Safeguarding Adults
‘Abuse is a violation of an individual’s human and civil rights by any other person or persons’
(No Secrets, DH, Mar 2000)
We recognise that abuse of vulnerable adults occurs. This is unacceptable and we are committed to safeguarding adults - challenging and eliminating adult abuse whenever it is brought to our attention and involves people to whom we provide services.
We train our staff to be alert to the signs and symptoms of adult abuse and we have a policy which provides staff with information about the appropriate actions to take in these circumstances.
The advice and direction within these guidelines incorporates and summarises the Camden Multi Agency Safeguarding Adults (Adult Protection) Policy and Procedure – December 2007. (Opens pdf)
What is adult abuse?
Abuse is treatment of an individual that causes significant harm and can result in the deterioration of a person’s physical, emotional, social or behavioural development.
Vulnerable Adults
A ‘vulnerable adult’ refers to anyone who is 18 or over who:
- is or may be in need of community care services by reason of mental or other disability, age or illness and is or may be unable to take care of himself or herself OR
- is unable to protect themselves against significant harm or serious exploitation
(No Secrets, DH, Mar 2000/Who Decides? Lord Chancellor’s Office 1997)
Vulnerable adults could be older people, people with a visual or hearing impairment, severe physical illness, learning disability or mental health problem, people with HIV or AIDS, substance abusers, or carers. Vulnerability may be a permanent or temporary state.
The leaflet “Say no to abuse – Safeguarding is your business’ is a helpful guide for anyone who works with or cares for vulnerable adults. You can also find out more about Safeguarding Adults at www.camden.gov.uk/asg.
Who can I contact with concerns?
If you have a concern about the safety or welfare of a vulnerable adult or if you are being abused you can contact:
Housing & Adult Social Care
London Borough of Camden
(Tel): 020 7974 4000
(Textphone): 020 7974 6866
Camden Police Community Safety Unit
(Tel): 020 8733 5665 | 6445 | 5940
Email: csu.camden@met.police.uk
For further information about adult safeguarding at Camden Provider Services you can also contact our safeguarding leads:
- Graeme Caul, Associate Director GP & Hospital Support Services on (Tel): 020 7685 5943
- Jonathan Freedman, Services Manager on (Tel): 020 3317 3327
References:
No Secrets: Guidance on developing multi-agency policies and procedures to protect vulnerable adults from abuse, Department of Health, March 2000.
Who Decides? Lord Chancellor’s Department, The Stationery Office, 1997.
| Attachment | Description | Size | |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Staff Guidelines for the Safeguarding of Adults and Reporting Concerns | Guidelines | 107.88 KB |
| Safeguarding Adults | Information Leaflet | 997.78 KB |
