Safeguarding

Abuse isn’t always obvious and can be difficult to recognise. If someone threatens, exploits, hurts or neglects you or someone you know, then this is abuse.

Abuse can be:

• Physical: including assault, hitting, pushing, keeping a person in a room, in bed or in a chair against their will.
• Psychological or emotional: threatening, humiliating, intimidating, shouting, ignoring or isolating someone and not allowing them to join in.
• Sexual: inappropriate touching, unwanted sexual contact or comments.
• Financial: stealing or fraudulent use of money, misuse of property or possessions.
• Neglect: withholding medication, not providing food or appropriate clothing.
• Discriminatory: treating someone worse because of their race, sexuality, gender, disability, age, religion, etc.
• Organisational: including neglect and poor care practices within an institution or specific care setting such as a hospital or care home, or in relation to care provided in your own home.
• Modern Slavery: coercing, deceiving, and/or forcing individuals into a life of abuse.
• Domestic Abuse: includes psychological, physical, sexual, financial, emotional abuse and so called ‘honour’ based violence, within an intimate or family relationship.
• Self Neglect: is often difficult to address and often includes what can be seen as poor lifestyle conditions.  Indicators can include; poor physical/mental health, hoarding, misuse of drugs/alcohol.

Abuse or neglect can be carried out by anyone including: family members, neighbours, friends, carers, Doctors, social workers, our staff and any other visitor to your home.

We don’t want anyone to suffer in silence. the first step is to tell someone. The best people to tell are North Somerset Council Care Connect, you can contact them on 01934 888801 and they will be happy to help you.

If you need help outside 8am to 6pm, contact the emergency duty team on 01454 615165. They are an emergency social work service who work nights, weekends and bank holidays