Safeguarding is about protecting people’s health, wellbeing and human rights, and supporting people to live free of abuse and neglect.
Harm and neglect can take many forms and while Councils provide a lead in safeguarding, it is everyone’s responsibility to protect people.
We are committed to safeguarding the residents that we work with and we do this in partnership with other agencies.
All our staff receive regular safeguarding training and we undertake checks, through the Disclosure & Barring Service, on those who work with children or in our adult care services.
Adults at risk of abuse
Safeguarding adults is about stopping or preventing abuse or neglect of those with care and support needs. Adults with care and support needs are aged 18 and over and may have a:
- Learning disability
- Mental health need, dementia or a personality disorder
- Long or short term illness
- Addiction to a substance or alcohol
- Or elderly and frail due to ill health, disability or ill mental health.
What is abuse and neglect?
Adults with care and support needs can be the victim of many types of abuse and neglect including:
- Domestic abuse
- Discriminatory abuse
- Financial or material abuse
- Institutional abuse
- Physical abuse
- Neglect or acts of omission
- Sexual abuse
- Psychological or emotional abuse
- Self-neglect
- Slavery.
If you have a safeguarding concern, you can contact the organisations below for advice:
Birmingham
Children’s Advice and Support Service (CASS) or call 0121 303 1888 / emergency out-of-hours 0121 675 4806
Adults and Communities Access Point (ACAP) or call 0121 303 1234
Telford
Family Connect (children and adults) 01952 385 385
Emergency Duty Team (children and adults) 01952 676 500
West Mercia Police (children and adults) 0300 333 3000 or 101
We have produced a safeguarding DVD aimed at staff working in the social housing sector. You can see a short sample of the DVD below.
For more information about the film, please contact our Community team by emailing enquiries@bvt.org.uk