Raise a safeguarding concern

Table of Contents

If you suspect that an adult is at risk of harm, abuse or neglect then you must Raise a Safeguarding Concern.

What is a safeguarding concern in adults?

An adult safeguarding concern is any worry about an adult who satisfies the three characteristics below:

  1. Has or appears to have care and support needs, (See criteria for a social care assessment below for details)
  2. That they may be subject to, or may be at risk of, abuse and neglect and 
  3. They may be unable to protect themselves because of their care and support needs. 

If you are concerned about someone, please phone adult social care on 01628 683744 during normal office working hours. If emergency help is required outside office hours, please contact the Emergency Duty Team on 01344 351999. If you think someone is in immediate danger, please phone the emergency services on 999.

Some people may not require safeguarding from abuse but may still be struggling to manage basic care needs due to a disability or illness.

By completing an assessment process, the local authority will determine whether the individual has eligible needs or not.  

The three part National Eligibility Criteria for Adult Social Care support from the local authority is as follows: 

  1. Does the person have social care needs due to a ‘physical or mental impairment or illness'?
  2. Do those needs mean that they are unable to achieve two or more specified ‘wellbeing outcomes’?

    The specified outcomes are:
  • Managing and maintaining nutrition
  • Maintaining personal hygiene
  • Managing toilet needs
  • Being appropriately clothed
  • Being able to make use of the home safely
  • Maintaining a habitable home environment
  • Developing and maintaining family or other  personal relationships
  • Accessing and engaging in work, training, education or volunteering
  • Making use of necessary facilities or services in the local community including public transport and recreational facilities or services 
  • Carrying out any caring responsibilities the adult has for a child

      3. Is/Will the inability to achieve two or more outcomes cause a ‘significant impact on their wellbeing’

If a person satisfies all three parts to the test then they may receive support from the council.  This will involve strengths based support plan that enables the wellbeing matter to be addressed, whilst promoting independence and enabling risk.  As such the response may range from the provision of information and advice to the provision of support

A financial assessment accompanies a social care assessment to establish the contribution a service user may need to pay towards the cost of any services they do receive from the council.

Social care assessment

If you require a Social care assessment, or are acting on behalf of someone else then please use the link below.

Request a social care assessment

You can also phone adult social care on 01628 683744 during normal office working hours. If emergency help is required outside office hours, please contact the Emergency Duty Team on 01344 351999.