call the police straight away. Anyone can contact us anonymously in confidence, by telephone, letter, fax, email or text, or visit us in person.

What happens when you make the call?

Your call will be taken seriously by any of the agencies you talk to. We recognise that raising concerns about older people in vulnerable situations is not easy, and needs to be handled carefully.

All staff from the agencies involved, like the police, social services, NHS and CSCI work together in these cases.

Together we make sure that people are immediately protected against their alleged abuser. We then investigate to see exactly what has been going on. If there has been a criminal offence, those invovled are prosecuted.

Abusing and neglecting older people is a crime. People can and do go to prison if they are found guilty of it.

Information available

Safeguarding Adults annual report 2010/11

See our Safeguarding Adults (South Yorkshire) Policy and Procedure

There is also an easy read guide on Safeguarding Adults in Rotherham.

Last update:  13/03/2012

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