If you are concerned about an adult with care and support needs, who is experiencing, or at risk of, abuse or neglect, the best way to report your concerns is to make a safeguarding referral using the online safeguarding referral form (opens in a new window) on the West Sussex County Council website.
If you would like to speak to someone about your concerns before making a referral, please select one of the options below, for more information.
If you are a member of the public, and you wish to discuss your concerns, please phone 01243 642121.
To report an urgent concern out of usual working hours (Monday-Friday, 09:00-17:00), please call the Adult Social Care out of hours manager on 03302 227007.
Please note, if you or someone else is in immediate danger, call the Police on 999.
If you are a professional, and you are unsure of whether a safeguarding referral is appropriate, please refer to the following supporting document:
If you are still unsure, please call 03302 228400 to speak with a social care practitioner in the Safeguarding Adults Hub.
Once you have reported your concerns to your local Adult Social Care department, they will decide whether a safeguarding enquiry needs to be undertaken.
Adult Social Care will want to know what the adult wants to happen in relation to the reported concern. This might include: stopping the abuse or neglect; having help to feel safe; accessing support with recovery; knowing where to find help in the future; receiving an apology; or having support from the Police if a crime has been committed. There may be other actions that can be undertaken instead of safeguarding such as health or care support.
Mental capacity is the ability to make decisions. This means that an adult can understand their options and make an informed decision. If Adult Social Care have concerns about someone’s ability to make relevant decisions, they may arrange a Mental Capacity Assessment. If this shows somebody cannot make a capacitated decision they can make arrangements for somebody to speak on the adult’s behalf.
