What is adult safeguarding?
Safeguarding adults is the process of supporting adults with care and support needs to protect themselves from abuse and neglect. This means supporting adults who are already experiencing abuse or neglect, but also adults who might be at an increased risk of abuse or neglect as a result of their care and support needs or environment.
What do you mean by ‘care and support needs’?
The Care Act 2014 defines care and support needs according to a set of eligibility criteria. If an assessment of care and support needs is carried out by the local authority, they will identify the level of care and support needs using the Care Act criteria.
The criteria for care and support needs can include physical or learning disabilities, mental health needs, or illness.
What should I do if I am worried about an adult with care and support needs?
If you are worried about an adult with care and support needs, and feel that they are experiencing, or at risk of, abuse or neglect, you should report this to the local authority. You can find details for doing so on our ‘Raise a concern’ webpage.
Once you have reported your concerns to the local authority, they will decide whether a safeguarding enquiry needs to be undertaken. They will want to know what the adult wants to happen. 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.
Who are the West Sussex Safeguarding Adults Board?
The West Sussex Safeguarding Adults Board is a multi-agency partnership, which leads on overseeing and coordinating effective safeguarding work by its members and other agencies across West Sussex.
We do this by making sure that:
- local safeguarding arrangements are Care Act compliant;
- safeguarding practice is person-centred and outcome-focussed;
- safeguarding practice is timely and proportionate; and
- safeguarding practice is always improving.
How can I contact you?
If you would like to contact the West Sussex Safeguarding Adults Board you can do so through the following methods:
Email us: safeguardingadultsboard@westsussex.gov.uk
Telephone us: 03302 227952
Write to us: Safeguarding Adults Board, 1st Floor, County Hall North, Parkside, Chart Way, Horsham, West Sussex, RH12 1XH
Please note that these contact details should not be used to report abuse or neglect; this must be reported to the local authority using the contact details on our ‘Raise a concern’ webpage.
How can I access support for myself as an unpaid carer?
If you provide unpaid support to an adult who couldn’t manage without your help because of old age, a disability, an illness, mental health problems, or an addiction, then you are a carer.
If you would like to access support for yourself, including accessing respite care, visit the Carers Support West Sussex website for information about caring for other people and requesting a carer’s assessment.
When might I receive contact from the Safeguarding Adults Board?
As the Safeguarding Adults Board is a strategic Board, you will not normally receive contact from us. However, if you, or someone you care for, is involved in a Safeguarding Adults Review, we may contact you as part of that process. You can find out more about this process in our leaflet below:
